ADJOURNMENT

Mrs PHILLIPS (Gilmore) (16:55): A small but dedicated team in a small village in my electorate is doing really big things. They're opening the door and changing the lives of women, not just in my electorate of Gilmore but right across the New South Wales South Coast. Historic Milton is known for its beautiful old buildings, boutique shopping and trendy bars.

But now women all over the region, from Wollongong to the Victorian border, know it's also the place they'll find endometriosis, pelvic pain, perimenopause and menopause support. After advocating for an expansion of the Milton endometriosis clinic, I can't tell you how pleased I am that the service has been expanded to include perimenopause and menopause care.

The South Eastern NSW Centre for Menopause, Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain now provides specialised health services two days a week, supporting women of all ages. I was proud to launch the revamped service last month and had an opportunity to speak to doctors, nurses and healthcare providers, as well as women's group representatives and patients, about the fabulous services on offer.

Let me tell you that, over the past three years since the endo clinic opened, the team has been swamped with requests for assistance from women in Gilmore and beyond. Most of these women have been going about their lives, working, running a household and raising their kids, and ignoring the pain, often for many years. When I've popped into the Milton clinic over the past three years, the women's health workers have continually told me that menopause support was badly needed locally, so I'm really pleased to have delivered this expanded service.

I want to give a huge shout-out to Dr Katie Macartney, Dr Sally Carter and specialist women's health nurse Susan Wilford, who are leading this service. They are so passionate about women's health and they take time to really listen and validate women's concerns. It's just fantastic that, thanks to the Albanese Labor government's commitment to women's health, they can now offer more services to even more women locally.

I know that menopause and perimenopause can be a very disruptive and confusing time of life for women. Dr Macartney said she was excited that the Milton Medical Centre was able to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary service for women of south-eastern New South Wales to help with symptoms and challenges that present later in life. Dr Macartney said there had been a very positive response from the community since we announced the expansion to include menopause and perimenopause last month.

This is a huge development, because women in my region have never had access to this type of service in the past. What makes this centre great for women, especially those who haven't sought care previously, is that it is holistic in its approach, focusing on impacts to physical, psychological and sexual health. It's so important that women are listened to and provided with education, support and a management plan.

I am so proud that the service in little old Milton has been recognised and funded as part of this government's landmark women's health package, which is investing almost $800 million to deliver improved health care and access for women and girls across the country. The Milton team is really going above and beyond, taking their service to schools and community groups as well.

They talk to students about normal and abnormal periods, pelvic pain and endometriosis, women's health, sexual health and how to access healthcare services. These visits are some of the most valuable work they do. They're educating and empowering students, teaching them about how their bodies work and how to be healthy, and answering the questions that they don't feel comfortable asking anyone else.

For decades, women and girls experiencing endometriosis and pelvic pain, as well as perimenopause and menopause symptoms, have faced delays, uncertainty and lack of support. By expanding menopause and perimenopause care through 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, the Albanese Labor government is making it easier for women to access trusted advice, treatment and care closer to home.

House adjourned at 17:00 Federation Chamber Thursday, 20 August 2026 The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Sharkie ) took the chair at 09:30.