In Touch…In Formed…Out There…Out Back
Rural Women’s Health A Priority
Two years ago The Jean Hailes Foundation embarked on an ambitious project to try to address the midlife health needs of Australian women, and the health professionals who support them, who live in rural and remote areas. This was never going to be a simple project in size, design or development. For a start, how do you offer health education, information and training in isolated parts of the country in a sustainable and economic manner?
Slightly daunted, but full of enthusiasm and pioneering spirit, project managers Sarah Hardy (now director of education) and Mandy Hudson, embarked on what was to be the start of a very exciting two year journey. A journey that would draw on the joint expertise of health professionals from across Victoria, as well as the voices of hundreds of women throughout the state who are at, or approaching, midlife and beyond.
By appropriately resourcing health professionals in isolated communities, ultimately the project aims to deliver primary and preventative health programs to women at midlife across the nation. This resource is designed to be adaptable to the local communities and promotes community ownership, so that it is truly sustainable beyond the life of the training phase. How do health professionals living in rural and remote parts of Australia access comprehensive, up to date and credible health information in order to support and work with their local communities?
“As the rural, regional and remote Australian population age, women will be highly represented in the older age groups. The appropriate management of menopause and other midlife issues has important implications for the delivery of health care and education.”
(Then) Federal Minister for Ageing, Kevin Andrews, Feb 2002 |
Here Sarah Hardy explains the process of designing and developing this exciting resource and what it will mean for women living in rural and remote parts of Australia.
Why a rural and remote midlife health resource kit?
 As our nation ages women are living longer than men by nearly a decade. Nowhere is it more obvious that future health services will need to be shaped to meet the needs of older women and encourage their active participation in order to promote community ownership, than in rural and remote parts of Australia.
In rural areas, women aged 40 – 60 face a specific set of challenges relating to health and health care. These include limited access to, and choice of, services, health practitioners and up to date health related information as well as compromised privacy (especially in small towns where everyone knows everyone else).
In response The Foundation’s Education Unit has conducted health forums as far afield as Albury, Wollongong, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Ballarat, Horsham, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Mildura, Lismore and Cowes. Women's health issues have also been addressed in other more isolated communities such as Mowanjum in the Kimberley.
One of the keys to addressing midlife issues for women is to ensure that health professionals are well resourced, with the skills and knowledge needed to work with local women and their families in their community around the issues they may face at this time. In particular, health education and information needs to be sensitive and relevant to local needs and issues.
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"It is particularly important to raise awareness about women's health issues in regional areas where health and wellbeing are strongly influenced by social, economic and environmental factors. The Jean Hailes Foundation draws on the expertise of many health professionals working in regional Victoria to complement the work of those living in the city."
(Then) Bass Coast Mayor, Miranda Sage, Feb 2002 Chair, Women’s Health Session, Cowes, Victoria |
Community consultation and partnerships
The first step in this project was to set up a steering (guiding) committee. This project has been guided by a Victorian rural steering committee of 12 health professionals. Members of the steering committee are all working in rural and remote Victoria and have a strong commitment to women’s health.
With funding gratefully received from The Jack Brockhoff Foundation and The Felton Bequest, ANZ Trustees to run this project as a pilot program in Victoria, the steering committee was implemented to drive and inform the project. The committee was able to involve local women from their own communities, enabling rural and remote women to influence and shape the development of this unique resource.
Why focus on midlife?
Consultation and our established relationships with rural and remote communities in Victoria indicate that information on menopause, hormone therapy, natural therapies, weight management, sexuality, depression and stress management are the main priorities of the 40-60 year old woman. In addition, our educators have noticed increased requests for midlife women’s health from health professionals in isolated communities.
According to Australian Census Data 2001
In Australia there are:
Broken down these figures include:
The median age for Australian women in 2001 is 36
The state of rural women’s health in Australia
Current situation
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The trend towards longer life expectancy, coupled with the ageing of Australia’s population presents a challenge for rural Australia.
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Rate of hospitalisation and deaths are higher in rural areas for many conditions.
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Rates for cardiovascular (heart) disease are higher for females living in rural areas compared with metropolitan women.
