April 2005

Conference to focus on women’s health

The 5th Australian Women’s Health Conference will provide a forum for individuals, organisations and services involved and concerned with women’s health.

The Reflecting on Gender: Confronting the Evidence conference will have a particular focus on women who are marginalised by poverty, culture, race, disabilities, illness, social stereotyping and difference.

These determinants magnify the experience of illness, diminish the ability of women to participate socially and economically to their fullest capacity and reduce opportunities for women to lead healthy and productive lives.

The extent to which these issues are reflected in policy and practice will be examined using gender analysis to develop strategies for health system responses to gender.

The conference will be held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne, between April 20 and 22.

International guest speakers will be:

• Professor Ilona Kickbusch of Yale University (U.S.), one of the World Health Organisation’s most eminent consultants.

• Associate Professor Carol Thomas from Lancaster University (UK), Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Health and Illness and a member of the Executive Editorial Board of the journal Disability and Society.

• Canadian-based Professor Pat Armstrong, one of the lead researchers on Canada-wide research with the Centres for Excellence in Women’s Health program into the effects of health care reform on women.

• For more information visit www.womenshealth2005.com.au.