The organisation is in the process of developing a sexual and reproductive health strategy.

Ms Currie envisaged it would identify how services in the space could work together to better outcomes for women in the region.

One of the strategy’s aims will be to make the system more accessible.

Existing services will be mapped to highlight areas in need of attention and possible improvement.

Ms Currie was hopeful the body of work would make it easier for women to get the help they needed to address their concerns.

“Even for clinicians to negotiate the system, it’s pretty challenging,” she said. 

“We really need women’s voices in this work.”

In rural parts of the region, Ms Currie said proximity to services was a potential barrier to access.

Professor Meredith Temple-Smith, of the University of Melbourne, concurred.

“The difficulty for country women is they don’t have the range of choice that’s available in the city,” she said.

Though she said sexual health issues were known to have a big impact on general health and wellbeing, Professor Temple-Smith said they were not always viewed as a high priority by either patients or doctors.

There was also the issue of social stigma.

“As a society, we don’t often talk very openly about these issues,” the professor said.

“We need to kind of get over that.”

The rate of chlamydia in Greater Bendigo women is almost 31 per 10,000 people – well above the state average, and almost double of that men in Bendigo.

Ms Currie said domestic and family violence also ought to be factored into any discussion about women’s health.

“Pretty hard to be in tip-top shape if every day you’re trying to survive a violent relationship and all the disadvantage and inequality that comes with it,” she said.

This week is Women’s Health Week.

ORGANISATIONS are seeking to boost opportunities for women to be physically active, after a study highlighted women’s priorities for a healthful lifestyle.

Healthy eating, natural therapies, exercise, weight loss and stress management ranked among the topics women responding to the 2017 Jean Hailes Women’s Health Survey most wanted to learn more about.

More than 10,000 women participated in the survey.

Lauren Fawcett, of Sports Focus, said making physical activity more accessible and attractive to women was the focus of increased resources and attention. 

National sporting codes are investing more money into women’s leagues, prompting increased participation in sports such as AFL and cricket. 

But Mrs Fawcett said not all women appreciated the competitive environment organised sport offered.

Sports Focus offers a series of free, female-only activities in Bendigo to encourage women to explore other forms of physical activity, such as squash and dance.

Children are welcome to attend Miss Me-time sessions.

While Mrs Fawcett said there were a range of factors affecting women’s participation in physical activity.

“The biggest challenge is still trying to motivate people to get there,” she said.

Bendigo Health healthy communities team project officer Stephen Barrett said the benefits of being physically active were numerous, and fairly well known.

“The awareness is pretty well out there,” he said. 

He said the difficulty, for many women, was finding the time to do it, and taking the time to do it. 

Bendigo Community Health Services sexual health nurse Mary-Anne McCluskey highlighted the pressures women experienced.

“Stress and anxiety are a big factor in young people’s lives,” she said. 

But she noted women of all ages had emotional wellness concerns.

“Probably the most challenging thing is just to have a life balance,” Ms McCluskey said.

About 40 per cent of women have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety, the Jean Hailes study found, with 18-35 identified as the most anxious age group.

WHEN Diana Williams was using a mixed gym almost 30 years ago, few other women were doing weight training. 

The Fernwood Fitness founder believes the industry has become much more female-friendly.

But about 60 per cent of women are doing less than 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity each week, according to a survey.

This year’s Jean Hailes Women’s Health Survey found tiredness and being time poor were the main barriers to exercise for the more than 10,000 respondents. 

Ms Williams found the figures unsurprising. 

“Women tend to put themselves last when it comes to exercise,” she said. 

“It’s something you have to do and get into the habit of doing – it’s not the easiest thing to do when you start exercising.”

Respondents identified exercising more as one of the key things they would do to improve their health.

The Women’s Health Survey was sponsored by Fernwood Fitness, which was founded in Bendigo in 1989.