Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain

For far too long, too many women suffering from endometriosis, chronic period pain and pelvic pain have been left to navigate a system that is fragmented, frustrating and too slow. Many women in the ACT have been told that pain is simply something to endure. Today, I can announce that a Parton Liberal government will expand endometriosis and pelvic pain treatment services at the Canberra Hospital. Debilitating period pain, chronic pelvic pain, missed days of work, study and family life, years of being told that it is somehow normal: it is not normal. Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain are real, serious and life-altering conditions. They affect education, work, relationships, fertility, mental health and quality of life. Our health system should treat them with the seriousness they deserve.

The ACT does have services available, including the Canberra Endometriosis Centre, and a federally funded pelvic pain clinic. These services matter, but women continue to tell us that the care remains fragmented, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. The clinic we propose will build on existing services that provide a more comprehensive and dedicated model of care, bringing together pelvic physiotherapy, specialist pain care, endometriosis nursing, psychology, trauma and mental health support, specialised diagnosis and treatment, and improved local access to diagnostic equipment.

It will be backed by additional nurses, medical officers and specialists, supported by clear referral pathways and designed as a standing commitment—not a pilot, not a temporary program, not another patchwork of disconnected services. It is about saying to women across Canberra: we hear you, we believe you and we will treat your pain with the seriousness that it deserves.