Why are women still being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left out of medical research altogether? In this very first episode of The New Script, Makenzie Thomas and Frances Goh sit down with Sally Hasler, CEO of Women’s Health Victoria, to explore the systemic inequities shaping women’s health today, and what it will take to change them.
Sally introduces powerful concepts like medical misogyny and below the bikini line health, and explains how gender-blind services and unconscious bias affect the way women and gender diverse people receive care. She also shares candid insights on the barriers to abortion access, the ongoing stigma in reproductive health, and why equity must be at the heart of reform.
Beyond policy and advocacy, Sally talks about her leadership journey, the importance of collective action across government, health, and community, and how she balances the demands of running a statewide organisation with her own wellbeing.
You’ll also hear why including women in medical research from the start is essential, how initiatives like 1800 My Options and the Labia Library are changing the conversation, and why this moment in women’s health must be used to create lasting systems change.
📞 1800 My Options: https://1800myoptions.org.au/
— free, confidential phone and web service for contraception, abortion, and sexual health
🌐 Women’s Health Victoria: https://whv.org.au/
— statewide feminist health organisation leading advocacy, research, and services
📚 The Labia Library: https://labialibrary.org.au/
— celebrates body diversity and breaks stigma around anatomy
🤝 Counterpart: https://counterpart.org.au/
— peer support service for women and gender diverse people affected by cancer, run by Women's Health Victoria
📰 “Medical misogyny” — investigative series by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald:
https://www.whv.org.au/ceo-blog-the-age-medical-misogyny/
— Sally Hasler reflects on the powerful reporting and its impact
