February 27, 2025 • 26 mins
Delve into an exciting new era for women's health in Australia, highlighted by a $573.3 million investment.
Join my conversation with Ged Kearney, the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, who passionately shares insights from her extensive background in nursing and women's health advocacy.
As we explore the various components of this funding package, Ged discusses critical advancements aimed at transforming menopause care, addressing gender disparities in the health system, and fostering community awareness about healthcare needs.
We unpack the elimination of barriers related to long-acting contraceptives, funding for additional endometriosis, pelvic pain and menopause clinics, and the emphasis on educating healthcare professionals to provide better perimenopause and menopause care for women.
This episode offers a deep look into the shifts occurring within healthcare policy and the need for comprehensive support services designed for women navigating challenges in their midlife health.
Don't miss the chance to learn more about how these initiatives can empower women across the nation and how your vote at election time can secure this support.
To be part of the conversation, subscribe, share this episode, and join my mission to raise awareness around women's menopausal health.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sonya (00:00):
Welcome to this episode of Dear Menopause.
I am delighted to be joinedtoday by Assistant Minister for
Health and Aged Care, GedKearney.
Welcome, Ged.
Ged (00:09):
Thank you so much.
I'm very excited to be on yourshow.
Sonya (00:12):
Thank you.
Now, Ged, we have a very big,meaty issue that we're here to
talk about today, but how aboutwe get the ball rolling with you
giving our listeners today alittle introduction into who Ged
Kearney is?
Ged (00:24):
Well, I am a grandma and two, six beautiful grandchildren
.
I am a mum of four kids and twobeautiful stepchildren, two
gorgeous stepdaughters.
I am a nurse by background.
I worked as a nurse for nearly20 years, spent most of my
working life at the AustinHospital in Melbourne For any of
your Melbourne visitors,they'll know the Austin Hospital
and I became head of theNurses' Union, the Australian
(00:46):
Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
Then I was asked to run aspresident of the Australian
Council of Trade Unions, whichwas a big job, and then I was
asked to run for public office,which I did, and won the seat of
what was called Batman.
Then it's now the seat ofHooper here in Melbourne in the
(01:08):
inner north and an electoratethat I adore and love, and it's
a great part of my job.
And now I don't know how ithappens sometimes, but now I'm
an assistant minister for healthand aged care and First Nations
health.
It's one of those things whereyou pinch yourself and you think
, wow.
Sonya (01:23):
I was going to say you had this like beautiful look of
surprise on your face as youwere about to say that, as if
you really don't know how yougot here.
Ged (01:29):
No, no, I often you know the movie Forrest Gump I often
think, oh, it's just a bit of aForrest Gump thing.
But you know, as women we dothat, don't we?
We self-deprec hard.
Sonya (01:45):
I have worked hard all my life and I'm really quite I'm
secretly quite proud of myself.
I think you should absolutelybe proud of yourself and I don't
think we need to keep it asecret.
So congratulations on anincredible career.
And you know, you've obviouslybeen someone that has been very
invested in women's health, butalso women's issues, you know,
from an advocacy perspective aswell for a very long time, for a
very long time.
Ged (02:04):
When I was first elected and got this role, I was asked
to take up women's healthbecause I have been a great
advocate for women's healthpretty much all my working life
and have been able to see thatthere is bias in the health
system, gender bias, which is,you know it's not to say that
anyone cuts women out or is outto not give women the best care
they can, because I'm a healthprofessional myself and I know
(02:24):
people work very hard.
It's just that the system itselfhas been built over hundreds
and hundreds of years by men formen and about men.
Of course, more recently we'reseeing more and more health
professionals and women.
More and more doctors inparticular are women and we have
more women in policymakingpositions.
We're elevating thosefemale-dominated health
professions like nursing andmidwifery and allied health, and
(02:45):
I think it's all a perfect timefor me to come along and really
advance the issue of women'shealth care and how we need to
do a lot to make sure that womenthat bias is is is stopped and
worked on yeah, absolutely, andthat leads us beautifully into
one of the reasons that we'rehere today, which is to talk
about the biggest announcementimpacting women's health in
Australia that, from myperspective, we've seen for
(03:07):
quite some time, and that is thehalf a billion dollar package
that was announced on the 9th ofFebruary.
Sonya (03:13):
So, first and foremost, thank you.
Ged (03:16):
You're welcome, and I should thank you because it's
advocates like your wonderfulself who have really pushed this
to the fore and made it anissue that has got a lot of
groundswell of support, and soreally, I flew on your coattails
in many ways, so thank you.
Sonya (03:31):
Oh goodness.
Well, thank you very much forthat.
But it's a collaborative effort, isn't it?
And just goes to show theimportance of voices at all
levels, from someone like myselfwho's at grassroots, you know,
considers herself to literallyjust be the voice of those that
don't feel that they have orknow how to use a voice, to
someone like yourself who is inthat position to actually really
make a considerable change.
It is a team effort, yeah,always.
(03:54):
Now, Jed, I think it'd bereally nice if you could give us
a quick overview of the packagethat was announced.
I do have a question.
It's a question that's comethrough from listeners
consistently since the packagewas announced that I'll ask you
off the back of that and thenwe'll dive into some more of the
details.
Ged (04:11):
Okay, well, I should give a little bit of background to
this package.
You know, we have coming up tothe end of the three-year term
and I've been working on women'shealth since I was appointed to
this role.
We appointed the NationalWomen's Health Advisory Council,
who's been helping me, and wedid a national survey where
two-thirds of respondents saidthat, as women, they felt there
(04:34):
was bias and discrimination inthe system.
A lot of that was around sexualand reproductive health care.
There are taboos on it, there'sstigma, it's pushed into the
shadows, it's not talked about,it's a secret women's business,
you know, and consequently, andthere's lots of other health
issues for women that are notabout reproductive health care.
But this is one area wherewomen really did feel
disadvantaged and, as aconsequence of that being not
(04:57):
spoken about and pushed into theshadows, it wasn't a policy
priority for governments past.
It has been for our governmentand last year we announced $160
million package.
It was a modest package forwomen while we were building up
onto this big one, which is now$573.3 million package.
It's more than half a billiondollars.
(05:17):
This is a huge investment.
It's in a couple of stages.
Some things happen now and somethings will happen on the
re-election of a laborgovernment.
I am pleased to say that theliberal government has said they
will commit to implementingthis, and jolly well if they win
the election.
I hope they do.
