Our story

Jean set out to change the story for women’s health in Australia.

Jean was an advocate, a changemaker and a researcher who dedicated her career to improving the health of women. She was especially passionate about advancing treatment options for women going through menopause at a time when this was not a priority in the medical profession.

In the 1970s, menopause was something women whispered about – if they talked about it at all. But Dr Jean Hailes wasn’t one to be deterred by silence.

She saw what others didn’t: that the health and wellbeing of midlife women was being overlooked. A visionary in the field of women’s health, she dedicated her life’s work to changing the status quo.

In 1971, she opened Australia’s first dedicated menopause clinic at Prince Henry’s Hospital in Melbourne. That was one of the first clinics of its kind in the world.

2 years later, she established a second unit at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

These multidisciplinary clinics weren’t just places of care; they were breaking the taboo and bringing menopause into the public arena. And Jean’s contribution to women’s health didn’t stop there.

When Jean was practising, menopause symptoms were often dismissed, especially in discussions around treatment. Doctors rarely raised the topic. Women rarely spoke of it. The symptoms were endured quietly, passed down as something to simply bear.

Her determination brought once-hidden conversations into the open and helped change the way women’s health was seen, spoken about, and treated.

“You have got to know the facts about the menopause and how it is affecting your body and emotions, and what can be done for the problems, however small or large they seem to other people. It is how it affects you that counts.”
Dr Jean Hailes AM

Jean encouraged her colleagues to take these issues seriously, paving the way for greater research and recognition in the field. Jean was one of the first GPs in Australia to speak publicly, through radio and the press, about menopause and other midlife health concerns.

In 1977, Dr Jean Hailes co-authored several landmark papers in the Medical Journal of Australia and helped run one of the first randomised trials of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This work laid the foundation for evidence-based treatment in women’s midlife health.

But she didn’t stop there. She was determined that women:

• know their rights
• understand their health
• feel empowered to ask questions and speak up
• build relationships with their doctors
• seek a second opinion when needed.

Jean oversaw the introduction of bone density measurement services at Prince Henry’s Institute. This was a critical step in recognising and managing osteoporosis, a condition that disproportionately affects women after menopause.

She was instrumental in establishing a national conference on menopause – the precursor to today’s Australasian Menopause Society. Jean also supported the creation of an annual prize to recognise excellence in menopause research.

In 1980, she published The Middle Years, a practical guide for women navigating midlife and menopause. More than 30 years later, her words still resonate, a reflection of the no-nonsense attitude she lived by:

• Know the facts: how it affects your body and emotions, and what can be done
• Keep yourself fit: in order to have a happy and productive life
• Find a good doctor to talk to: if his or her attitude doesn’t suit you, find one who does
• Ask for a second opinion: it’s your body and your life

In 1986, her extraordinary contributions were formally recognised when she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to medicine, particularly in relation to women’s health.

Jean’s passion, expertise, and determination not only shaped meaningful progress during her lifetime but also inspired her colleagues to continue her work.

Following her passing in 1988, her legacy led to the creation of the Jean Hailes Foundation in 1991.

The founding board included:

• Professor Henry Burger
• Professor Susan Davis
• Dr Elizabeth Farrell
• Professor David Healy
• Professor Peter Rogers.

The following year, the Jean Hailes Menopause Clinic opened. Those same founders worked in the clinic and provided great backup every day of the week. It was an extraordinary time.

As her daughter, Janet Hailes Michelmore AO, now Patron of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, remembers:

“Some of my fondest memories of my mother are of her one-liners – often said with a laugh or smile but with huge meaning. One was – ‘You have to look after yourself’. It seems like such a simple request, but in reality, it’s not always easy to put into practice.”

The other was

“When a woman is not fit and healthy, the wheels can fall off’. This was behind her absolute passion for keeping women well – quite often, women are the linchpin in families or communities.”

In 2012, Dr Jean Hailes was recognised by the Victorian Government for her contribution to women’s health in Australia. She was named to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, which celebrates the achievements of inspirational women in the community.

Mary Wooldridge, Minister for Mental Health, Women’s Affairs and Community Services, who presented the award, shared that Dr Jean Hailes was a visionary GP “who understood that you need both physical and emotional health in order to stay well and to prevent ill health. Her legacy lives on in the clinical care, innovative research and practical education programs undertaken by Jean Hailes for Women’s Health today.”