Welcome to a special episode where we bring you the conversation from a live event “Breakfast By the Bay – Menopause Matters: Igniting Change with Menopause Policy Reform” hosted by the UWA Public Policy Institute (PPI) at the University Club at UWA in July 2024.
The event included opening remarks from WA Member of the Legislative Assembly Dr Katrina Stratton who shared her experience of menopause, and Juris Doctor student Basira Khan who spoke about the research project she recently completed on the intersection of menopause and different cultural backgrounds, in order to ensure that future menopause policies consider culturally diverse groups.
The panel for the event was hosted by Director of the UWA PPI A/Prof Paul Maginn and included:
WA Senator Louise Pratt who is leading the current senate inquiry into “Issues related menopause and perimenopause” - https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Menopause
Grace Molloy, CEO of Menopause Friendly Australia - https://menopausefriendly.au
Dr Rod Gutierrez, Group Vice President, Health & Hygiene, BHP - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgutierrez/?originalSubdomain=au
Dr Dani Barrington, Senior Lecturer at the UWA School of Population and Global Health - https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/dani-barrington
Francine Eades, East Metropolitan Health Service - https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-eades-49b721225/?originalSubdomain=au
The panel discuss the different impacts of menopause and perimenopause on women across different aspects of their lives. They also discuss how increasing awareness among family members, employers, and policymakers can help to pave the way for meaningful changes to help women who are going through perimenopause and menopause.
Audience members also shared their menopause stories and asked the panel questions. The panel rounded out the discussion by finishing with an acknowledgement of some of the benefits of having gone through menopause.
A huge thanks to Paul Maginn and Clare Feenan from the UWA PPI for organising this excellent event, and for inviting us along to record it.
You can access the UWA PPI’s Policy Brief “Menopause Matters” here: https://api.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/407913418/Menopause_PolicyBrief_Final_08082024.pdf
As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com or via twitter @healthmeanswhat or via FaceBook @MeaningofHealth or via Instagram @healthmeanswhat
