Researchers scanned nearly 4,000 brains and found that the organ goes through five distinct phases, each marked by major rewiring events at ages nine, 32, 66, and 83. And the adolescence phase? It kicks off with puberty and runs all the way through your early thirties.

So before anyone judges, let’s explore what this study actually uncovered.

Why are we saying adolescence now lasts until 32?

Most of us used to consider 25 the age when our brains matured and our frontal lobe developed, but now, this new study shows that between ages 9 and 32, the brain undergoes its most significant structural reorganisation. Grey matter, white matter, synapses – everything is busy strengthening, pruning, and streamlining like a ruthless internal renovation.

This three-decade neurological project also aligns with what many recognise as a long, occasionally chaotic journey of identity formation. In other words, feeling unsure of what you’re doing with your life at 29 is not only common – it’s biologically appropriate. Congratulations?

What actually happens in the brain during this time?

During this extended phase, white matter continues to grow and neural communication gets increasingly refined. The brain becomes more efficient, like upgrading from dial-up to fibre optic, but very slowly and with a few dramatic resets along the way.

Around age 32, the researchers found “the most directional changes in wiring”, marking the official biological transition out of adolescence and into the grand era known as Adulthood (32–66). This next phase is characterised by stability – thank god.

Does this explain why our 20s feel so chaotic?

Short answer: absolutely. If adolescence truly spans ages nine up until 32, then the turbulence of your twenties isn’t a spiritual failure – it’s just your neurons frantically rearranging themselves.

If nothing else, this study gives everyone under 32 a scientifically credible excuse for a little more chaos – and everyone over 32 a reason to be gentle with their younger, still-reorganising peers. After all, growing up takes time. Exactly 32 years of it, apparently.

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Under the new rules, low-dose B6 products will stay on regular retail shelves, while anything stronger will soon require a conversation with a pharmacist or even a doctor’s prescription. Below, exactly what you need to know.

So, what is changing when it comes to purchasing vitamin B6?

There are set to be new rules in place, depending on how much vitamin B6 a supplement or product contains. These can be broken down as follows:

When do these rules come into effect?

The updated safety controls will roll out from 1 June 2027, giving brands, pharmacies and healthcare providers time to adjust labels and manage stock.

Why is vitamin B6 being regulated?

While vitamin B6 is essential — helping with things like metabolism, cognitive function and nervous system health — Australians typically get enough from food. The average adult only needs around 1.1–1.7 mg per day, and deficiency is relatively rare outside of older adults or people with certain health conditions.

New findings suggest that the real concern is actually related to too much B6 which, taken over long periods, can cause peripheral neuropathy — symptoms like tingling, burning, numbness or weakness in the hands and feet. These symptoms can be severe and sometimes irreversible.

And what does this mean for consumers?

If you take multivitamins or B-complex supplements, it’s worth checking the label. It’s also important to note that vitamin B6 may also be listed as pyridoxine, pyridoxamine or pyridoxal.

If you notice any nerve-related symptoms, the current advice is to stop taking these supplements immediately and speak to a healthcare professional. You can also report any supplement-related side effects via the TGA’s Adverse Event Reporting System, which helps regulators track emerging safety issues.

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What the new report found

Researchers from the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, UNSW’s Kirby Institute, ANU and the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer analysed the latest national data. The major finding was that in 2021 – the latest available data – Australia recorded zero cases of cervical cancer in women under 25.

That milestone reflects the strength of Australia’s HPV vaccination program, which was introduced in 2007 — one of the first of its kind in the world, and still one of the most successful.

So why are things slipping?

But while the report celebrates this achievement, it also sounds an alarm, finding that cervical cancer screening rates are down. Specifically, more than one in four people eligible for a cervical screening are now overdue, marking the second consecutive year of decline. This is despite the broad rollout of HPV self-collection — a simple, self-taken swab now chosen by nearly half of screening participants.

The data also shows gaps that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Screening participation remains significantly lower among First Nations women, who experience far higher cancer incidence and mortality. Concerningly, for women aged 35 to 39, 15 percent have never had a screening test.

