Women’s health
Supporting women to live well at every stage of life
Women’s health needs change throughout life. Access to timely, appropriate and culturally safe health care can make a significant difference to health and wellbeing – from adolescence and reproductive health through pregnancy, menopause, healthy ageing and beyond.
Healthy North Coast works with health professionals, services and communities across the North Coast to understand local health needs, improve access to primary health care and support better health outcomes for women and girls.
Women’s health on the North Coast
Where you live, your age, culture, income and access to health services can all influence your health.
For women living in regional and rural communities, accessing the right care can sometimes mean travelling long distances, waiting for specialist services or navigating different parts of the health system.
Healthy North Coast uses local health data, community insights and feedback from health professionals to identify gaps in care and determine where additional investment, service development and system improvements are needed.
Our work supports women’s health across a number of priority areas, including:
- reproductive and sexual health
- endometriosis, persistent pelvic pain and menopause
- preventive health and cancer screening
- mental health and wellbeing
- pregnancy, perinatal health and early parenthood
- chronic conditions
- healthy ageing
- access to culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
- improving access to health care for women experiencing disadvantage or barriers to care.
Featured women’s health programs
Endometriosis, pelvic pain and menopause care
Endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain can have a significant impact on physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, work and everyday life.
Healthy North Coast supports the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic in Coffs Harbour as part of the Australian Government’s national Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics initiative. The clinic is designed to improve access to multidisciplinary care, reduce delays in diagnosis and help people access appropriate treatment and support closer to home.
From July 2026, Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics are also expanding their support for people experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
Find out about endometriosis and pelvic pain support
Perimenopause and menopause
Everyone experiences perimenopause and menopause differently. Learning more about perimenopause and menopause, including symptoms, management and treatment options, can help you feel prepared.
Watch: Perimenopause and menopause explained
View resources about Perimenopause and menopause
Cancer prevention and screening
Finding cancer early can improve treatment options and health outcomes.
Healthy North Coast works with general practices, health services and other partners to encourage participation in national cancer screening programs and improve access to preventive health care.
Breast and cervical cancer screening are important areas of preventive health for women across our region. While participation across the North Coast is generally strong, screening rates vary between communities and some areas continue to experience lower participation.
Our work uses local health data to help identify these gaps and support more equitable access to screening and early detection.
Learn more about cancer screening:
Mental health and wellbeing
Healthy North Coast commissions and supports a range of mental health services across the North Coast, from early intervention and psychological support through to services for people experiencing more complex mental health needs.
Free Medicare Mental Health services are also available across the region, helping people connect with appropriate mental health care without needing a referral or Medicare card.
Supporting better primary health care
For many women, their general practice is the first place they turn for health advice and care.
Healthy North Coast works with general practices and other primary care providers to strengthen the quality, coordination and accessibility of care available across the region.
This includes supporting locally developed HealthPathways and clinical education covering areas such as endometriosis, menopause, antenatal care, contraception and other women’s health issues.
By strengthening primary care, we aim to make it easier for women to receive appropriate care and referrals closer to where they live.
Women's health through life
Young women
Adolescence and early adulthood can bring significant physical, emotional and social changes. Access to trusted information and appropriate care can support sexual and reproductive health, mental wellbeing and the development of healthy behaviours.
Reproductive and maternal health
Primary health care plays an important role in contraception, fertility and reproductive health, pregnancy planning, antenatal care and supporting physical and mental wellbeing during and after pregnancy.
Perimenopause and menopause
Perimenopause and menopause can affect people differently. Symptoms may influence physical health, sleep, emotional wellbeing, relationships and everyday life.
Speaking with a GP or other appropriately qualified health professional can help you understand symptoms and discuss treatment and management options.
Healthy ageing
Health priorities continue to change as we age. Preventive care, staying active, maintaining social connections and managing chronic conditions can all support women to live and age well.
Healthy North Coast supports initiatives that improve access to primary health care and help older people remain healthy, independent and connected to their communities.
Improving women’s health across our region
Our approach starts with understanding the health needs of our communities.
Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment brings together population health data, service information and the experiences of people living and working across the North Coast.
These insights help us identify communities experiencing poorer health outcomes or barriers to care and guide where we focus our planning, partnerships and investment.
For women’s health, this includes continuing to understand and respond to differences in access, prevention, screening, mental health, chronic disease and other health outcomes across different communities.