Women’s Health Week: Small Steps Towards Better Health

At Padbury Pharmacy, we know women are often busy looking after everyone around them, family, friends, work, and everything in between. Women’s Health Week is an important reminder to make your own health a priority too.

Running from 7-11 September 2026, Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week is Australia’s largest week dedicated to women’s health.

This year’s theme, “Do it anyway," is about taking small, realistic steps towards your health, even when life is busy, motivation is low, or finding the time feels difficult.

Small Steps Still Count

Throughout Women’s Health Week, the focus is on five everyday areas of well-being:

• To fuel - nourishing your body

• To move - finding realistic ways to stay active

• To rest - prioritising sleep and recovery

• To breathe - looking after your mental well-being

• To connect - making time for the people and communities around you

Looking after your health doesn’t have to mean completely changing your lifestyle.

It might be getting a little more sleep, going for a walk, asking a health question you’ve been putting off or finally speaking to a healthcare professional about something that hasn’t felt quite right.

Sometimes, that first small step can simply be starting a conversation.

Health Concerns You Don’t Have to Just Put Up With

It can be easy to dismiss changes in your health as stress, getting older, or simply being busy. But if something is affecting how you feel day to day, it’s worth asking about.

This could include:

• Changes associated with perimenopause or menopause

• Difficulty sleeping or changes to your sleep

• Medication side effects or concerns

• Questions about vitamins and supplements

• Changes to your general health and wellbeing

• Staying on top of preventative health and regular checks

You don’t need to wait until something becomes a major concern before asking for advice.

Menopause and Perimenopause

Perimenopause and menopause can affect women in many different ways, and the changes can extend well beyond hot flushes.

Changes in sleep, mood, energy levels, and general well-being can all impact everyday life.

If you’ve noticed changes and aren’t sure what they mean or what your options are, speak with a healthcare professional. Your pharmacist can help answer questions about your medicines, provide general health information, and advise when it may be appropriate to speak with your GP.

Do You Actually Need That Supplement?

Walk into any pharmacy, and there are plenty of vitamins and supplements to choose from, but more isn’t necessarily better.

What’s appropriate for one person may not be right for another, and some supplements can interact with medicines you’re already taking.

Before adding something new to your routine, have a chat with your pharmacist. We can help you understand your options and check for potential interactions with your existing medications.

When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Medications?

Women’s Health Week is also a good opportunity to check in on your regular medicines.

Are you unsure why you’re taking something? Experiencing a possible side effect? Started taking a new vitamin or supplement? Or simply have a question you’ve never gotten around to asking?

Understanding your medicines and how to take them correctly is an important part of looking after your health, and these are exactly the kinds of questions you can bring to your pharmacist.

Your Health Is Worth the Conversation

This Women’s Health Week, take the theme “do it anyway” as a reminder that looking after yourself doesn’t have to start with a huge change.

Ask the question. Book the appointment. Go for the walk. Prioritise the rest. Check in with a friend.

And if there’s a health question you’ve been putting off, come in and have a chat with Steve and the team at Padbury Pharmacy.

No question is too small when it comes to your health.