Vaccination coverage is also falling. HPV vaccination rates by age 15 have dropped from nearly 86 percent in 2020 to just under 80 percent in 2023. While still high internationally, it’s a meaningful decline for a program that relies on widespread uptake to protect the whole population.

What researchers want you to know

HPV is responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. A single dose of the HPV vaccine offers long-term protection against the highest-risk strains, and HPV-based screening detects early changes long before cancer develops. Together, they’re the reason Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2035. However, this can only happen if current trends don’t continue to fall.

Researchers are urging renewed focus on school-based vaccination, equitable access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, clearer national data, and improved outreach to young people who missed doses during the pandemic years.

As Professor Julia Brotherton puts it, vaccinating young people is “a gift you can give your child to protect them for their lifetime.”

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Scientists have developed a simple at-home strip test, working much like a pregnancy test, that can identify HMGB1 — a protein closely linked to endometriosis — directly from menstrual blood. It’s a discreet, highly sensitive method that could dramatically speed up diagnosis for millions.

Below, how the technology works, why menstrual blood is emerging as an important diagnostic tool, and what this could mean for the future of reproductive health.

How the new endometriosis test works

The device is designed to be as intuitive as a home pregnancy test. It requires just a drop of menstrual blood, which travels along a narrow strip coated with finely engineered borophene nanosheets. These nanosheets are lined with antibodies that bind specifically to HMGB1. If the protein is present, two lines appear; if not, the test shows one.

HMGB1 is a protein associated with inflammation and tissue repair, and elevated levels have been linked to the development and progression of endometriosis. By targeting this specific biomarker, the test offers a way to identify the condition at earlier stages, potentially even before debilitating symptoms escalate.

What sets this apart is not the format, but the sensitivity: it can detect low levels of HMGB1 that traditional laboratory methods frequently miss.

Menstrual blood has under-utilised diagnostic power

According to the study, menstrual blood carries a wealth of biological information. Despite this, it has long been overlooked in clinical diagnostics due to persistent stigma and a lack of accessible tools ad research. This new test challenges that barrier, offering a non-invasive option that taps into data already naturally shed each month.

When might this test be available?

While availability to the public might still be some months away,  researchers are already exploring ways to embed the technology directly into menstrual pads or similar products. Such integration could turn a standard monthly routine into a private, effortless screening tool.

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The inquiry – which was conducted by the Victorian Government’s Women’s Health Advisory Council and a panel of experts between January and October 2024 – was informed by the personal medical experiences of 13,000 women and girls aged between 12 and 79. It also investigated carers, clinicians, and other peak bodies tasked with treating women’s pain, ultimately uncovering a medical system built around “Caucasian male biology”, which is abundant in gender health gaps and misogyny, ultimately resulting in disproportionately poorer health outcomes for women.

Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health Kat Theophanous said, “This report makes clear what women have known for generations – our pain is too often dismissed as normal. We’re taking action to change that, expanding access to pain relief and giving women a voice in their healthcare.”

“This report makes clear what women have known for generations – our pain is too often dismissed as normal. We’re taking action to change that, expanding access to pain relief and giving women a voice in their healthcare.”

These are the five key findings from the report, as well as the initiatives poised at bridging the gender pain gap.

1. Our medical system means women’s healthcare needs remain unmet

Unmet healthcare needs was one of the major findings from the report, meaning that, even though most women will seek care for pain, their needs were not adequately treated. Specifically, 71% per cent of respondents reported being ignored, dismissed or having their pain minimised by healthcare professionals.

23% of respondents reported  seeing more than 10 medical services before being correctly diagnosed.

Some cited their symptoms were misdiagnosed as psychosomatic, while 23% of respondents reported  seeing more than 10 medical services before being correctly diagnosed.

2. There are significant gaps in research and representation

Even when help is sought, gaps in research on women’s health often leave women and girls without appropriate care.

As one participant responded, “I would like to see pain associated with menstrual cycles being researched, instead of being told by 50% of my doctors to just go on the pill. The potential side effects [of the pill] are numerous.”

Other women also described feeling like they needed to undertake their own research for more complex conditions like endometriosis, “due to a sense that their healthcare providers didn’t really understand their symptoms or condition.”

