Do it anyway’ is the theme of this year’s Women’s Health Week, encouraging women to take small, realistic steps towards personal wellbeing and health priorities despite busy schedules.

Women’s Health Week, from September 7 to 11, is one of the nation’s largest events for women’s health, and with the expansion of East Grampians Health Service’s new Women’s Health Clinic, clinicians are now available to help women achieve their health goals.

The EGHS Women’s Health Clinic, which also encompasses the Sexual and Reproductive Hub, is expanding and offering new services, operating from the EGHS Community Health Centre.

“With a caring multidisciplinary team providing quality care all in the one place, the clinic enables women to access services and gain the advice they need to live a long and healthy life,” women’s health manager Tracey Walters said.

“At the clinic, women can access specialised women’s health physiotherapists, GP obstetricians and a women’s health nurse to provide these services.

“Women also have access to a dietician, social worker and a breast care nurse and in future we are aiming to have more specialists join the team and expand our services even more.”

The women’s health physiotherapy team provides assessment, treatment and support for a wide range of pelvic health concerns across all stages of a woman’s life, particularly during times of hormonal shifts such as the childbearing years and menopause.

The physiotherapists are experienced in managing bladder and bowel dysfunction, including incontinence, urinary urgency and chronic constipation, as well as pelvic organ prolapse symptoms.

The team also supports women during pregnancy and after birth, providing pelvic floor screening and rehabilitation to promote recovery and a safe return to everyday activities and their chosen level of exercise. 

The clinicians also support women experiencing pelvic pain, including painful intercourse and symptoms associated with conditions such as endometriosis.

“Women’s Health Week will be celebrated by the staff at the clinic with the aim to get the word out to women of all ages that we are expanding our services for women in the Ararat region and beyond, and providing specialist services closer to home,” Ms Walters said.

“The clinic is for all women and women assigned female at birth who are going/gone through puberty through to and during/after the menopause years.

“No referral is required and we will assist you to work through your health needs in a supportive and confidential environment.”

The Women’s Health Clinic provides services in: sexual health: STI testing and treatment; pelvic pain: comprehensive care for persistent pelvic discomfort; menopause and perimenopause: support for navigating hormonal changes and the symptoms that affect daily life; menstrual issues: diagnosis and treatment of menstrual pain and heavy bleeding; continence: management of pelvic floor health and continence support; contraception: including the insertion of IUD and Implanon in the clinic; and pregnancy counselling.

To book an appointment people do not need a referral, and the clinic offers most services at no-cost or low-cost. 

Women who would like to attend for an appointment in a confidential and caring environment, can call 5352 9430 to book an appointment or email womenshealth@eghs.net.au.

The entire September 2, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!