PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Tracks
Ballroom 1
Ballroom 2
Tamborine Gallery
| Monday, August 31, 2026 |
| 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM |
| JW Grand Ballroom |
Overview
A powerful cross-disciplinary discussion exploring where women’s mental health care fails — and how clinicians, services and systems can redesign care to better recognise, respond to and support women across the lifespan.
Facilitator: Jillian Whiting, Conference MC
Panellists: Rosie Luik, Author, Speaker and Lived-Experience Advocate
Assoc. Professor Magdalena Simonis, AM MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS Clinical Associate Professor Department of General Practice University of Melbourne
Sharon Sherwood, Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach, Cabrini
Karen Williams, Consultant Psychiatrist/Founder Doctors Against Violence Towards Women
Facilitator: Jillian Whiting, Conference MC
Panellists: Rosie Luik, Author, Speaker and Lived-Experience Advocate
Assoc. Professor Magdalena Simonis, AM MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS Clinical Associate Professor Department of General Practice University of Melbourne
Sharon Sherwood, Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach, Cabrini
Karen Williams, Consultant Psychiatrist/Founder Doctors Against Violence Towards Women
Three Key Learnings
Identify the common points where women’s mental health care pathways break down — including dismissal, fragmentation and diagnostic blind spots.
Understand how trauma, gender bias, lived experience and system design influence women’s mental health outcomes and engagement with care.
Explore practical opportunities for clinicians and services to redesign care pathways that are more integrated, trauma-informed and responsive to women’s real-world experiences.
Speaker
Rosie Luik
Author, Speaker and Lived-Experience Advocate
PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Abstract
Women frequently enter the health system with distress that is minimised, misunderstood or separated from the broader context of their lives, bodies and experiences. This panel brings together leaders across lived experience, psychiatry, primary care and mental health systems to examine the moments where women’s mental health care too often breaks down — and what meaningful redesign could look like.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
Biography
Jillian is a familiar face on Queensland television – with over 30 years' experience as a journalist, newsreader and TV presenter with the Seven and Nine networks, She’s currently a presenter on Channel Seven’s much-loved lifestyle program, Weekender and owner of communication coaching firm, Media Potential.
A career in the media spotlight has led to a successful communication business, Media Potential, coaching corporate leaders, politicians, athletes and influencers to be engaging and unforgettable communicators... on and off camera.
Jillian is also highly respected as a host and moderator across a broad range of events from economic forums to opening night galas.
And she is proud to serve on the Women in Media Queensland Committee.
Sharon Sherwood
Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach
Cabrini Health
PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Biography
I am Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach at Cabrini Health, with over 30 years’ experience in mental health nursing and leadership. I led the development of Australia’s first private Women’s Mental Health Service, work that reflects my deep commitment to improving access, equity, and outcomes for women. My career spans clinical governance, strategy, and service innovation across complex health systems. I am passionate about building high-performing teams, strengthening quality and safety, and shaping contemporary models of care that enable women, families, and clinicians to thrive.
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM
PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Abstract
Women frequently enter the health system with distress that is minimised, misunderstood or separated from the broader context of their lives, bodies and experiences. This panel brings together leaders across lived experience, psychiatry, primary care and mental health systems to examine the moments where women’s mental health care too often breaks down — and what meaningful redesign could look like.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
Biography
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis is a leading Australian general practitioner, researcher and educator at The University of Melbourne who is widely recognised for her contributions to primary care, women’s health, medical education, and health system improvement.
Magdalena is on the Breast Screen Australia Clinical Advisory Group, the National Endometriosis Action Plan Expert Advisory Group, the Victorian Multicultural Health Advisory Committee, Clinical Director of the Victorian Mobile Women’s Health Service pilot program and member of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s inaugural Clinical Advisory Group. Magdalena has multiple Board Director roles and enjoys countering misinformation as a health columnist for The Australian and weekly podcaster for SBS.
Jillian Whiting
Journalist, Newsreader and TV presenter
PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Abstract
Women frequently enter the health system with distress that is minimised, misunderstood or separated from the broader context of their lives, bodies and experiences. This panel brings together leaders across lived experience, psychiatry, primary care and mental health systems to examine the moments where women’s mental health care too often breaks down — and what meaningful redesign could look like.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
Biography
Jillian is a familiar face on Queensland television – with over 30 years' experience as a journalist, newsreader and TV presenter with the Seven and Nine networks, She’s currently a presenter on Channel Seven’s much-loved lifestyle program, Weekender and owner of communication coaching firm, Media Potential.
A career in the media spotlight has led to a successful communication business, Media Potential, coaching corporate leaders, politicians, athletes and influencers to be engaging and unforgettable communicators... on and off camera.
Jillian is also highly respected as a host and moderator across a broad range of events from economic forums to opening night galas.
And she is proud to serve on the Women in Media Queensland Committee.
Dr Karen Williams
Consultant Psychiatrist/Founder
Doctors Against Violence Towards Women
PANEL: The Moments We Miss: Where Women’s Mental Health Care Breaks — and How We Redesign It
Abstract
Women frequently enter the health system with distress that is minimised, misunderstood or separated from the broader context of their lives, bodies and experiences. This panel brings together leaders across lived experience, psychiatry, primary care and mental health systems to examine the moments where women’s mental health care too often breaks down — and what meaningful redesign could look like.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
From medical dismissal and trauma-informed care, to gender bias, fragmented pathways and system pressures, this discussion will explore the gaps that continue to leave women unheard, unsupported and misdiagnosed. Panellists will reflect on what clinicians, services and leaders must do differently to create mental health care that is more integrated, responsive and genuinely centred on women’s experiences across the lifespan.
Biography
Dr. Karen Williams is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in PTSD and other trauma-related syndromes, with extensive experience supporting survivors of family violence and sexual assault. She champions gender equity through a range of roles including as Special Advisor on Mental Health at the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, the Family Violence Network Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Dr. Williams is also the founder of Doctors Against Violence Towards Women, a charity and advocacy group dedicated to advancing the mental and physical safety of women affected by violence. In recent years Dr Williams was instrumental in the conceptualisation and establishment of Australia’s first women’s-only hospital dedicated to the treatment of the psychological and psychiatric consequences of trauma - Ramsay Clinic Thirroul as well as the first publicly-funded Illawarra Womens Trauma Recovery Centre, currently operating in Shellharbour. Dr Williams also played a key role in the establishment of Coercive Control Legislation in NSW leading to the criminalisation of coercive control in intimate partner relationships.
