Jean Hailes Women's Health Week runs from 7 to 11 September 2026. This year's theme is do it anyway: small steps towards your health. Here are the checks worth a conversation with your GP.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, led by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. It is a timely reminder for men and their families to think about prostate health and what a conversation with a GP can offer. How common is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia estimates around 79 men are diagnosed every day, with about 1 in 5 men diagnosed with prostate cancer by th

Most people only book a GP appointment once something feels wrong. A regular health check works differently. It looks for the things that do not announce themselves early, so they can be managed before they turn into something bigger. Why "feeling fine" is not the whole picture Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and early type 2 diabetes often carry no symptoms at all in their early stages. A blood pressure check, a blood test or a simple conversation with

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Australia. Much of the risk comes from factors that can be identified and managed well before a heart attack or stroke occurs. Knowing your own risk is the first step. The factors that matter most Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, weight, smoking status and family history all contribute to overall cardiovascular risk. None of these tell the full story on their own. It is the combination that matters, which

Mental health is a routine part of general practice, not a separate system you have to find your own way into. Your GP is often the first and most accessible point of contact, whether you are dealing with ongoing stress, low mood, anxiety or something harder to put into words. Starting the conversation You do not need a diagnosis or a specific problem in mind to bring mental health to a GP appointment. Many people start with something general, such as trouble sleeping, low en