In its 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is calling on the Federal Government to fund measures to support nurses experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
With women comprising 88 per cent of Australia's nursing workforce and approximately half of these nurses at an age where they may experience perimenopause or menopause, ACN is advocating for targeted initiatives to address this critical but often overlooked health issue.
ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN, said that investing in the health of nurses experiencing menopause will empower these nurses to provide informed education and care in the broader Australian community.
"The nursing profession is predominantly female, with more than 344,000 women serving as the backbone of our healthcare system," Adjunct Professor Zeitz said.
"Yet many of these dedicated professionals face significant challenges personally as they navigate perimenopause and menopause, often without adequate workplace support or understanding."
Research shows that around 80 per cent of women experience symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flushes, insomnia, mood changes, and cognitive challenges. These symptoms can significantly impact physical health, mental wellbeing, and the ability to perform in demanding roles like nursing.
ACN is calling for an $8 million investment to implement two key recommendations:
- $5 million for a national awareness campaign about the impacts of perimenopause and menopause in the nursing workforce,
- $3 million to develop and deliver an online perimenopause and menopause education program for nurses, incorporating a train-the-trainer approach.
"This investment is not just about supporting individual nurses – it's about strengthening our entire healthcare system," Professor Zeitz said.
"By equipping nurses with the knowledge and resources to navigate these life stages, we can improve workforce retention, enhance career longevity, and ultimately deliver better health outcomes for all Australians."
The national campaign would focus on improving visibility, reducing stigma, and encouraging open dialogue about menopause-related symptoms in the workplace. It would also promote symptom management strategies, psychological support, and occupational health initiatives to create a supportive environment for affected nurses.
The education program would equip nurses with the knowledge and skills to identify, manage, and support women experiencing menopause, both among their colleagues and patients. A train-the-trainer model could amplify the program's impact by enabling nurses to share knowledge widely within their communities.
"With nurses being the most geographically dispersed health professionals, providing care across the lifespan and in diverse settings, these initiatives will strengthen their ability to deliver high-quality, person-centred care, benefiting women and communities in its broadest sense," Professor Zeitz said.
ACN's Pre-Budget Submission outlines a comprehensive framework for governments to invest in and support nurses, nursing, and the health system, empowering nurses to provide culturally safe, patient-centred care across multiple settings.
ACN notes that most people who experience menopause are genetically female and identify as women, but that transgender people, and many gender identities also experience menopause.
The Federal Government has already made addressing menopause and perimenopause in the community a priority, including announcing in February:
- More Medicare support for women experiencing menopause, with a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, funding to train health professionals, the first-ever clinical guidelines, and a national awareness campaign;
- The first PBS listing for new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years, with around 150,000 women saving hundreds of dollars a year from the listing of Prometrium®, Estrogel® and Estrogel® Pro.