You know that this was a biglabor priority and it is a labor
reform.
(05:37):
Having said all that, weannounced 169.2 million dollars
to make it easier for women.
And I'll start one, and I knowyou want to talk about menopause
, but I'll say the whole thingyeah sure.
For long-acting reversiblecontraceptives commonly known as
LARCs your listeners will knowthem as IUDs and Implanon, you
(05:58):
know yeah implants, implants.
So these have been veryexpensive for women in Australia
Don't know why.
The rest of the world has goneway ahead of us and we know
they're extremely effectivecontraceptive.
They're also very good formenopause treatment.
For some symptoms of menopause,it cost a woman on average $400
to $500 to have an IUD inserted, which made it a huge barrier
(06:21):
for women.
We're cutting that cost, sowe're removing that cost of
insertion and removal.
We're going to give doctors GPsa lot more money to do that and
so hopefully they will everywoman.
They should not really need topay because we are reimbursing
doctors enough.
64.5 million is being investedfor high quality models of care
for endometriosis and pelvicpain, and we have endometriosis
(06:43):
and pelvic pain and we haveendometriosis and pelvic pain
clinics right around the country.
There's 22 of them.
We're going to increase that to33 and they're not only just
going to be for endometriosisand pelvic pain, they will be
for menopause and perimenopausecare, so we will have that
expertise there.
I can talk a bit more aboutthat later.
Sonia, great things arehappening around that.
There will be a new healthassessment item on the MBS for
(07:08):
women to sit down with their GPand talk about menopause, and I
think that will be great.
It's not very often that we geta new MBS item number, I
promise you, so this is reallyfantastic and there'll be long
consults and a woman can havethem every year.
There will be and I know this issomething that you will be very
pleased about there will be$12.8 million for a public
(07:33):
health campaign to raiseawareness and increase
understanding of menopause andperimenopause, the symptoms, the
management options.
You know what I'm reallyinterested in?
Empowering women to know theirbodies and know what's normal
and know what to talk to theirhealth practitioners about,
maybe even talk to your boss.
So you've got facts and figuresand you can talk to boss and
make the workplace a bit betteror just bring it out of that
secret women's business shadows.
(07:54):
I think would be great.
We're going to have nationallyconsistent guidelines for
menopause, believe it or not?
Hallelujah, hallelujah, can youbelieve it?
And there's lots of other moneybeing put in place to train our
health professionals in helpingwomen with menopause and
perimenopause.
So that's sort of in a nutshell.
And, of course, what did Iforget?
Sonya (08:13):
And the PBS?
Ged (08:14):
PBS Holy moly, holy moly.
Sonya (08:17):
Three, don't worry, I wasn't going to let you miss
that one.
Ged (08:20):
Two new contraceptive pills will go on the PBS from the 1st
of March and three of the mostcommonly used hormone therapies
will be on the PBS Estrogel,prometrium and Estrogel Pro.
Whoa, at last you know it's 20years.
Hormone therapy has been put onthe PBS.
Can you believe it?
And I'm really excited aboutthis People come up to me and
(08:40):
say oh my God, I've been dyingto smother myself in Estrogel
for so long and now I can affordit.
Sonya (08:46):
Oh my gosh.
Ged (08:49):
No, don't do that, we should be fine.
Sonya (08:51):
No, don't.
Okay, that is not medicaladvice.
Please don't listen to us.
They're all amazing, amazing,wonderful announcements, and I
know myself and a huge cohort ofadvocates were absolutely
delighted when we received theinformation the night before
that the announcement was madeand we were all so incredibly
excited.
There are a couple of things inthere that I do want to kind of
(09:12):
deep dive into with you in aminute.
Now you did kind of touch onthis question and you may not be
able to expand any further, butI'm going to ask it so that I
don't feel like I'm letting mylisteners down.
And that is, theseannouncements have all been made
by yourself, the Laborgovernment.
You've made that clear right atthe beginning.
We did see immediately,thankfully which was great news
on the day, that the oppositiondid come out and show bipartisan
(09:36):
support for that, which isabsolutely wonderful.
But what you know, does thatreally mean you know what could
happen if there is a change ofgovernment with this package,
and it's a really good question.
Ged (09:47):
You know Labor governments by and large are governments of
reform.
We are governments that reallybelieve in public health.
We implemented Medicare overthree or four times.
Each time there was aconservative government they
tried to strip Medicare away.
Peter Dutton himself tried todo away with bulk billing by
putting cash registers in EDsand making you pay to go to the
(10:07):
GP.
like getting rid of bulk billingand so we were always a little
bit worried about healthcare andMedicare when a coalition
government is elected.
Peter Dutton has said that hewants to find $350 billion worth
of savings.
We're not quite sure wherethose savings are going to come
from, he hasn't said.
But you know, this is, I think,this for me.
That's the political bit.
(10:29):
We are coming up to an election.
Pop that bit in.
Sonya (10:32):
Is that box?
Ged (10:32):
I just think that we are coming up to an election Pop.
That bit in the bit for mereally is you know, sonia, this
is what happens when you havewomen in government we have.
50% of our parliament are women, half of our cabinet, 50% of
our cabinet, is women, are women, is women.
There's 50% we have, you know,and when you have women at the
(10:53):
table, you get policy changelike this.
You know, this is why we'reinvesting in child care,
investing in aged care,investing in medicare.
These are things that womenbring to the table, and I think
that this is really indicativeof the fact that we work this
policy up for three years, andthe coalition has hasn't been a
priority.
We haven't seen anything fromthem and I think they got a bit
of a shock when we announcedthis fabulous policy.
(11:13):
They saw the response from you,from Australia's women, and
they thought crikey duh whowould have thunk that women
would be happy?
Sonya (11:21):
Who would have thunk?
Ged (11:22):
Yeah exactly.
Sonya (11:24):
So I guess the takeaway from that really is if you want
these packages to not just bekind of kicked to the curb
because there is a change ofgovernment, Don't allow there to
be a change of government.
Ged (11:34):
No that's my basic take Absolutely and I'm saying this
in a very partisan manner, butno, you know we came up with the
package.
I am committed to this package.
It is a revolutionary idea thathas come from the Labor Party.
Really, only the Labor Partywill, absolutely 100% deliver it
, implement.
Sonya (11:53):
Yeah, fantastic, great, thank you.
Thank you for addressing that.
So one of the first areas thatI'd really like to dive into a
little bit with is the.
You made mention of thecurrently existing 22
endometriosis and pelvic painclinics.
You announced that you will beexpanding those by 11, plus the
expanding the remit of those toinclude menopause and
perimenopause care, which isfantastic.
(12:14):
Where will those 33 be located?
Is there going to be equitableaccess to those four women,
regardless of where they'relocated?
Ged (12:23):
Sure, at the moment we've been doing it by PHN.
I'm not sure if your listenerswill know what a PHN is, but
it's a primary healthcarenetwork and these are
Australia's been broken up, ifyou like, into healthcare areas.
And there's a primaryhealthcare network and these are
Australia's been broken up, ifyou like, into healthcare areas.
And you know there's a largestate and a highly populated
state like New South Wales willhave several PHNs, and South
(12:45):
Australia has two PHNs.
So in the first instance, wewant a clinic in every single
PHN so that women do not have totravel far.
Now I would love one on everycorner if you are, but you know
constraints mean that I think westarted off with 22.
(13:06):
Another 11 is a commitment thatwe believe they work and that
they are an important part ofour health infrastructure, and
we are really committed totrying our health infrastructure
and we are really committed totrying to help women, and so I
think these are a great start.
If people say, oh, we're a bitdisappointed that there's not
one near me and I would totallyunderstand that what I will say
is there's something wonderfulhappening is that with
(13:28):
endometriosis and pelvic pain,there's a community of practice.
So those 22 endoclinics meetregularly.
They discuss, you know, casestudies, they talk what's
working, what's not working,they talk about new ideas and
research, they generate research, and so this community of
excellence, if you like, aroundendometriosis and pelvic pain
care is developing out of themand they are educating our
(13:52):
primary healthcare professionalsmore broadly.
So, I think you know that's whatI'm loving.
And eventually, let's face it,we shouldn't really have
specialist clinics.
Every woman should walk intoevery private primary healthcare
facility and get the best carethey possibly can.
We know that doesn't happen now.
Ultimately, that would be myaim to do away with these
specialty clinics.
Everybody would know about itso, but in the meantime, we're
(14:15):
starting with these ones okay,amazing.
Sonya (14:18):
And they don't provide a telehealth service, do they?
It is literally just anin-person appointment no, I
think they do provide telehealth.
Ged (14:24):
Okay, all right, cool, no, no, yep, definitely um fantastic
.
Well, that's good news thenyeah, no, the beauty of them is
that they respond to communityneeds.
Yeah, okay great.
Sonya (14:35):
So they have the flexibility to offer what they
feel is going to best servetheir community.
Okay, fantastic.
So when we expand the remit ofthose clinics and we start
bringing in the menopause andthe perimenopause care, does
that mean that you are bringingin menopause and perimenopause
specialist GPs or nurses, orhowever you're planning to do
that, into the centres?
(14:56):
Like, are you upping the staffor is it an upskilling of the
existing staff?
Ged (15:00):
Okay, great question.
So the model that we have fromthe endometriosis and pelvic
pain clinics, which is similarto what we'll use, we put out a
tender and we say to primaryhealthcare providers a number of
questions Do you have expertsalready in these areas?
And some gp specialists nursepractitioners, midwives are
already experts.
So they will say yes, we do,and we would like extra
(15:22):
resources to employ a largermultidisciplinary team.
And so that is one modelexercise physiologists,
dieticians, psychologists, painexperts are all being employed.
Another model is, like you saidlook, we don't have the
expertise.
We see the need in ourcommunity and we want to have
some resources to upskill ourstaff, and this is how we're
(15:45):
going to do that, how we'regoing to upskill our staff.
So some of them are using theresources to get to upskill.
Some are saying we have theresources now we want to expand
them.
So there's a couple of modelshappening, but I think your
question about upskilling morebroadly is a really important
one, because we are investing alot of money in building
capacity of our healthprofessionals to give
(16:05):
comprehensive menopause care.
There were some in the previouspackage last year, there's more
in this package and there'sonline training.
We're funding doctors to get totraining.
If they're in rural or remoteareas, we're giving them
scholarships to get to training.
We're building nationalguidelines that there's
consistency of care right acrossthe country.
We're offering online training,face-to-face training.
(16:28):
We're doing our best to upskillthe workforce, so it's a great.
Amazing.
Sonya (16:33):
Yeah, thank you.
And that does also lead into oneof my other questions, which is
very much along the lines ofthat absolute need for the
education and upskilling andobviously you're aware of that
was a big part of theannouncement that was made.
One of my questions around that, you know, that really huge
need to upskill, just as our gps, very first and foremost,
(16:54):
regardless of before we get outinto specialist clinics and
things like that, because theyare the first port of call for
many, many women.
And they are the point where Ihear every day and we do hear
stories and other mediums aswell where that is the first
place where women are dismissed,where they are let down, where
they really feel that they'renot being heard and not
supported.
So, when it comes to theretraining for want of a better
(17:19):
expression but the upskilling,the education, filling that
education gap that we knowexists, who will be providing
that training?
Is that something that willalso be going out to tender?
Are there existing providersthat you'll be tapping into?
How does that kind of startplaying out?
Ged (17:36):
Well, we have some existing programs already.
So Jean Hales, for example,jean Hales for Women's Health
runs an online training programfor menopause care.
So they will be providing someof that.
As I said, some of it will bein scholarships.
We will be looking to theAustralian Menopause Society
perhaps, or you know otherorganisations with skills to
(17:57):
offer their services.
There will be a tender process,you know, for that.
I don't have the exact way thatit's going to operate just yet,
but we'll be very open to asmany portals and many entry
ports as we possibly can forpeople to get that training.
Sonya (18:15):
One of the reasons why I was wanting to bring that up and
have that conversation is ifthese are existing providers
that have already been offeringthis service, yet we find
ourselves in a situation wheremany GPs still are not educated.
Obviously, there needs to be asignificant overhaul of what
does already exist because it'snot working and bringing in, as
(18:35):
you said, more options and waysto be able to provide that
education as well.
Ged (18:41):
Yeah, and a lot of the barriers to doctors not
attending, but they tell us theydon't have time, they can't
backfill their practice.
There's travel costs, so we'llbe providing free placements for
up to about 11,000 healthprofessionals to access training
.
So leave that with me and Iwill be able to come back to you
with a lot more informationwhen we've dug down in the
detail.
(19:03):
But I hear your point and it'sa very good point.
Sonya (19:06):
Thank you, I appreciate that.
