The University of Queensland’s Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research (AWaGHR) Centre held an informative panel event yesterday at the Atrium UQ Brisbane City to celebrate 30 years of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH), alongside colleagues from the University of Newcastle, who also manage the Study as a joint project.
Attendees from across healthcare, governance and community groups heard from five distinguished health researchers around the current themes in women’s health and discussions on the foreseeable challenges for the next 30 years of women’s health.
UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Sue Harrison opened the evening’s discussion, followed by a reflection on the Study by Professor Gita Mishra AO.
Moderated by experienced journalist Victoria Carthew, the panel comprised of UQ’s Professor Ruth Hubbard, a leading frailty expert in Australia, Professor Thelma Parker Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement) within UQ’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, as well as Professor Sandi Hayes, a researcher in cancer survivorship epidemiology and exercise oncology and Senior Group Lead for the ICAN (Improving Cancer Life Course Outcomes) Group at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
The panel also included interstate researchers, Dr Nicole Reilly, a Senior Research Fellow in perinatal mental health with the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong and Professor Rochelle Wynne, Chair of Nursing in the Western Health and Deakin University Partnership and a clinical academic nurse leader in cardiovascular health.
The discussion reflected upon some of the major advances in women's health over the past three decades and explored priorities for the future. Professor Ruth Hubbard and Professor Rochelle Wynne highlighted the growing awareness of sex and gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease, and Dr Nicole Reilly discussed the widespread recognition of the importance of mental health throughout the perinatal period as well as the need for dedicated health services.
Looking toward the next 30 years, Professor Thelma Parker called for greater cultural safety and representation of women with cultural authority and lived experiences, particularly on Boards and across health care services. Professor Sandi Hayes acknowledged that whilst cancer survival has improved significantly, the overall burden of cancer has not disappeared.
Further to the evening, six major landmarks across Brisbane were lit in ALSWH’s purple and teal colours to celebrate 30 years of the Study in the River City. Brisbane’s Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge, Kangaroo Point Bridge, Breakfast Creek Bridge in Newstead, Wickham Terrace Car Park architectural wall and Reddacliff Place sculptures in the Brisbane CBD were all lit up across the entire evening for the Study.
ALSWH involves over 57,000 women ranging in age from 31 to 105, who are located across the country, with 12,000 from Queensland, and of these, 3,200 live in Brisbane. ALSWH is pleased to celebrate 30 years of women's health alongside its valuable participants.
For more information on the study, visit https://alswh.org.au/
