Dear friend of Jean Hailes

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel as though life moves too fast, leaving me with no time to stop and think. I need to reflect and focus on who I am and where I’m going, otherwise I might take a wrong turn.

At Jean Hailes we have also asked ourselves some important questions; what are our strengths, what do women need, and what are the gaps in women’s health? How do we present ourselves to the public and how we can do it better to increase our reach and strengthen our identity? What you see today is the result of this work; an increased focus on keeping women well throughout their whole lives.

This edition, we look at three issues that may affect women at different stages in their life journey – potential ‘bumps in the road’. Whether it’s coping with a newborn, a hormonal and metabolic condition or the natural ageing process, we all face challenges, big or small. We aim to help you navigate those bumps in the road, through our research, education and clinical care.

We believe our research should benefit women in the real world. This is why we have such a strong focus on ‘translation’ – research that inspires positive action in women’s health. This principle guides everything we do, from our community education programs, to our clinical practice and participation in policy development. I am so proud that Jean Hailes is leading the way in research and translation through our key role in the first evidencebased guideline for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), led by Professor Helena Teede.

Our PCOS translation program, launched by Health Minister Nicola Roxon, will make sure women and health professionals know about this new guideline and put it into practice.

Reflecting on where you’re going naturally leads to thinking about where you’ve been. I spoke to Professor Jane Fisher recently about her work with new parents and asked her jokingly, “Where were you 25 years ago when I had my babies?” Amazingly, she replied, “I ask myself the same thing!”

It’s reassuring to know that even experts had to learn things the hard way once upon a time – but we want to make it easier for women to access information, now and in the future.

Now I’m at a different stage in my health journey. Although I feel the same on the inside as I did in my 20s, the bathroom mirror and my stiff joints tell me otherwise. Still, I prefer to look at the positives; I’m playing the best tennis and golf of my life right now and what’s more, I’m finally feeling comfortable in my own skin, but I do have to put on my glasses and use a bright light to do my make-up!

Janet Michelmore, AO
Director

Janet can be contacted on 1800 JEAN HAILES (532 642)

Content Updated November 2011