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Diabetes death rates in rural and remote areas are two to three times higher than in metropolitan areas.
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The impact of mental health on quality of life and the maintenance of good physical health are of great importance to rural Australians. Middle aged women present with one of the highest incidences of depression.
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Data from the Royal Flying Doctor Service Rural Women’s GP Service (Oct 2002) shows that menopausal symptoms/complaints are amongst the top two reasons, in most Australian states, for visiting the GP. This figure has increased by over 300% in the past year.
What will this resource provide?
This educational kit will provide rural and remote health professionals and their communities with the resources to establish the best possible service to women at midlife. The kit offers innovative ways to deliver services to women focussing on prevention and early detection of illness, disease and improved wellbeing.
| “…increasing requests from women and health professionals living in isolated communities” |
What is in this educational resource?
Included is a manual of updated and balanced educational material on a range of midlife health issues. This material is based on current research findings, clinical experience and evaluation, as well as anecdotal information from the rural steering committee and the women who participated in rural focus groups.
Topics covered include:
Informed decision making
Natural therapies
Herbal remedies
Sexuality
Emotional health and wellbeing
Bone health Heart disease
Understanding menopause
Breast health
Complementary therapies Hormone therapy
Lifestyle issues
Additional resources
In addition, there are also several innovative and practical resources to hand out to women to use at their own leisure, pace and in their own privacy.
Information for facilitating groups
There is also an interactive activity manual containing a variety of group activities/sessions that will assist the health worker to facilitate women’s health sessions in their own communities.
Hundreds of interactive activities are outlined, with various options allowing for individual preferences and alternatives, making the manual very user friendly and easy to follow. Suggested session outlines are included for each activity and there are also practical ideas and tips on how to promote and advertise health sessions to the local community.
THE LAUNCH
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“Great news for Australian women” Cathy McGowan, Chair of the Regional Women’s Advisory Council on launching the resource kit for rural health professionals. From right to left Cathy McGowan, Janet Michelmore, Karen Templeton, Sarah Hardy, Mandy Hudson |
In December last year, over 100 locals and visitors from across Victoria gathered at the School of Rural Health in Shepparton to witness Cathy McGowan, Chair of the Regional Women’s Advisory Council, launch this unique resource kit for rural health professionals.
Where to now?
The 12 strong steering committee are now implementing programs using the kit in their local rural communities, including Gippsland, East Grampians and Northern Districts. Workshop training days to introduce other workers to the kit are being held across the state, using a ‘train the trainer’ model. Health professionals such as community health nurses, GPs, physiotherapists and community educators are then able to train others in their local areas in the use of the kit, plus develop innovative, sustainable programs for their local communities.
Training
Health professionals seeking further information, or to express interest in interstate training, please contact Sarah Hardy, Director of Education, tollfree on 1800 151 441.
Training days are being conducted across Victoria at this stage, as the project is still in pilot phase. Funding is currently being sought for interstate training days to be conducted Australia wide later in the year.
A Personal perspective
A wonderful new resource on midlife has arrived! This is just what I have needed to inspire and support my education programs for women who are at this challenging stage of life. The midlife kit from the Jean Hailes Foundation provides everything the health worker will need to plan, implement and evaluate group sessions. It is very comprehensive, extremely flexible and most attractively presented. Women in rural and remote areas of the country now have access to the very best in information and support thanks to this kit.
This kit gives health workers in rural and remote areas access to resources of an exceptionally high standard. I believe it will underpin much-needed community education programs on midlife and help alleviate the sense of isolation that women and health professionals in these areas often feel.
Jenny Davidson, Rural Steering Committee member. Community Health Nurse - Glenview Community Care, Rutherglen, Victoria
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“What is most exciting about this educational program is that it will take on a life of it’s own and the flow on effect will be felt state wide (maybe across the country). Health professionals will be trained and will then have a most valuable resource to take back to their communities. The Jean Hailes Foundation should be congratulated for investing two years in developing, writing and producing this impressive resource that will benefit women initially in rural Victoria, but ultimately women in all rural and remote parts of Australia.”
Cathy McGowan |
The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content.
© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.
Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.
Content March 21, 2003
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