Political Advocacy
Tasmania
September 2026
TAS Shadow Health Minister Hon. Sarah Lovell MLC addresses Tasmanian Parliament regarding lipoedema. Video recorded by Tasmania Parliament.
On 1 September 2026, the Hon. Sarah Lovell MLC made history by delivering a parliamentary speech dedicated to lipoedema awareness and calling for vital government support.
For those with lipoedema in the public gallery, including Board Member Liz and former Board Member Kathleen, it was an unexpectedly emotional moment. After years of being hidden, misunderstood and dismissed, hearing lipoedema acknowledged in the Tasmanian Parliament felt like a monumental turning point.
Ms Lovell didn’t just raise awareness, she offered clear, practical solutions. She urged the government to extend the Tasmanian Lymphoedema Garment Scheme to include lipoedema, providing financial relief for compression garments. This is a change Lipoedema Australia has long advocated for across all states and territories.
We’re grateful for Ms Lovell’s support as we engage with the Minister for Health.
Liz also met with an adviser to Minister Archer and we’re pushing to meet directly with the minister to continue these important discussions.
This parliamentary recognition is a vital milestone for lipoedema advocacy in Tasmania. Having an MLC champion our community in parliament gives us renewed energy to push for real policy change.
L-R: Board Member - Kathleen Smith,
TAS Shadow Health Minister Hon. Sarah Lovell MLC
& Board Director Liz Knox
L-R: Past Board Member - Kathleen Smith, Board Director - Liz Knox & TAS Shadow Health Minister Hon. Sarah Lovell MLC
Lipoedema Australia Board Director Liz Knox and Board Member Kathleen Smith, met with The Hon Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Ageing, Disability and Women, in June as part of our Lipoedema Awareness Month campaign.
It was a valuable opportunity to discuss lipoedema and the important work ahead to raise awareness and strengthen support for the lipoedema community.
Ms Lovell had some great insights and we look forward to continuing our discussions in coming months.
TAS Greens Spokesperson for
Health & Women, Cecily Rosol
September 2026
June 2026
Lipoedema Australia Board Director Jacqueline Taylor met virtually with the Tasmanian Greens Spokesperson for Health & Women and Member for Bass, Cecily Rosol in September. She is very keen to support Tasmania's lipoedema community, particularly the Bass area.
Ms Rosol plans to raise the question in Parliament to add lipoedema to the Tasmania Compression Garment Scheme and to the public lymphoedema clinics. We look forward to providing updates about this in the near future.
If you have lipoedema and are a resident of the Bass Electorate, please contact us so that we can connect you with Ms Rosol directly.
South Australia
August 2026
SA Minister for Health & Wellbeing, Blair Boyer MP
Lipoedema Australia Chair Jen and Board Director Jacqueline met virtually in August with South Australia’s Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Blair Boyer MP, and his adviser Peter, with SA Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Dr Vani Prasad joining the meeting in support.
We had the opportunity to talk with Minister Boyer about lipoedema, the significant impact it can have on women’s lives, and the pain, disability and distress experienced by some of those living with the condition. The Minister listened with genuine concern and was very engaged in understanding the challenges women with lipoedema can face.
Importantly, we asked the Minister to consider adding lipoedema to South Australia’s compression garment subsidy scheme. Minister Boyer and his adviser committed to looking into the financial implications and whether this can be made possible.
We also discussed the importance of support within the public health system, particularly access to appropriate assessment and garment measuring if lipoedema becomes eligible for the subsidy scheme.
We came away encouraged by the Minister’s response and his willingness to explore what can be done to improve support for South Australians living with lipoedema.
There is more work ahead, but this was a genuinely positive conversation and an important step forward.
Australian Capital Territory
August 2026
L-R: Board Director - Jacqueline Taylor, Chair - Jen Bartlett & Vice Chair - Meegan Treen at Parliament House, Canberra
August 2026
Our ACT Advocacy efforts continued in August with a very positive meeting with ACT Spokesperson for Women Laura Nuttall, and her Advisor Cindy van der Kreek.
Laura expressed strong interest in supporting Lipoedema Australia’s advocacy work and helping raise awareness across the ACT.
Key issues discussed included recognition of lipoedema within garment-support schemes and the significant burden placed on people living with lipoedema to repeatedly self-advocate within the health system.
Laura will write to the ACT Minister for Health and the Minister for Women to highlight these barriers, and her office has also offered to help connect our advocacy efforts with federal colleagues.
We look forward to continuing this important work with Laura and her amazing team!
June 2026
L-R: Vice Chair - Meegan Treen, ACT Independent Member
for Yerrabi - Leanne Castley & Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lipoedema Australia was honoured to meet with an Advisor to the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Hon Mark Butler MP at Parliament of Australia, Canberra in August.
