Women’s Health Week has been a permanent feature on the Australian health event calendar since 2013, taking place every year in the first week of September.

Founded by national not-for-profit organisation Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Women’s Health Week aims to get women talking about the health issues that matter most to them.

No matter how tricky the topic, Jean Hailes aims to help women get rid of the ‘elephant in the room’, hence the event’s elephant logo. The week-long campaign combines an online event with public and community-run events supported by Jean Hailes. Events range widely, from morning teas in the office to health-promotion stands in pharmacies.

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Women’s Health Week has gone from strength to strength every year as the public and health care professionals recognise the benefit of taking time out to think about women’s health issues.

In 2016, a record 23,000 participants – more than double the previous year’s – took part in over 620 events around the country, while a further 12,600 registered to have free health-related content emailed to them every day of Women’s Health Week. All material supplied during the campaign is evidence based and reviewed by Jean Hailes medical experts.

If a woman is in good health, her family, community and the society around her also benefit, according to Jean Hailes.

Every year, Jean Hailes conducts a national survey of women and health professionals, asking them key questions relating to health.

The largest of its kind, survey results are used to inform the content and themes for Women’s Health Week.

Last year’s survey revealed that the two biggest barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle is ‘lack of time’ (29 per cent of respondents) and ‘health not a priority’ (22 per cent).

“Women’s Health Week is a fantastic opportunity for women around Australia to take a little bit of time out for themselves,” Jean Hailes Executive Director Janet Michelmore AO said.

“They can get together with friends and share a cooking class or join a bike ride—it’s whatever they want to make of it.

“Women’s Health Week is about setting aside some time in our busy lives to think or talk about health issues and possibly think about ways you can make a few positive changes. By investing more time in ourselves, we’re better able to look after the ones we love and care about.

“That’s why the health of the ones we love starts with us.”

For more details on Women’s Health Week, including a list of registered events, and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, visit the websites: