ACN will be launching a postgraduate unit to educate nurses on endometriosis, thanks to an Australian Government grant and community collaborations with Endo Help.
Endometriosis is a common, debilitating and aggressive benign condition which affects more than 10% of Australian women. It has historically been under-recognised and underdiagnosed in this country, but recently more attention and funding has been allocated to endometriosis (or Endo) awareness and treatment, including the introduction of the National Action for Endometriosis this year.
ACN is proud to be involved in educating nurses on treating Endo and working with those suffering from this condition and their families. We are developing an Endometriosis unit, and are aiming to launch this in 2019. Early in September, Minister for Women The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer announced $39,360 in funding for our development of this postgraduate unit, to be developed in conjunction with Melissa Parker of the Canberra Endometriosis Centre. Any nurses (school nurses, practice nurses, community nurses and nurse practitioners) who are interested in women’s health could study this unit and be a tremendous help to all the girls and women who suffer at school and present to their GP clinics, or other clinics. Thank you to Melissa for your dedication and efforts on this.
The Endo Help Foundation will also fund eight scholarships for the unit. Endo Help have recently put forward a separate proposal for Patient centred endometriosis care nurse, of which they report was “very well received” by Minister Hunt.
We thank Endo Help and the Federal Government for their support in this highly important area, as we continue to find ways to improve the quality of health care for those suffering from Endo. We won’t let women continue to suffer in silence.