This is another exciting and significant step forward for our community. It signals to us the doors are opening to federal engagement on lipoedema at the national level.
Our Chair Jen, Vice-Chair Meegan, and Board Director Jacqueline, spoke about the needs of our community and the urgent importance of formal recognition of lipoedema.
Discussions included the potential for a Senate Inquiry and the pathway towards a Medicare submission (which we know is a detailed and lengthy process), and getting lipoedema included in the public lymphoedema clinics.
We are grateful for the opportunity to bring the voices and lived experiences of people with lipoedema into Parliament House.
We remain committed to advocating for recognition, equitable care and better outcomes nationwide.
L-R: Chair - Jen Bartlett, ACT Spokesperson for Women -
Laura Nuttall, Board Director - Jacqueline Taylor &
Vice Chair - Meegan Treen
Lipoedema Australia Vice Chair Meegan Treen met with ACT Independent Member for Yerrabi, Leanne Castley MLA during June’s Lipoedema Awareness Month to chat about lipoedema.
Meegan was joined by Yerrabi constituent, and lipoedema advocate, Kelly Fitzpatrick, discussing the impacts of having a “visible, invisible” condition such as lipoedema, and the importance of early intervention, support and education of health and medical practitioners in order to better support the estimated 1.5 million Australians living with lipoedema.
It was a meaningful conversation focused on increasing awareness, improving diagnosis, and supporting better care for the lipoedema community, and we look forward to continuing our discussions with Leanne and her parliamentary colleagues.
New South Wales
August 2026
L-R: NSW Minister for Environment, Heritage & Climate
Change - Michael Regan, Board Director - Lisa Higgins, NSW Member for Leppington - Anna Watson, Chair - Jen
Bartlett & NSW Member for Pittwater - Jacqui Scruby
Lipoedema Australia Chair Jen and Board Director Lisa met with NSW Minister for Environment, Heritage and Climate Change Michael Regan, NSW Member for Leppington Anna Watson, and NSW Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby at Parliament House in August.
They discussed the important issues facing our community and the need for continued awareness and advocacy. As part of Lipoedema Australia’s new plans, the federal Senate inquiry was also discussed.
We’re encouraged that these MPs are keen to travel to Canberra to help influence the Australian Government and support progress for our community.
We look forward to continuing to advance the lipoedema agenda.
June 2026
On the final day of Lipoedema Awareness Month June 2026, Lipoedema Australia Board Director Lisa Higgins met with NSW Independent Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan. Cath Dixon, a local constituent, joined the meeting to talk about her experience living with lipoedema.
Michael was genuinely interested in learning more about lipoedema and the challenges faced by those living with the condition. He expressed a strong commitment to supporting our advocacy efforts, both by raising awareness and by helping facilitate introductions to key decision-makers within Government.
As a first step, he has already written to The Hon. Ryan Park MP, NSW Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast.
What a great way to finish off Lipoedema Awareness Month June 2026!
L-R: Lipoedema Australia Chair - Jen Bartlett & NSW Member for Swansea - Yasmin Catley
L-R: Lipoedema Australia Board Director - Lisa Higgins, NSW
Independent Member for Wakehurst - Michael Regan & Cath Dixon
June 2026
Lipoedema Australia Chair Jen and Board Member Lisa attended a Lipoedema Australia Awareness Month fundraiser event at Lymph & Muscle Centre in Belmont near Newcastle NSW, in June.
The event was organised by Sal Petrassi, who invited the NSW Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley MP, providing an opportunity for a valuable discussion about lipoedema with Jen.
A representative from the Federal Member for Shortland & Minister for Defence, Hon Pat Conroy MP also attended popped in on the Minister’s behalf, and Jen has since been able to connect virtually with his team to discuss the impacts of lipoedema on our community.
We look forward to continuing our conversations about lipoedema with representatives on all sides of politics, as we work towards better outcomes for those living with lipoedema.
Queensland
June 2026
L-R: QLD Shadow Minister for Health - Hon Mark Bailey MP and Lipoedema Australia Director & Treasurer - Louise Mansfield
Shadow Minister for Health, The Hon. Mark Bailey MP, met with Lipoedema Australia Director & Treasurer, Louise Mansfield, to discuss lipoedema and the ongoing need for advocacy and recognition as part of our 2026 Lipoedema Awareness Month campaign.
Encouragingly, lipoedema is referenced in Queensland’s Women and Girls’ Health Strategy 2032 and Consultation Outcomes Report, an important step toward greater awareness and inclusion in policy conversations.
We look forward to continued engagement to strengthen support for those living with lipoedema.