So then, when we're talkingabout the new health assessment
that kicks in as of the 1st ofJuly, is that right?
Yep, that's right.
Yep, that's exciting.
So can you tell us what thatactually means for someone that
perhaps doesn't understand theMedicare system?
What can a woman that'slistening do to take advantage
of that?
Ged (19:24):
Well, I think you can.
When you ring up to make anappointment, you need to specify
that I'm coming for a menopausediscussion or a menopause
consultation I think is probablythe better word so that you're
not in the six minute medicinetime slot, you know, because
there's not a lot you can say.
Sonya (19:44):
So will it be a dedicated , longer appointment time.
Ged (19:47):
It will be a dedicated, longer appointment time and I
would encourage you to, when youring up to make an appointment,
to say that that isspecifically what you are coming
for.
It also gives if there is anexpert in menopause in your
primary healthcare facility youknow will prompt a visit to them
or with them.
They might have a nurse,practitioner or someone that is
specially trained up inmenopause that can talk to you.
(20:08):
You know all the things thatyou say.
You know to your listeners allthe time.
Use the hour, go with your yourquestions, don't be even allow
them to be dismissed or pushedback.
Hopefully that won't happen now, because there's a lot of
awareness and you're going for amenopause consultation.
But I really encourage you tofeel really confident that
(20:31):
that's exactly what this is forand that you will be heard, you
will be no, you won't bedismissed and you will be
offered help and treatment.
I think that this having itdedicated to that I think will
drive a revolution in primaryhealth care for women with
menopause.
Sonya (20:48):
It's not just yeah.
Ged (20:49):
I hope so.
I hope so.
It's not just.
Oh you sure you're notdistressed, I'll give you some.
You know what happens.
Sonya (20:57):
You just need a holiday.
Ged (20:58):
You need a holiday, that's right.
Oh, all that brain fog, it'llpass.
I had.
I had menorrhagia, very heavyperiods, really heavy periods
during perimenopause and my GPsays, oh, it's just menopause,
it will pass.
It will pass.
Sonya (21:12):
I had a conversation, I spoke at an event on Wednesday
in the city here in Sydney and Ihad a lady come up to me
afterwards and I was talking toher and a friend and she says to
me you know she goes, oh gosh,sonia, it's terrible.
I've been bleeding consistentlyfor months and my GP just keeps
telling me some women in their40s bleed and I was horrified
(21:32):
because any unexplained bleedingmust be investigated.
It may not be perimenopausethere are a host of things that
that could be and for a GP to beas dismissive as women in their
forties just sometimes bleed, Ithought was absolutely
atrocious.
Ged (21:46):
I absolutely agree with you .
Please, I hope you had toldthat poor woman to go and get
checked out, because I ended up.
You know I tell this story.
I don't know if you heard, butI flooded on a tram once story I
don't know if you've heard butI flooded on a tram once Like I
don't know if anyone hasmenorrhagia, but it's awful.
When you get up off the tram,the seat's covered in blood.
You're covered in blood.
It's terrible and I thought I'mgoing to quit work.
(22:08):
I can't go to work anymore.
And eventually I did find adoctor that said we'd better do
some blood tests.
And and he said to me well,you've got a hemoglobin that is
not compatible with life.
I had bled so much, he said Idon't know how you're standing
upright.
Sonya (22:23):
Oh, my goodness.
Ged (22:24):
I said crikey, what do we do about that?
He said something really quick.
Sonya (22:28):
Really quickly.
Yeah Well, one of the thingsthat she said to me when we had
this conversation was I'm justso tired, I'm so fatigued, and I
went, your iron will be sodepleted.
He should have at least offeredyou a test to understand where
your iron levels were.
So, yeah, a lot wrong with thatwhole conversation and I'm
sorry that you had thatexperience.
That just sounds awfullytraumatic and, in the moment,
(22:50):
must have just been somethingreally incredible to have to
experience.
I'm not the only one, I'm sure.
No, jed, I know I have anotherexample of a girlfriend who had
that exact situation in a boardmeeting.
So, oh, public transport boardmeeting, they're just awful
places to have to deal withthese situations.
But, yes, it happens,unfortunately, and that's why
(23:12):
we're here and that can bring usbeautifully into the awareness
campaign that you have earmarkedsome amazing funds for.
So is that something that willbe out to tender?
Should we be encouraging someamazing creative agencies out
there to start getting theirthinking caps on?
Ged (23:26):
Again, we haven't put the parameters around this.
There's $12.8 million for this,so it's not a small amount of
money, and I'll be sitting downwith the department and we will
be working out exactly how we'regoing to do that, how we're
going to include greatorganisations that I know, who
are out there who could helpwith this or create this or do
this.
Unfortunately, sonia, I haven'tgot the details to tell you,
(23:49):
but Do you know what I'mthinking, Jed?
Sonya (23:51):
I think we're going to have to come back post-election
and revisit this conversation.
Ged (24:00):
I will come back, jed will even I'll give you a little text
when.
Sonya (24:01):
I know a little bit.
So how's that?
From my very personalexperience, the information that
I shared at the Senate inquiry,the conversations I've had with
Senator Mariel and SenatorLarissa, and one of the things
that made me so happy when thereport was handed down from the
Senate inquiry, was thesuggestion of an awareness
campaign, but within that, forit to include lived experience,
because we must must hear thevoices of the lived experience,
(24:25):
because that is where a trueawareness really does kind of
start having a big impact.
Ged (24:30):
I couldn't agree with you more.
I could not agree with you moreAbsolutely.
I mean the stories we heard inthe senate inquiry and all kudos
to senators smith and waters.
It was amazing was some of itwas heartbreaking, like when you
read the reports um women'smarriages breaking up and giving
up work and just some of it wasreally pretty full of.
(24:51):
But yeah, I agree with youbecause you know women may not
identify that that's what'shappening to them, you know.
So if you hear the personalstories people go, oh, hang on a
minute, that's me, you knowyeah.
I've got that.
Maybe I'm having perimenopauseproblems.
You know it's so important tohear other people's experiences
so you feel included, you don'tfeel isolated and you have an
(25:12):
awareness of what's happening inyour body.
Sonya (25:13):
It's so great so, yeah, and it takes a while.
Oh, thank you, it was.
You know, absolutely mypleasure.
It's so great, yeah, and ittakes a while.
Oh, thank you, it was.
You know, absolutely mypleasure.
