by Bonnie Collings
A landmark report by Gippsland Women's Health (GWH) has revealed Gippsland women and gender diverse people face significantly poorer health and safety outcomes than state averages - with four out of five women forced to travel outside the region for health care.
Higher cancer deaths and record rates of family violence, barriers in accessing care, late or misdiagnoses and systemic barriers in service access were all highlighted as significant issues.
The report found the inequities were worsened by geographic isolation and gendered norms and structures in the home, workplace and community.

Launched on Thursday, "The Healthy Women Healthy Gippsland - The State of Women's Health and Safety in Gippsland 2025 Report Card" is a snapshot of women and gender diverse people's health and safety in the region.
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas launched the report at the Morwell Innovation Centre, highlighting the importance of improving health outcomes for women and gender diverse people in regional Victoria.
Informed by the voices of more than 200 participants from Gippsland's six local government areas (LGA), and supporting statistics, the Healthy Women Healthy Gippsland (HWHG) report revealed 14 key findings relevant to health service access and continuity of care, family and gendered violence, women's economic participation and leadership, and climate change and the new energy transition.
Insights were gained through a 10-week online survey, a series of focus group sessions and interviews with four key informants. Participants ranged from 18 years and younger to 83-years-old.
Survey participants reported facing barriers to healthcare, including long travel times, a lack of local services and continuity of care and medical misogyny including having their symptoms frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed.

Four out of five women surveyed said they left the region for healthca