Policy Discussion Document: National Women’s Health Policy

Running head: POLICY DISCUSSION DOCUEMENT
POLICY DISCUSSION DOCUEMENT (National Women’s Health Policy)
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1POLICY DISCUSSION DOCUMENT
Introduction
In this paper, the policy paper related to Australian governments ‘National Women’s
Health Policy’ by the Australian department of Health has been chosen. This policy paper has
been chosen for discussion and public consultation as it was mentioned in Health.gov.au (2019),
that women health and safety is one of the major concerns of the Australian government. Further
it was seen that every 1 in three women is Australian society is prone to be affected with physical
violence and making their lives free from violence and adverse health conditions are among the
primary goals of the Australian government’s effective policies and programs (Health.gov.au
2019).
Hence, a detailed discussion about this specific policy would be provided in this paper.
Further, with discussion about the strength and weakness of the policy draft, they key principles
and outcomes would be discussed. Finally, with few recommendations for the improvement of
the policy, the expected outcome after implementation of changes would be discussed.
Outline of the public health points mentioned in this policy
The Australian government mentioned that despite having a safe and secured as well as
progressive healthcare policy for women, inequality in the healthcare process could be observed
and communities that are not connected with healthcare facilities are affected with such
inequalities in the process (Health.gov.au 2019). Hence, this amended policy was developed and
implemented in the healthcare facilities of Australia so that the purpose of the national women’s
health related to health and wellbeing and elimination of health inequalities and the social
determinants of those inequalities could be addressed (Health.gov.au 2019). The primary aim of
this policy document is to address the healthcare inequalities related to sex, gender and social

2POLICY DISCUSSION DOCUMENT
determinants of health, social inclusion, aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders. Further, it also
mentions that new and modified risk factors of the younger generation, related to substance
abuse, inactive lifestyle and unprotected sex so that barriers and facilitators of healthcare access
for such women could be understood (Health.gov.au 2019).
Besides this, the governmental policy framework for women’s health mentioned that
there are several principles that form the base of the new and modified healthcare policy for
women of Australia. The basic principles are associated to gender equity, life course approach of
healthcare, healthcare prevention, evidence based practice and healthcare equity among the
women of different community and economic stability (Health.gov.au 2019). This policy
document especially mention about the social and economic disadvantages due to which a
specific section of the women are unable to achieve the healthcare facilities or utilise their right
of good healthcare. In this aspect the data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019) should
be mentioned as 32% of the disease burden is suffered by these disadvantaged group of women
as it was seen that 29% of deaths due to coronary heart disease is associated with the this
community of women. Therefore, it is the healthcare policy document that has been developed
by the Australian government so that the lacks present in the women healthcare policies and
guidelines could be eliminated (Health.gov.au 2019).
Strengths and weaknesses of the draft policy
The policy has been developed from the modification and amendments of the previous
policies and documents that provide it a great base for growth and development of healthcare
policies for women. As per Health.gov.au (2019), the 2008 policy developed after the National
Rural Women’s Summit by the Australian healthcare government the women did not had any