Any opportunity that I get toto be able to share my story,
but also know that that'simpacting everybody down the
line, and particularly thechanges that we are going to
make now that will impact thegenerations that come behind us.
Jed, thank you so much for yourtime today.
Was there anything else thatyou wanted to talk about or
(25:35):
anything you want to leave uswith?
Ged (25:37):
Again, just say thank you to you and to everybody who have
really kept this issue aliveand who gave evidence of the
inquiry.
We couldn't have done itwithout you all, and I just feel
part of a really amazingcommunity of women that have
really pushed so hard for this,so thank you.
Welcome to this episode of Dear Menopause.
I am delighted to be joinedtoday by Assistant Minister for
Health and Aged Care, GedKearney.
Welcome, Ged.
Ged (00:09):
Thank you so much.
I'm very excited to be on yourshow.
Sonya (00:12):
Thank you.
Now, Ged, we have a very big,meaty issue that we're here to
talk about today, but how aboutwe get the ball rolling with you
giving our listeners today alittle introduction into who Ged
Kearney is?
Ged (00:24):
Well, I am a grandma and two, six beautiful grandchildren
.
I am a mum of four kids and twobeautiful stepchildren, two
gorgeous stepdaughters.
I am a nurse by background.
I worked as a nurse for nearly20 years, spent most of my
working life at the AustinHospital in Melbourne For any of
your Melbourne visitors,they'll know the Austin Hospital
and I became head of theNurses' Union, the Australian
(00:46):
Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
Then I was asked to run aspresident of the Australian
Council of Trade Unions, whichwas a big job, and then I was
asked to run for public office,which I did, and won the seat of
what was called Batman.
Then it's now the seat ofHooper here in Melbourne in the
(01:08):
inner north and an electoratethat I adore and love, and it's
a great part of my job.
And now I don't know how ithappens sometimes, but now I'm
an assistant minister for healthand aged care and First Nations
health.
It's one of those things whereyou pinch yourself and you think
, wow.
Sonya (01:23):
I was going to say you had this like beautiful look of
surprise on your face as youwere about to say that, as if
you really don't know how yougot here.
Ged (01:29):
No, no, I often you know the movie Forrest Gump I often
think, oh, it's just a bit of aForrest Gump thing.
But you know, as women we dothat, don't we?
We self-deprec hard.
Sonya (01:45):
I have worked hard all my life and I'm really quite I'm
secretly quite proud of myself.
I think you should absolutelybe proud of yourself and I don't
think we need to keep it asecret.
So congratulations on anincredible career.
And you know, you've obviouslybeen someone that has been very
invested in women's health, butalso women's issues, you know,
from an advocacy perspective aswell for a very long time, for a
very long time.
Ged (02:04):
When I was first elected and got this role, I was asked
to take up women's healthbecause I have been a great
advocate for women's healthpretty much all my working life
and have been able to see thatthere is bias in the health
system, gender bias, which is,you know it's not to say that
anyone cuts women out or is outto not give women the best care
they can, because I'm a healthprofessional myself and I know
(02:24):
people work very hard.
It's just that the system itselfhas been built over hundreds
and hundreds of years by men formen and about men.
Of course, more recently we'reseeing more and more health
professionals and women.
More and more doctors inparticular are women and we have
more women in policymakingpositions.
We're elevating thosefemale-dominated health
professions like nursing andmidwifery and allied health, and
(02:45):
I think it's all a perfect timefor me to come along and really
advance the issue of women'shealth care and how we need to
do a lot to make sure that womenthat bias is is is stopped and
worked on yeah, absolutely, andthat leads us beautifully into
one of the reasons that we'rehere today, which is to talk
about the biggest announcementimpacting women's health in
Australia that, from myperspective, we've seen for
(03:07):
quite some time, and that is thehalf a billion dollar package
that was announced on the 9th ofFebruary.
Sonya (03:13):
So, first and foremost, thank you.
Ged (03:16):
You're welcome, and I should thank you because it's
advocates like your wonderfulself who have really pushed this
to the fore and made it anissue that has got a lot of
groundswell of support, and soreally, I flew on your coattails
in many ways, so thank you.
Sonya (03:31):
Oh goodness.
Well, thank you very much forthat.
But it's a collaborative effort, isn't it?
And just goes to show theimportance of voices at all
levels, from someone like myselfwho's at grassroots, you know,
considers herself to literallyjust be the voice of those that
don't feel that they have orknow how to use a voice, to
someone like yourself who is inthat position to actually really
make a considerable change.
It is a team effort, yeah,always.
(03:54):
Now, Jed, I think it'd bereally nice if you could give us
a quick overview of the packagethat was announced.
I do have a question.
It's a question that's comethrough from listeners
consistently since the packagewas announced that I'll ask you
off the back of that and thenwe'll dive into some more of the
details.
Ged (04:11):
Okay, well, I should give a little bit of background to
this package.
You know, we have coming up tothe end of the three-year term
and I've been working on women'shealth since I was appointed to
this role.
We appointed the NationalWomen's Health Advisory Council,
who's been helping me, and wedid a national survey where
two-thirds of respondents saidthat, as women, they felt there
(04:34):
was bias and discrimination inthe system.
A lot of that was around sexualand reproductive health care.
There are taboos on it, there'sstigma, it's pushed into the
shadows, it's not talked about,it's a secret women's business,
you know, and consequently, andthere's lots of other health
issues for women that are notabout reproductive health care.
But this is one area wherewomen really did feel
disadvantaged and, as aconsequence of that being not
(04:57):
spoken about and pushed into theshadows, it wasn't a policy
priority for governments past.
It has been for our governmentand last year we announced $160
million package.
It was a modest package forwomen while we were building up
onto this big one, which is now$573.3 million package.
It's more than half a billiondollars.
(05:17):
This is a huge investment.
It's in a couple of stages.
Some things happen now and somethings will happen on the
re-election of a laborgovernment.
I am pleased to say that theliberal government has said they
will commit to implementingthis, and jolly well if they win
the election.
I hope they do.
You know that this was a biglabor priority and it is a labor
reform.
(05:37):
Having said all that, weannounced 169.2 million dollars
to make it easier for women.
And I'll start one, and I knowyou want to talk about menopause
, but I'll say the whole thingyeah sure.
For long-acting reversiblecontraceptives commonly known as
LARCs your listeners will knowthem as IUDs and Implanon, you
(05:58):
know yeah implants, implants.
So these have been veryexpensive for women in Australia
Don't know why.
