Politics in Pelvic Pain
July 2024
Last July, Pelvic Pain Victoria (PPV) hosted an evening dinner that brought people from all sectors to the table, creating an important space for collective discussion and collaboration.
PPV then held a sector-wide roundtable event focused on pelvic pain, endometriosis, and the Women’s Pain Inquiry. The event brought together policy makers, consumers, clinicians, researchers, and organisations to reflect on what is working well, what isn’t, and what solutions could improve care for those living with pelvic pain in Victoria.
The session was solutions-focused, with participants sharing ideas, identifying priorities, and helping shape a collective vision for meaningful change. By the conclusion of the event, PPV had gathered insights to guide sector-wide priorities and to inform a formal group submission to the Women’s Pain Inquiry.
Registered attendees received the agenda in advance, and a summary of findings was sent to all who participated.
Women’s Pain Inquiry Submission
August 2024
Based on the insights and feedback collected from attendees at the Politics in Pelvic Pain event, PPV prepared and submitted a comprehensive response to the Victorian Department of Health’s Women’s Pain Inquiry, ensuring the voices and experiences of the sector were formally represented.
Inquiry Findings Released
It all begins with an idea.
October 2025
PPV is pleased to announce that the findings from Australia’s first Inquiry into Women’s Pain, commissioned by the Victorian Department of Health in 2024, are now available. We hope these findings drive meaningful and lasting change in how women’s pain is understood, acknowledged, and treated across our health system Australia-wide.
Background:
In 2024, the Victorian Department of Health commissioned Australia’s first Inquiry into Women’s Pain. Research shows that women experience more frequent, severe, and long-lasting pain than men, yet are less likely to receive adequate treatment due to medical gender bias across various health conditions. As part of the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Program, the Inquiry aims to improve models of care and service delivery for Victorian girls and women. It has drawn on thousands of voices through written submissions, surveys, focus groups, and community forums involving people with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders throughout 2024.
Pelvic Pain Victoria Responds to the Victorian Government’s Bridging the Gender Pain Gap Report
Pelvic Pain Victoria welcomes the release of the Victorian Government’s Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report and strongly supports its focus on workforce development, earlier diagnosis, and improved access to specialist care for people experiencing pain.
As an independent, clinician-led, multidisciplinary organisation, Pelvic Pain Victoria brings together medical specialists, pelvic physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses, pain specialists and allied health professionals who work on the frontline of pelvic pain care across both public and private health settings. Our mission is clear: to improve outcomes for people with complex pelvic pain through education, collaboration, advocacy and community-building.
Pelvic Pain Victoria recently convened the Politics and Public Pain Roundtable, facilitated by Jess Taylor from ACE. Insights from this forum informed our detailed submission to the Victorian Inquiry into Women’s Pain, and we are pleased to see key issues we raised reflected in the final report - particularly the need for better clinician education, clearer care pathways, and greater coordination across the sector.
“We see the suffering of women with pelvic pain every day,” said Pelvic Pain Victoria President Dr Marilla Druitt. “Many experience delayed diagnosis, fragmented care and significant barriers to accessing specialised support. The Government’s report acknowledges these gaps and provides a foundation for meaningful reform. We welcome the opportunity to be part of the solution.”
The organisation is particularly encouraged by Recommendation 3: Workforce Development, including Recommendation 3.4: the development of a Victorian Clinician Advice Service to support health workers in navigating women’s pain and pelvic pain.
“Pelvic Pain Victoria is uniquely positioned to contribute to this work,” said PPV Secretary and Pain specialist Dr Karin Jones. “Our members are experts in their fields, actively delivering clinical care, teaching, research and professional education. We are ready to collaborate with government on the design and delivery of training, mentoring, and statewide capability-building initiatives that will help clinicians better recognise and manage pelvic pain.”
Pelvic Pain Victoria’s strengths include:
A multidisciplinary membership with deep clinical experience
Strong public–private sector reach
Established partnerships with national and international pelvic pain organisations
Expertise in clinician education, curriculum development and professional training
On-the-ground insights into system gaps and lived patient experiences
A commitment to trauma-informed, intersectional, patient-centred care
“We look forward to further discussions with government and health system partners,” Dr Druit said. “Together we can close the gender pain gap and ensure that all women in Victoria receive timely, coordinated, evidence-based care.”
Pelvic Pain Victoria remains committed to advocating for improved care pathways, strengthening professional education and championing the needs of people experiencing pelvic pain.