21/09/2026
Last week, our CEO Mariam Mourad, a current member of Minister for Women Jodie Harrison’s NSW Women’s Advisory Council, facilitated a member-led presentation on female ge***al mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). This is a key public health issue affecting women and girls across NSW, with the highest presentation of FGM/C experiences reported in South Western Sydney. As the NSW Government’s advisory body on issues affecting women and girls, the Council provides an important platform for raising issues and advocating for more equitable policy outcomes for women across the state.
The presentation brought together women and experts with lived, clinical, and research experience of FGM/C, including presenters:
• Hassanatou Diallo — a Registered Nurse and woman with lived experience as a victim of FGM/C, who shared how FGM/C impacted her life and identity.
• Lynda Smith — Clinical Midwifery Consultant for the NSW Education Program on FGM/C, who spoke about the current services and supports available, including the Dandelion Support Group, which will be hosted at our Centre starting in November.
• Dr Olayide Ogunsiji — Associate Professor of Nursing at Western Sydney University, who shared insights from her research on FGM/C and proposed a gold standard of care; specifically, a holistic, multidisciplinary healthcare unit that takes care of women beyond midwifery or childbirth.
Together, these presentations highlighted the voices and experiences of women with FGM/C, how our health system currently responds to their needs, and the gaps remaining in providing more comprehensive and culturally appropriate care for them.
The meeting concluded with a recommendation from the Council that the same presentation be delivered to Minister for Health Ryan Park and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison. The Council also committed to writing to Jodie Harrison to elevate the issue and highlight the need for further action.
As part of our ongoing advocacy work, Mariam and the team at Bankstown Women’s Health Centre are proud to have supported the presenters in preparing for this meeting, helping ensure FGM/C is recognised as a priority health issue requiring meaningful action across NSW.