The rest of the world has goneway ahead of us and we know
they're extremely effectivecontraceptive.
They're also very good formenopause treatment.
For some symptoms of menopause,it cost a woman on average $400
to $500 to have an IUD inserted, which made it a huge barrier
(06:21):
for women.
We're cutting that cost, sowe're removing that cost of
insertion and removal.
We're going to give doctors GPsa lot more money to do that and
so hopefully they will everywoman.
They should not really need topay because we are reimbursing
doctors enough.
64.5 million is being investedfor high quality models of care
for endometriosis and pelvicpain, and we have endometriosis
(06:43):
and pelvic pain and we haveendometriosis and pelvic pain
clinics right around the country.
There's 22 of them.
We're going to increase that to33 and they're not only just
going to be for endometriosisand pelvic pain, they will be
for menopause and perimenopausecare, so we will have that
expertise there.
I can talk a bit more aboutthat later.
Sonia, great things arehappening around that.
There will be a new healthassessment item on the MBS for
(07:08):
women to sit down with their GPand talk about menopause, and I
think that will be great.
It's not very often that we geta new MBS item number, I
promise you, so this is reallyfantastic and there'll be long
consults and a woman can havethem every year.
There will be and I know this issomething that you will be very
pleased about there will be$12.8 million for a public
(07:33):
health campaign to raiseawareness and increase
understanding of menopause andperimenopause, the symptoms, the
management options.
You know what I'm reallyinterested in?
Empowering women to know theirbodies and know what's normal
and know what to talk to theirhealth practitioners about,
maybe even talk to your boss.
So you've got facts and figuresand you can talk to boss and
make the workplace a bit betteror just bring it out of that
secret women's business shadows.
(07:54):
I think would be great.
We're going to have nationallyconsistent guidelines for
menopause, believe it or not?
Hallelujah, hallelujah, can youbelieve it?
And there's lots of other moneybeing put in place to train our
health professionals in helpingwomen with menopause and
perimenopause.
So that's sort of in a nutshell.
And, of course, what did Iforget?
Sonya (08:13):
And the PBS?
Ged (08:14):
PBS Holy moly, holy moly.
Sonya (08:17):
Three, don't worry, I wasn't going to let you miss
that one.
Ged (08:20):
Two new contraceptive pills will go on the PBS from the 1st
of March and three of the mostcommonly used hormone therapies
will be on the PBS Estrogel,prometrium and Estrogel Pro.
Whoa, at last you know it's 20years.
Hormone therapy has been put onthe PBS.
Can you believe it?
And I'm really excited aboutthis People come up to me and
(08:40):
say oh my God, I've been dyingto smother myself in Estrogel
for so long and now I can affordit.
Sonya (08:46):
Oh my gosh.
Ged (08:49):
No, don't do that, we should be fine.
Sonya (08:51):
No, don't.
Okay, that is not medicaladvice.
Please don't listen to us.
They're all amazing, amazing,wonderful announcements, and I
know myself and a huge cohort ofadvocates were absolutely
delighted when we received theinformation the night before
that the announcement was madeand we were all so incredibly
excited.
There are a couple of things inthere that I do want to kind of
(09:12):
deep dive into with you in aminute.
Now you did kind of touch onthis question and you may not be
able to expand any further, butI'm going to ask it so that I
don't feel like I'm letting mylisteners down.
And that is, theseannouncements have all been made
by yourself, the Laborgovernment.
You've made that clear right atthe beginning.
We did see immediately,thankfully which was great news
on the day, that the oppositiondid come out and show bipartisan
(09:36):
support for that, which isabsolutely wonderful.
But what you know, does thatreally mean you know what could
happen if there is a change ofgovernment with this package,
and it's a really good question.
Ged (09:47):
You know Labor governments by and large are governments of
reform.
We are governments that reallybelieve in public health.
We implemented Medicare overthree or four times.
Each time there was aconservative government they
tried to strip Medicare away.
Peter Dutton himself tried todo away with bulk billing by
putting cash registers in EDsand making you pay to go to the
(10:07):
GP.
like getting rid of bulk billingand so we were always a little
bit worried about healthcare andMedicare when a coalition
government is elected.
Peter Dutton has said that hewants to find $350 billion worth
of savings.
We're not quite sure wherethose savings are going to come
from, he hasn't said.
But you know, this is, I think,this for me.
That's the political bit.
(10:29):
We are coming up to an election.
Pop that bit in.
Sonya (10:32):
Is that box?
Ged (10:32):
I just think that we are coming up to an election Pop.
That bit in the bit for mereally is you know, sonia, this
is what happens when you havewomen in government we have.
50% of our parliament are women, half of our cabinet, 50% of
our cabinet, is women, are women, is women.
There's 50% we have, you know,and when you have women at the
(10:53):
table, you get policy changelike this.
You know, this is why we'reinvesting in child care,
investing in aged care,investing in medicare.
These are things that womenbring to the table, and I think
that this is really indicativeof the fact that we work this
policy up for three years, andthe coalition has hasn't been a
priority.
We haven't seen anything fromthem and I think they got a bit
of a shock when we announcedthis fabulous policy.
(11:13):
They saw the response from you,from Australia's women, and
they thought crikey duh whowould have thunk that women
would be happy?
Sonya (11:21):
Who would have thunk?
Ged (11:22):
Yeah exactly.
Sonya (11:24):
So I guess the takeaway from that really is if you want
these packages to not just bekind of kicked to the curb
because there is a change ofgovernment, Don't allow there to
be a change of government.
Ged (11:34):
No that's my basic take Absolutely and I'm saying this
in a very partisan manner, butno, you know we came up with the
package.
I am committed to this package.
It is a revolutionary idea thathas come from the Labor Party.
Really, only the Labor Partywill, absolutely 100% deliver it
, implement.
Sonya (11:53):
Yeah, fantastic, great, thank you.
Thank you for addressing that.
So one of the first areas thatI'd really like to dive into a
little bit with is the.
You made mention of thecurrently existing 22
endometriosis and pelvic painclinics.
You announced that you will beexpanding those by 11, plus the
expanding the remit of those toinclude menopause and
perimenopause care, which isfantastic.
(12:14):
Where will those 33 be located?
Is there going to be equitableaccess to those four women,
regardless of where they'relocated?
Ged (12:23):
Sure, at the moment we've been doing it by PHN.
I'm not sure if your listenerswill know what a PHN is, but
it's a primary healthcarenetwork and these are
Australia's been broken up, ifyou like, into healthcare areas.
