What we are doing to raise awareness and support women and girls experiencing pelvic pain
Providing local schools with PPEP Talks in 2024
Hosting the National Pelvic Pain Conference
Hosting the first trial of PPEP Talks in Latrobe Valley
Supporting PPEP Talks in the Latrobe Valley in 2024
Â
Recently, the Latrobe Health Assembly approved a grant that allowed for PPEP Talks to be relaunched in the Latrobe Valley for students at Kurnai College. Delays in rolling out the program nationally meant that without Latrobe Health Assemblyâs involvement, some students would simply miss out on this valuable discussion.
At Kurnai College, year 7 students attended a 90 minute Menstrual Education session that facilitated by the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia clinicians who are skilled educators and provided students with important information to help build a confident mindset towards the menstrual cycle and addressing stigmas and common fears.
The Kurnai College year 11 and 12 students attended a 90 minute health and wellbeing session that explored the latest in modern knowledge on endometriosis and the neuroscience behind pelvic pain. Students learned the difference between common and complex pain and were given the tools to manage period pain and irregularities. They were also provided with help-seeking strategies to navigate present and future health challenges.
The program is designed to raise awareness and promote early diagnosis and support for those affected.
The 2022 National Health Pelvic Pain Conference hosted by the Latrobe Health Assembly
The Latrobe Health Assembly, in partnership with the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, hosted the National Pelvic Pain Conference in Latrobe Valley on Friday 30th October, 2022.
The National Pelvic Pain Conference brought leading health experts and researchers to the region with local and national specialists to update their knowledge to provide patients best-practice management to this debilitating condition.
Hosted at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon, on Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October 2022, the National Pelvic Pain Conference covered a range of topics including the causes and available treatment of pelvic pain, with a focus on Endometriosis, the Neuroscience of Pelvic Pain, and the Multi-Disciplinary Approach to treatment.
The National Pelvic Pain Conference was a health practitioner-training conference, developed by leading experts in the field to provide practical management of a wide range of pelvic pain conditions.
Latrobe Valley was selected as the location for the National Pelvic Pain Conference thanks to a pilot program implemented in 2020 as an initiative of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone. Community Board Member Ange Gordon explained âThrough conversations within the Latrobe Health Assembly it was identified that there was a large gap in pelvic pain education here in the Latrobe Valleyâ.
The pilot program was delivered in eight secondary schools and two community sessions in Latrobe and reached large numbers of students and teachers, including participation from principals, school counsellors, nurses and parents. The PPEP talks program aimed to empower and support Latrobe teenagers who suffer severe period pain, pelvic pain, and endometriosis by supplying medically responsible information in a positive and interactive session to improve their knowledge of their bodies and help them take care of their physical and mental health.
âI was excited to be involved with the pilot program and now look forward to the program returning to Kurnai College and other local schools in October 2022â, Ange added.
The two-day National Pelvic Pain Conference also highlighted the capability of Latrobe Valley to host high-profile health events and showcased the region as a place to visit, explore and stay, with a focus on tourism and workforce attraction.
Latrobe Health Assembly Chair and Registered Critical Care Nurse, Ms Tanya Rong, said, âThis was such an exciting opportunity for Latrobe Valley to showcase the strengths of our region, and provide health professionals with a fascinating array of multi-disciplinary speakers to learn best practice in management of pelvic pain conditions. It demonstrates the success of collaboration and partnerships within the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone, and a commitment to improving the health of not only the people of Latrobe, but across Australiaâ.
Pelvic Pain Education Program piloted in Latrobe Valley to be implemented nationwide
In 2020 Latrobe Health Assembly, in partnership with the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia (PPFA) piloted a series of 1-hour PPEP (Pelvic Pain Education Program) talks â a positive, fun, educational and interactive program that talks about pain, periods and endometriosis for year 9 and 10 students in Latrobe Valley.
Following the success of the pilot, the State and Federal Government have announced they will be co-funding the implementation of the program across 56 secondary schools nationwide. The program, currently limited to government schools, will begin in the third term and will be delivered to year 10 students. The PPEP program aims to support teenagers who suffer severe period pain, pelvic pain and endometriosis to allow them to be aware of the signs and seek help sooner.
Speaking of the 2020 pilot, Executive Director of the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, Kirsty Mead, says âOn behalf of the one in nine girls, women and people assigned female at birth, the Foundation would like to thank the Latrobe Health Assembly for having the foresight to directly address problems in their community by piloting PPEP TalkÂŪ in Victoria in 2020.â
Latrobe Health Assembly Research and Planning Lead, Kate Mallia, says âThis program had a fantastic outcome when we piloted it across 10 schools in Latrobe Valley, implementing it in schools across Australia is a huge step in the right direction.â
âEndometriosis isnât currently included in the school curriculum, so providing PPEP talks will help students become more aware of the symptoms, and the ways in which to get the help and a diagnosis they need early onâ, continued Ms Mallia.
According to Endometriosis Australia, more than 11% of Australian women, girls and gender-diverse people suffer from endometriosis, with symptoms usually beginning in the teenage years. Varying symptoms and limited awareness of the disease often leads to a delayed diagnosis. There is no cure and the disease can only be correctly diagnosed surgically.
To find out more information on Latrobe Health Assemblyâs PPEP pilot, please visit https://www.healthassembly.org.au/all-projects/pelvic-pain-period-pain-and-endometriosis-community-education/
