At the heart of women’s health is the right to live well, to be safe, and to thrive — no matter who you are, where you live, or what your story is. As a First Nations woman and CEO of the Australian Women’s Health Alliance, I know our health is shaped not just by medicine, but by systems, by justice, and by whether we are truly seen and heard.
Our policy brief presents a bold, evidence-based vision: a health system that is equitable, trauma-informed, and grounded in cultural safety. A system that respects the knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, listens to girls and gender diverse people and upholds the dignity of older women.
The brief is informed by research, rights-based analysis and the diverse lived experience of communities across the country. Women and girls’ health must be considered across every portfolio and in every Budget.
We celebrate the progress made in the 2025–26 Federal Budget and we call on governments to go further, to be braver and to fund what works. The time for systemic change is now.