And there's a primaryhealthcare network and these are
Australia's been broken up, ifyou like, into healthcare areas.
And you know there's a largestate and a highly populated
state like New South Wales willhave several PHNs, and South
(12:45):
Australia has two PHNs.
So in the first instance, wewant a clinic in every single
PHN so that women do not have totravel far.
Now I would love one on everycorner if you are, but you know
constraints mean that I think westarted off with 22.
(13:06):
Another 11 is a commitment thatwe believe they work and that
they are an important part ofour health infrastructure, and
we are really committed totrying our health infrastructure
and we are really committed totrying to help women, and so I
think these are a great start.
If people say, oh, we're a bitdisappointed that there's not
one near me and I would totallyunderstand that what I will say
is there's something wonderfulhappening is that with
(13:28):
endometriosis and pelvic pain,there's a community of practice.
So those 22 endoclinics meetregularly.
They discuss, you know, casestudies, they talk what's
working, what's not working,they talk about new ideas and
research, they generate research, and so this community of
excellence, if you like, aroundendometriosis and pelvic pain
care is developing out of themand they are educating our
(13:52):
primary healthcare professionalsmore broadly.
So, I think you know that's whatI'm loving.
And eventually, let's face it,we shouldn't really have
specialist clinics.
Every woman should walk intoevery private primary healthcare
facility and get the best carethey possibly can.
We know that doesn't happen now.
Ultimately, that would be myaim to do away with these
specialty clinics.
Everybody would know about itso, but in the meantime, we're
(14:15):
starting with these ones okay,amazing.
Sonya (14:18):
And they don't provide a telehealth service, do they?
It is literally just anin-person appointment no, I
think they do provide telehealth.
Ged (14:24):
Okay, all right, cool, no, no, yep, definitely um fantastic
.
Well, that's good news thenyeah, no, the beauty of them is
that they respond to communityneeds.
Yeah, okay great.
Sonya (14:35):
So they have the flexibility to offer what they
feel is going to best servetheir community.
Okay, fantastic.
So when we expand the remit ofthose clinics and we start
bringing in the menopause andthe perimenopause care, does
that mean that you are bringingin menopause and perimenopause
specialist GPs or nurses, orhowever you're planning to do
that, into the centres?
(14:56):
Like, are you upping the staffor is it an upskilling of the
existing staff?
Ged (15:00):
Okay, great question.
So the model that we have fromthe endometriosis and pelvic
pain clinics, which is similarto what we'll use, we put out a
tender and we say to primaryhealthcare providers a number of
questions Do you have expertsalready in these areas?
And some gp specialists nursepractitioners, midwives are
already experts.
So they will say yes, we do,and we would like extra
(15:22):
resources to employ a largermultidisciplinary team.
And so that is one modelexercise physiologists,
dieticians, psychologists, painexperts are all being employed.
Another model is, like you saidlook, we don't have the
expertise.
We see the need in ourcommunity and we want to have
some resources to upskill ourstaff, and this is how we're
(15:45):
going to do that, how we'regoing to upskill our staff.
So some of them are using theresources to get to upskill.
Some are saying we have theresources now we want to expand
them.
So there's a couple of modelshappening, but I think your
question about upskilling morebroadly is a really important
one, because we are investing alot of money in building
capacity of our healthprofessionals to give
(16:05):
comprehensive menopause care.
There were some in the previouspackage last year, there's more
in this package and there'sonline training.
We're funding doctors to get totraining.
If they're in rural or remoteareas, we're giving them
scholarships to get to training.
We're building nationalguidelines that there's
consistency of care right acrossthe country.
We're offering online training,face-to-face training.
(16:28):
We're doing our best to upskillthe workforce, so it's a great.
Amazing.
Sonya (16:33):
Yeah, thank you.
And that does also lead into oneof my other questions, which is
very much along the lines ofthat absolute need for the
education and upskilling andobviously you're aware of that
was a big part of theannouncement that was made.
One of my questions around that, you know, that really huge
need to upskill, just as our gps, very first and foremost,
(16:54):
regardless of before we get outinto specialist clinics and
things like that, because theyare the first port of call for
many, many women.
And they are the point where Ihear every day and we do hear
stories and other mediums aswell where that is the first
place where women are dismissed,where they are let down, where
they really feel that they'renot being heard and not
supported.
So, when it comes to theretraining for want of a better
(17:19):
expression but the upskilling,the education, filling that
education gap that we knowexists, who will be providing
that training?
Is that something that willalso be going out to tender?
Are there existing providersthat you'll be tapping into?
How does that kind of startplaying out?
Ged (17:36):
Well, we have some existing programs already.
So Jean Hales, for example,jean Hales for Women's Health
runs an online training programfor menopause care.
So they will be providing someof that.
As I said, some of it will bein scholarships.
We will be looking to theAustralian Menopause Society
perhaps, or you know otherorganisations with skills to
(17:57):
offer their services.
There will be a tender process,you know, for that.
I don't have the exact way thatit's going to operate just yet,
but we'll be very open to asmany portals and many entry
ports as we possibly can forpeople to get that training.
Sonya (18:15):
One of the reasons why I was wanting to bring that up and
have that conversation is ifthese are existing providers
that have already been offeringthis service, yet we find
ourselves in a situation wheremany GPs still are not educated.
Obviously, there needs to be asignificant overhaul of what
does already exist because it'snot working and bringing in, as
(18:35):
you said, more options and waysto be able to provide that
education as well.
Ged (18:41):
Yeah, and a lot of the barriers to doctors not
attending, but they tell us theydon't have time, they can't
backfill their practice.
There's travel costs, so we'llbe providing free placements for
up to about 11,000 healthprofessionals to access training
.
So leave that with me and Iwill be able to come back to you
with a lot more informationwhen we've dug down in the
detail.
(19:03):
But I hear your point and it'sa very good point.
Sonya (19:06):
Thank you, I appreciate that.
So then, when we're talkingabout the new health assessment
that kicks in as of the 1st ofJuly, is that right?
Yep, that's right.
Yep, that's exciting.
So can you tell us what thatactually means for someone that
perhaps doesn't understand theMedicare system?
What can a woman that'slistening do to take advantage
of that?
Ged (19:24):
Well, I think you can.
When you ring up to make anappointment, you need to specify
that I'm coming for a menopausediscussion or a menopause
consultation I think is probablythe better word so that you're
not in the six minute medicinetime slot, you know, because
there's not a lot you can say.
