Endometriosis

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question on the topic of endometriosis to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The draft national action plan for endometriosis makes a number of important recommendations for education on endometriosis to facilitate early intervention on the condition, including:

A menstrual education program for school students that is tested and ready for delivery...

The plan makes a priority of awareness and education, stating:

Education, particularly in younger age groups, is fundamental for breaking the cycle of under-recognition and diagnostic delay.

This is the first priority area of the National Action Plan, which acknowledges the need to improve understanding and impact of the condition among patients, health and education professionals, the broader health sector, and the Australian community generally.

The plan goes on to state that a menstrual health education program should be 'delivered by specially qualified personnel'.

As the minister is no doubt aware, a recent study in Canberra of Australian teenagers showed that 26 per cent of girls are missing school because of their periods. Of these, 2 per cent reported time off school with every single period. Meanwhile, the November 2007 report 'The high price of pain'estimated that applying evidence-based treatments could halve the cost of chronic pain to the Australian economy, a saving of some $17 billion per annum.

Last year, as the minister is well aware, the well-established ME program from New Zealand was successfully trialled in South Australia, with the results reflecting increased knowledge and awareness in those students, with the schools all indicating they were eager for it to return. However, on Wednesday 9 May The Advertiser noted in regard to this program, 'The state government is yet to commit to funding the school program'.

Can the minister advise whether the state government is yet ready to commit to funding this program that is tested and ready for immediate delivery via the specially qualified local personnel through the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, therefore meeting those aims of the national action plan and, if so, when will this commence?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for her question. The draft national endometriosis action plan was released by the federal Minister for Health on 14 May, which I count as two days ago, and is focused on three activities. These are awareness and education, clinical care and management, and research and innovation. Endometriosis and the draft national action plan have been a major focus of the Hon. Greg Hunt. Not only did he undertake this work, but specifically in discussions at the COAG council of health ministers he raised his eagerness to facilitate progress in this area.

Consultation to inform the development of the plan opened on 14 May and closes on 28 May, and the final plan is likely to be released in June 2018. South Australia intends to be an active contributor. As a government we recognise endometriosis is a condition which affects around one in 10 women, with potentially serious outcomes for women if not identified and managed early. We acknowledge that some of these women will go on to have fertility problems, and many will suffer from chronic pelvic pain.

As the house would recall, the Menstrual Health and Endometriosis Program pilot, funded by the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, was held in 2017 in 10 South Australian secondary schools and has been formally evaluated as a successful initiative. South Australia has undertaken commercial clinical trials in conjunction with the prevention and recovery unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with two trials currently underway.

I certainly agree with the honourable member about the importance of increasing awareness amongst young women about endometriosis and what is and what is not normal pain. It is supported as an effective strategy to prevent the long-term impacts of the physical and mental health of women. That is why I have already met with the honourable member and proponents of that project. My understanding is that we have received the additional information that we requested out of that meeting, and I know that I am not alone in this government in being determined that action will be taken.

My understanding is that the honourable Minister for Education has also met with advocates in this area. We are looking to make sure that we not only contribute actively to the national endometriosis action plan but that we continue to build on the work done in this state, both through the Pelvic Pain Foundation and through SA Health, to make sure that we take effective action to support women and girls in Australia who are suffering from endometriosis.