According to the report, nearly 50% relied on the internet to inform their care.

According to the report, nearly 50% relied on the internet to inform their care.

3. Gender bias in healthcare

Bias in pain perception leads to women’s pain being underestimated and inadequately treated. Many respondents described not only having their pain dismissed or ignored by healthcare professionals, but also undergoing invasive treatments like IUD insertion with little-to-no pain relief.

Others described instances where they were blamed for their pain, or faced stereotyping when seeking treatment. One focus group participant explained, “I had a doctor tell me I was a drug addict because I asked for a stronger pain relief medication,” while another said she was made to feel like her pain was entirely related to being overweight.

Cultural norms, language barriers, and stereotypes about women’s biology were also cited as contributing to limited access and engagement with healthcare services.

4. Barriers across communities

Access to women’s healthcare providers can already feel impossible to come by, but the report found that women living in regional and rural areas, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, LGBTIQA+ communities, and women with disabilities faced even greater challenges.

This could include needing to travel hours for a specialist appointment, limited access to specialist providers, and high costs associated with managing pain.

“I have spent over $30,000 on out-of-pocket surgery, hospital and specialist fees for endometriosis in less than five years,” one participant reported. Another said, “It took over six years and eight GPs to get a referral.”

5. Overall, women want change

The overwhelming finding was that women want their pain heard, and adequately treated, without bias. There is also a demand for affordable, accessible care, and a better understanding of lived experiences of pain, empowering women and girls to make informed decisions about their health.

So, what’s being done?

The Victorian government has several initiatives currently underway aimed at bridging the gender pain gap. These include:

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It wasn’t my first encounter with cold water therapy – I swim at the beach year-round and in winter I regularly walk the Karloo Track with the sole intention of dipping into the crystalline pond at its end. Doing so reminds me of the women who swim at Hampstead Heath Ponds even on London’s coldest days, or of this recent snap of Harry Styles and Taylor Russell in booties, beanies, and gloves following a swim at the same location. It’s clear cold water therapy is catching on.

But you don’t have to be an ocean swimmer or ship yourself off to Antarctica to experience cold water therapy. Even the least intrepid among us will be familiar with the practice given its crossover into beauty. We’re told to ice our face to depuff and stick our gua sha tools in the fridge. It’s not uncommon to find bathtubs filled with ice at your local spa. We even finish our showers with a 30 second blast of cold water (or at least try to, anyway).

But what exactly are the benefits of cold water therapy? And how can you practice is safely? More on that, below.

Benefits of Cold Water Therapy

Athletes have adopted the practice for decades, plunging into ice baths to quicken recovery and soothe swollen muscles. Ako Kondo, a principal dancer at The Australian Ballet, ends each night by icing her legs. And yes, Wim Hof the Dutch self-styled “Ice Man” preaches the benefits of his cold water method, saying it reduces inflammation, stimulates blood flow, produces endorphins, aids sleep and increases energy levels.

It must be mentioned that research to support these benefits are mixed, but there is an argument that this is because it’s a new area of study and less to do with credibility. Placebo or not, you can’t deny the immediate shift on your mood after a cold water plunge. However, it’s always best to check in with your GP before participating in cold water therapy, as the shock of cold water immersion can trigger cardiac arrhythmia along with a non-freezing cold injury (trench foot), which happens when nerves and blood vessels are damaged.

It’s not clear if there’s a temperature or duration of exposure that’s most effective. But a good rule of thumb with cold water exposure is less is more. Staying in longer or seeking out colder water could do more harm than good.

How to try Cold Water Therapy

Start small with a cold shower or bath. The beauty here being you can control the temperature, are familiar with the setting, and can minimize and other hazards. If you’re ready to try your hand at swimming in a creek, pond or the open ocean, do so in a group. This way you have people nearby if anything goes wrong. It’s also way more fun to experience it in a social setting, that way you can encourage each other and laugh when someone inevitably squeals. Before you plunge, ensure you’ve planned a way to warm yourself up afterwards be it with a hot drink, warm clothes or blankets.