Sonya (19:44):
So will it be a dedicated , longer appointment time.
Ged (19:47):
It will be a dedicated, longer appointment time and I
would encourage you to, when youring up to make an appointment,
to say that that isspecifically what you are coming
for.
It also gives if there is anexpert in menopause in your
primary healthcare facility youknow will prompt a visit to them
or with them.
They might have a nurse,practitioner or someone that is
specially trained up inmenopause that can talk to you.
(20:08):
You know all the things thatyou say.
You know to your listeners allthe time.
Use the hour, go with your yourquestions, don't be even allow
them to be dismissed or pushedback.
Hopefully that won't happen now, because there's a lot of
awareness and you're going for amenopause consultation.
But I really encourage you tofeel really confident that
(20:31):
that's exactly what this is forand that you will be heard, you
will be no, you won't bedismissed and you will be
offered help and treatment.
I think that this having itdedicated to that I think will
drive a revolution in primaryhealth care for women with
menopause.
Sonya (20:48):
It's not just yeah.
Ged (20:49):
I hope so.
I hope so.
It's not just.
Oh you sure you're notdistressed, I'll give you some.
You know what happens.
Sonya (20:57):
You just need a holiday.
Ged (20:58):
You need a holiday, that's right.
Oh, all that brain fog, it'llpass.
I had.
I had menorrhagia, very heavyperiods, really heavy periods
during perimenopause and my GPsays, oh, it's just menopause,
it will pass.
It will pass.
Sonya (21:12):
I had a conversation, I spoke at an event on Wednesday
in the city here in Sydney and Ihad a lady come up to me
afterwards and I was talking toher and a friend and she says to
me you know she goes, oh gosh,sonia, it's terrible.
I've been bleeding consistentlyfor months and my GP just keeps
telling me some women in their40s bleed and I was horrified
(21:32):
because any unexplained bleedingmust be investigated.
It may not be perimenopausethere are a host of things that
that could be and for a GP to beas dismissive as women in their
forties just sometimes bleed, Ithought was absolutely
atrocious.
Ged (21:46):
I absolutely agree with you .
Please, I hope you had toldthat poor woman to go and get
checked out, because I ended up.
You know I tell this story.
I don't know if you heard, butI flooded on a tram once story I
don't know if you've heard butI flooded on a tram once Like I
don't know if anyone hasmenorrhagia, but it's awful.
When you get up off the tram,the seat's covered in blood.
You're covered in blood.
It's terrible and I thought I'mgoing to quit work.
(22:08):
I can't go to work anymore.
And eventually I did find adoctor that said we'd better do
some blood tests.
And and he said to me well,you've got a hemoglobin that is
not compatible with life.
I had bled so much, he said Idon't know how you're standing
upright.
Sonya (22:23):
Oh, my goodness.
Ged (22:24):
I said crikey, what do we do about that?
He said something really quick.
Sonya (22:28):
Really quickly.
Yeah Well, one of the thingsthat she said to me when we had
this conversation was I'm justso tired, I'm so fatigued, and I
went, your iron will be sodepleted.
He should have at least offeredyou a test to understand where
your iron levels were.
So, yeah, a lot wrong with thatwhole conversation and I'm
sorry that you had thatexperience.
That just sounds awfullytraumatic and, in the moment,
(22:50):
must have just been somethingreally incredible to have to
experience.
I'm not the only one, I'm sure.
No, jed, I know I have anotherexample of a girlfriend who had
that exact situation in a boardmeeting.
So, oh, public transport boardmeeting, they're just awful
places to have to deal withthese situations.
But, yes, it happens,unfortunately, and that's why
(23:12):
we're here and that can bring usbeautifully into the awareness
campaign that you have earmarkedsome amazing funds for.
So is that something that willbe out to tender?
Should we be encouraging someamazing creative agencies out
there to start getting theirthinking caps on?
Ged (23:26):
Again, we haven't put the parameters around this.
There's $12.8 million for this,so it's not a small amount of
money, and I'll be sitting downwith the department and we will
be working out exactly how we'regoing to do that, how we're
going to include greatorganisations that I know, who
are out there who could helpwith this or create this or do
this.
Unfortunately, sonia, I haven'tgot the details to tell you,
(23:49):
but Do you know what I'mthinking, Jed?
Sonya (23:51):
I think we're going to have to come back post-election
and revisit this conversation.
Ged (24:00):
I will come back, jed will even I'll give you a little text
when.
Sonya (24:01):
I know a little bit.
So how's that?
From my very personalexperience, the information that
I shared at the Senate inquiry,the conversations I've had with
Senator Mariel and SenatorLarissa, and one of the things
that made me so happy when thereport was handed down from the
Senate inquiry, was thesuggestion of an awareness
campaign, but within that, forit to include lived experience,
because we must must hear thevoices of the lived experience,
(24:25):
because that is where a trueawareness really does kind of
start having a big impact.
Ged (24:30):
I couldn't agree with you more.
I could not agree with you moreAbsolutely.
I mean the stories we heard inthe senate inquiry and all kudos
to senators smith and waters.
It was amazing was some of itwas heartbreaking, like when you
read the reports um women'smarriages breaking up and giving
up work and just some of it wasreally pretty full of.
(24:51):
But yeah, I agree with youbecause you know women may not
identify that that's what'shappening to them, you know.
So if you hear the personalstories people go, oh, hang on a
minute, that's me, you knowyeah.
I've got that.
Maybe I'm having perimenopauseproblems.
You know it's so important tohear other people's experiences
so you feel included, you don'tfeel isolated and you have an
(25:12):
awareness of what's happening inyour body.
Sonya (25:13):
It's so great so, yeah, and it takes a while.
Oh, thank you, it was.
You know, absolutely mypleasure.
It's so great, yeah, and ittakes a while.
Oh, thank you, it was.
You know, absolutely mypleasure.
Any opportunity that I get toto be able to share my story,
but also know that that'simpacting everybody down the
line, and particularly thechanges that we are going to
make now that will impact thegenerations that come behind us.
Jed, thank you so much for yourtime today.
Was there anything else thatyou wanted to talk about or
(25:35):
anything you want to leave uswith?
Ged (25:37):
Again, just say thank you to you and to everybody who have
really kept this issue aliveand who gave evidence of the
inquiry.
We couldn't have done itwithout you all, and I just feel
part of a really amazingcommunity of women that have
really pushed so hard for this,so thank you.
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