One year on: Help raise menopause awareness through our Waiting Room Challenge
Brisbane South PHN is inviting general practices across the region to take part in a menopause-themed Waiting Room Challenge to mark the first anniversary of Medicare-funded perimenopause and menopause health assessments.
Introduced on 1 July 2025, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items 695 and 19000 provide women experiencing perimenopause and menopause with access to dedicated assessment, support and management through their GP. One year on, Brisbane South PHN is encouraging practices to help raise awareness of these important services and support conversations about menopause in primary care.
Supporting women through perimenopause and menopause
Perimenopause and menopause can have a significant impact on physical health, mental wellbeing and quality of life. General practice plays a vital role in helping women understand symptoms, access evidence-based care and make informed decisions about their health.
National uptake of the new assessment items has been strong. In the first year following their introduction, more than 136,000 Australian women accessed a perimenopause or menopause health assessment, with nearly a quarter of claims made in Queensland.
Join the Waiting Room Challenge
To celebrate this milestone and continue building awareness, Brisbane South PHN is inviting local general practices to create menopause-themed displays in their waiting rooms throughout October.
The challenge aims to:
increase awareness of perimenopause and menopause health assessments
encourage conversations between patients and healthcare professionals
reduce stigma around menopause
create welcoming environments that support women to seek care.
Practices are encouraged to get creative and use posters, brochures and educational resources that suit their patient community. Free resources are available from organisations including the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Australasian Menopause Society and Jean Hailes for Women's Health.
How to participate
Create a menopause-themed display in your waiting room during October 2026.
Take a photo of your display.
Email the photo, along with your name and practice name, to [email protected] by COB Monday 19 October 2026.
Win one of 10 prizes
Every eligible general practice that submits a photo by the closing date will be entered into a random prize draw.
Ten winning practices will each receive a $100 gift card, with the draw taking place on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Important information
The challenge is open to general practices located within the Brisbane South PHN region.
Submitted photos must not contain identifiable patients, and practices must have permission to share any images provided.
By entering, practices agree to Brisbane South PHN using submitted images for promotional and reporting purposes, including newsletters, social media and annual reporting.
Further information and resources
Healthcare providers can access a range of supporting resources, including:
MBS information for perimenopause and menopause health assessments Item 695 | Medicare Benefits Schedule
Register for free CPD-approved online menopause education program.
Perimenopause/menopause Health Assessment template can be found in Best Practice.
For Primary care assessment and management of menopause, see Menopause - Community HealthPathways Brisbane South
The Australian Government’s bulk-billing Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic in the Brisbane south region can also help support patients with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
For questions about the challenge, contact Brisbane South PHN on 07 3864 7540 or email [email protected]
Call to action
Start planning your display and help spark conversations that support women through perimenopause and menopause. We look forward to seeing your creativity in action.