Another alternative is to book a session with an instructor like I experienced in Hobart. Wild Wellness’ Fire and Ice Walk has it all. Otherwise you can experience cryotherapy by stepping into a cryo chamber at a practice near you. Then there are spas like Slow House in Bondi that offer ice bath sessions as part of the wellness experience.

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Breaking it down to a micro level, there’s a wealth of vitamins and minerals to be consumed. One key component of this are probiotics and prebiotics. So, just what is the difference between the two? In short, probiotics are good bacteria, and prebiotics are their food. For everything you need to know, including how can they be included in a balanced diet, we answer your questions below.

What are probiotics and prebiotics?

Prebiotics and probiotics are both important for overall human health, yet have different roles to play.

Probiotics are live bacteria. They keep your gut healthy and balanced. You can find them in certain foods, but if you’re deficient you can get supplements.

Prebiotics on the other hand are the food that probiotics need to survive. Primarily, prebiotics are types of carbohydrates and fibre that are resistant to human digestion – this allows the probiotics to eat it and break it down for us instead.

Our gut bacteria, known as the gut flora or gut microbiota, performs multiple functions in the body like improving digestion and increasing the absorption of nutrients. Thus promoting overall health and wellbeing. This is why it is imperative to consume balanced amounts of probiotics and prebiotics to ensure your microbiota is happy.

Why is gut bacteria beneficial?

Gut bacteria in the digestive tract play a role in protecting the body from potentially harmful bacteria and fungi. A 2013 study confirmed the wide variety of good bacteria can aid in immune function and address obesity concerns, among wider benefits. Alongside this, some gut bacteria works to form vitamin K and short-chain fatty acids, the main nutrient source of cells lining the colon. These promote strong gut barrier, helping keep harmful viruses and bacteria at bay.

Which foods are rich in prebiotics?

Many foods naturally contain prebiotics in their makeup, due to the fibre found in vegetables, fruits and legumes. While humans are unable to totally digest this type of fibre, our good gut bacteria can.

Foods high in prebiotic content include:

As mentioned earlier, prebiotic fibre can convert into short-chain fatty acids, named butyrate. It has previously been suggested butyrate production in the colon cannot be maintained without a regular, adequate consumption of prebiotic fibre, further reinforcing the importance of consuming it.

Which foods are classed as probiotic?

Probiotic foods primarily consist of fermented foods as they contain beneficial bacteria thriving on naturally occurring sugar or fibre in food. Plain yoghurt with live cultures is a simple inclusion in your diet if you are looking to add beneficial bacteria to your system.

However, there are more foods to consume other than yoghurt, including:

Pasteurisation kills bacteria, so when consuming fermented foods for the purpose of attaining their probiotic value, ensure you are selecting an unpasteurised variety.

How does food affect our gut microbiota?

With this knowledge in mind, its important to understand how food impacts the microbiota in a more general sense. Our diet is integral in ensuring we maintain a balance of good and bad gut bacteria.

If you consume a diet high in sugar and fat, this negatively influences gut bacteria as it can contribute to insulin resistance. Once the bad bacteria are fed regularly, this allows them to develop faster without as much good bacteria to prevent them from colonising.

If you are concerned with your overall health and whether you are consuming an adequate amount of probiotics vs prebiotics, it is best to speak with your GP or health professional in the first instance.

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To the layman, PCOS is a reproductive disorder. That’s how most people think of it. Treated as consequence of female anatomy. Certainly it’s understudied, as most conditions that only affect females are.

But PCOS is deeply complex. What causes it? The science is still unclear, but there are some suggestions that stress, childhood trauma and ethnicity could all be factors. One of the common symptoms of PCOS is that it can slow or inhibit your ability to have biological children. Much of the discourse around PCOS is centred on this one issue, your ability to procreate. As for the other physical and mental issues it causes, they’re widely under-recognised and almost brushed off.

But the reality of this condition is far different from the public perception that it just affects your ovaries. It’s the most common endocrine condition affecting females.

Yes, it’s considered an endocrine condition, not just a reproductive one.

