The past couple of years have seen a stronger policy emphasis on women’s health from the Australian Government.

NWMPHN is playing a critical role in ensuring that facilities and services appropriate to the communities within our region are funded and enabled. Some of these new services, such as Werribee’s new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic, provide care and support to thousands of women.

Others, often in general practice settings, tailor women’s health services in individual or small group settings, with a strong focus on providing care that is locality-specific and culturally safe.

The organisation also provided a valuable crisis response. Following confirmed reports of serious malpractice on the part of former Dr Simon Gordon, as part of the Victorian Government’s response we launched the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain (EPP) Care Navigator service.

It provides free, confidential support to help people understand care options, connect with services and coordinate next steps through their GP or, where a patient does not have a regular GP, assist in finding appropriate care pathways. 

Boosting women's health in the west

In January 2026 NWMPHN facilitated the opening of the first bulk-billed endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic in its region. 

The clinic, in the western suburbs, was funded through a 2025 expansion of the Australian Government’s endometriosis and pelvic pain program, part of its broader women’s health initiative. The expansion took the total number of clinics to 33 nationwide, with at least one in each primary health network region. 

A request for information process was conducted by NWMPHN, with a shortlist of providers forwarded to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

The ForHealth group’s Werribee Medical and Dental Centre was commissioned to operate the service.

The clinic is open seven days a week across extended hours, providing expert, multidisciplinary services for endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, and other conditions. It also supports women and those assigned female at birth experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. 

“The clinic operates on GP and nurse-led multidisciplinary care model, embedding specialist women’s health expertise within primary care,” said Stephanie Germano, NWMPHN’s Manager, Quality Improvement Partnerships. 

It compliments women’s health services provided by general practices in the region, and specialist women’s health services available at Melton Health and Community Services and the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s centre at Sunshine Hospital. 

“The endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic is a great asset for health care in our region because it strengthens local pathways and networks, which improves coordination across services,” said Christopher Carter, NWMPHN’s CEO.

“Endometriosis affects one in seven women. Despite the excellent care afforded by many general practices, time, resources and expense have been significant barriers. This clinic complements the care already available, and contributes to a system-level shift – moving away from episodic hospital-based care to community-based, continuous, multidisciplinary management.”

For more information read; Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics - North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

Menopause: treating the person, not the symptoms

Dr Ivana Matic-Stancin is one of many general practitioners in the NWMPHN catchment who provides treatment and support for women. For her, however, the subject occupies most of her professional attention. 

“More than half of my consultations are about midlife women’s transition through menopause,” she said. “The area has been my main focus for more than five years now.” 

Dr Matic-Stancin provides services at the Maxwell Medical Group in Braybrook and the Wattle Medical Group in Yarraville, as well as online consults. She facilitates group sessions and one-on-one appointments. 

Her approach is to treat the whole person, providing patient-centred advice that goes far beyond simply prescribing hormone replacement therapy. 

“I really try in this clinical setting to make the whole picture bigger, to make them aware that we are not only treating the symptoms but improving their overall health and minimising the potential for certain chronic conditions,” she said. 

“I’m trying to raise their awareness how this whole perimenopausal point in their life is a very good opportunity for them to understand that it’s a checkpoint, and that they are much more than just their fluctuating hormones.” 

For more about this topic read; Managing menopause means treating the person, not the symptoms - North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network