Women in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory living with the debilitating condition of endometriosis are set to benefit from a new initiative addressing significant healthcare inequities.
In a collaboration between Endometriosis Australia and the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), the Endometriosis Australia Nurses Scholarship will train nurses to become Endometriosis Specialty Nurses. This program aims to support the estimated 2,000 women in Alice Springs and 16,400 across the Northern Territory who often face delayed diagnoses and limited care due to their location.
“Many women in rural areas are enduring debilitating endometriosis pain for years before receiving a diagnosis or access to care. In many of these communities, there may be only one GP, and doctors are often less likely to have specific training in endometriosis. This lack of specialised options means that countless individuals live with intense, avoidable pain,” shared chair of Endometriosis Australia, Monica Forlano.
“Access to a dedicated endo nurse can significantly transform a patient’s experience, offering timely support from initial symptoms, helping reduce the average delay of six and a half years to diagnosis through to ongoing treatment and management of this debilitating condition.”
The scholarship program was launched earlier this year to train 100 Endo Nurses for communities with limited access to healthcare. Scholarships are funded through community donations, with $58 covering one day of training and $2,900 funding a full scholarship.
The 10-week training program equips nurses with essential knowledge in endometriosis pathophysiology, pain management, and evidence-based treatments. The training also focuses on a person-centred approach to ensure patients receive comprehensive care
22-year-old Alice Springs local, Christabel Moschetti, has lived with endometriosis for years and knows firsthand the challenges of accessing specialised care in a regional area.
“Living with endometriosis in a rural area can be isolating. Having access to a dedicated Endo Nurse would mean faster diagnosis and support, helping manage the physical, mental, and emotional toll of the condition,” she shared.
The initiative coincides with the recent addition of dienogest, a treatment for endometriosis, to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This marks the first PBS-subsidised medication for the condition in a decade.
“In Australia, endometriosis is more likely to be diagnosed and treated in urban, higher socioeconomic, non-indigenous Australians aged 30-39, reflecting disempowerment and inequity of access to healthcare resources. This is consistent with personal and professional feedback received by Endometriosis Australia on an individual level, confirming that the lack of PBS subsidised endometriosis treatment compromises patient care,” said Dr Anusch Yazdani, Medical Director of Endometriosis Australia.
“Endometriosis Australia therefore welcomes the PBS listing of dienogest as another treatment modality in the management armamentarium for endometriosis, but notes that this is the first subsidised listed medication in decades. Endometriosis Australia advocates that in a modern Australian society, individuals affected by endometriosis should be able to make treatment choices unencumbered by inequities of cost and access.”
As part of its ongoing Endo Academy campaign, Endometriosis Australia is encouraging Australians to support the initiative this Christmas by donating to fund nurse training in rural areas.
To find out more and to contribute to the Endometriosis Australia Nurses Scholarship, click here.
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