Endometriosis

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:18): Lucky Port Adelaide. My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing on the topic of endometriosis. Can the minister please update us on South Australia's progress towards fulfilling the National Action Plan for Endometriosis, with particular reference to the schools and education part of that plan?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for her question. As the honourable member is alluding to, the federal government recently launched the National Action Plan for Endometriosis. It was launched on 26 July. The commonwealth government also announced an extra $1.2 million in funding to support implementation of the national action plan, bringing the commonwealth funding commitment to $4.7 million.

As I think I have previously advised the chamber, the state government is actively looking at a proposal in relation to an education program for girls, which has been put forward by the Pelvic Pain Foundation. The Menstrual Health and Endometriosis program pilot, funded by the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, was held in 2017 with 10 South Australian secondary schools and has been formally evaluated. Federal funding was involved in that program.

South Australia, particularly the Minister for Education and myself, have been working with the Pelvic Pain Foundation on a second program. In that regard, we have been consulting with clinicians in terms of the final shape of the project. My understanding—and I can get the information for the member—is that the project proposal has been finalised following clinical input, so the state government will be continuing to progress that proposal. As I said, it's a joint venture between the health department and the education department, and we are also having conversations with our federal colleagues.

I hasten to add, though, that it's not the only thing the state government is doing in the area of endometriosis. South Australia is undertaking commercial trials in conjunction with the prevention and recovery care unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with two pharmaceutically sponsored trials having completed ethics approval which will be starting recruitment in the next months. It's very important that we not only continue to increase awareness amongst young women about endometriosis, which is the focus of the Pelvic Pain Foundation process, but that we also do what we can to strengthen the pharmaceutical research that assists young women in this area.