Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (19:01): (2064) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health. I have suffered from urinary tract infections for as long as I can remember, frequently as a child and at times throughout my adult life. In fact my own election campaign was characterised by them. I know they were often brought about by the stress and fatigue of that time. Fortunately, I have always been able to access antibiotics directly and treat the infection before it became too serious. Since the last election, the government has made it possible for Victorians to access antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs over the counter. It is a simple and sensible reform that has made treatment far more accessible for so many Victorians. While this change has made a real difference for many, the reality is that for countless others treatment for UTIs is actually far from simple.

My story is not unique. I gathered that from talking to my girlfriends and even my staff in the office when writing this adjournment matter. For thousands of others, though, UTIs are not a short-term inconvenience but a long-term debilitating battle that too often goes unrecognised. Chronic urinary tract infections are a life-altering, often invisible illness that, like most women’s health issues, continues to be misunderstood, misdiagnosed and under-researched. The advocacy organisation Chronic UTI Australia have been bringing attention to this critical issue for years now. They support people who have been living with the unrelenting pain, fatigue and psychological distress of chronic UTIs – people who are often dismissed, disbelieved or told that their suffering is in their heads. One of the women supported by the organisation, Amy, has shared her story publicly. After giving birth to her daughter, in 2019 Amy developed a chronic UTI that transformed every part of her life. She said:

Life before chronic UTI felt open and joyful, full of connection, purpose and freedom. But all of that changed …

Amy’s experience is representative of many others across the country who are battling this silent and debilitating condition. Chronic UTI Australia is calling for improved medical recognition, more dedicated research and greater treatment options for people living with chronic UTIs. This is a condition that can have devastating impacts on physical health, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life, yet it remains largely ignored by mainstream medicine.

The action that I seek is for the minister to provide a clear update on the status of the government’s inquiry into women’s pain, including the steps taken to ensure that the experiences of people living with chronic conditions such as chronic UTIs are recognised, invested in and addressed.