PM Transcripts

FOR MEDIA 20 APRIL 1989
I have today launched Australia's first National Women's Health Policy at Westmead
Hospital, Sydney.
Based on the views of more than one million women around Australia, the policy
provides a blueprint for improving the health and well-being of Australian women
into the twenty-first century.
The seven major issues identified by Australian women during one of the widest
consultative processes undertaken in this country are reproductive health and
sexuality; the health of ageing women; women's emotional and mental health;
violence against women; occupational health and safety; the health needs of women
as carers; and the health effects of sex role stereotyping.
It is proposed that a National Women's Health Program cost-shared with the States
will address these concerns through five key action areas
improvement in health services for women;
provision of health information for women;
research and collection of data on women's health;
training of health care providers; and
women's participation in decision-making on health.
The policy recognises the special needs of women who may be disadvantaged through
age, low income, urban or rural isolation, by having a disability, or because they
are from non-English speaking backgrounds.
All of its recommendations aim to provide affordable, accessible, appropriate and
acceptable health services for women.
My Government is committed to the policy and working towards its full
implementation in conjunction with the States. State Health Ministers gave their
in-principle endorsement to it last month.
This bipartisan approach acknowledges that -implementation of policies and programs
designed to improve women's health, well-being and life opportunities must be one
of Australia's major goals in the closing years of the twentieth century.
The National Women's Health Policy is a major component of the National Agenda for
Women, my Government's blueprint for improving the status of Australian women
towards the year 2000.
The release of this policy complements, from a health perspective, the measures
announced in the tax package last week, of which many Australian women will be
major beneficiaries.
The policy has been developed over the past three years, coordinated by the
Department of Community Services and Health, and with the assistance of a special
consultant to the Minister, Ms Liza Newby.