To add context, one of the most common treatments for PCOS is metformin, an insulin and blood-sugar regulating drug used to control diabetes. Why? Because those with PCOS are three to five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, irrespective of their weight. In fact, More than half of females with PCOS will develop type 2 diabetes by the age of 40.

It’s why there has been a recent groundswell within the medical community, a push to officially change the name of PCOS so it can be understood for what it truly is.

“Polycystic ovaries do not accurately reflect the multi-system disorder that is associated with PCOS. It is way more complex than that,” said Dr Devini Ameratunga, a Brisbane gynaecologist and board-certified reproductive endocrinologist.

Beyond pushing women into insulin resistance and diabetes, there are almost more consequences of PCOS than you can count. PCOS can make your hair fall out. It means you’re more likely to battle acne. It can cause weight gain that doesn’t respond to a healthy diet and exercise. It can cause excess hair growth on the face and body.

“PCOS is a condition that is due to a disruption of hormones – the main signalling pathway for the endocrine system. There are many things that will feed into the endocrine system to change how it behaves,” said Dr Dev. “So anything that affects the endocrine system can theoretically affect PCOS or how PCOS is manifested.”

Beyond some of the physical manifestations, the mental ones can be even more insideous. It can increase your risk of developing depression and anxiety conditions. It can lower your ability to absorb B12, which in turn can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. It makes you more sensitive to the impacts of stress, which can further blow out all the rest of your symptoms. This is a condition that affects the entire body and mind, with consequences that extend far beyond the ovaries.

“Polycystic ovarian syndrome was initially termed by a gynaecologist in the early 20th century due to the typical multicystic-appearing ovaries,” says Dr Dev. “Now, most of us specialists feel this is an outdated term.”

That’s because Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome does not accurately represent that this is a condition of the endocrine system. In fact, many females with PCOS may not even have visible ovarian cysts at all.

“Women with multiple cysts or follicles do not necessarily have the multi-system disorder or many different physical characteristics associated with this condition. Likewise, you can have the syndrome without having visible ‘cysts’ on an ultrasound,” says Dr Dev.

Keeping this condition inside its reproductive naming convention has significant repercussions for people with PCOS.

Monash University published an article in 2025 that shows how the current name of this condition is contributing to misdiagnoses, late diagnoses and many females being undiagnosed all together. The current naming convention also contributes to the perception that this condition is not as “serious” as it actually is.

Could you imagine asking your boss for a personal leave day to manage your PCOS? Now, imagine asking your boss for a personal leave day because you have a condition where excessive stress can cause you to develop diabetes and make your hair to fall out? The response would almost certainly be different.

A new name would convey the truth of the condition and potentially improve the outcomes for women with PCOS. But we’re still a while away from a formalised change.

“The process to come up with a new name will be extensive and involve stakeholders from a variety of areas,” said Dr Dev. “I suspect it will have a name that involves or represents the endocrine disruption that occurs in the disease.”

Editor’s note: in the context of this article, we use ‘female’ to denote people with anatomically female sex characteristics. We use ‘women’ to denote gender and to refer to people who identify as women. There may be exceptions when language is taken from a direct quote.

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We’re well versed in the importance of taking care of ourselves, physically and mentally. But when your tried-and-tested remedies won’t cut it, sometimes, it pays to up the ante. Luckily for Sydney-siders, wellness centres have cropped up on just about every corner of the city in recent years, each one boasting innovative and luxe solutions to keeping your mind and body in check.

Of course, while we’re blessed to be spoiled for choice by this new crop of health hubs, it can make planning your visit a little difficult. Luckily, that’s where we come in. Whether you’re looking to sweat out your sins in an infrared sauna, or float away your worries in an ice bath, we’ve got you covered.

Read on for all the spots on our radar …

1. RESET (Double Bay)

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The newest kid on the block is RESET, a boutique wellness studio in Double Bay offering a highly personal, restorative experience with just five guests in its communal space or private sessions for up to three. Facilities include a Himalayan salt halotherapy cave, private cedar sauna and ice bath suites, and Vitamin C-infused showers, all designed to encourage calm, connection, and rejuvenation through time-honoured natural therapies.

2. Saint Haven (Bondi and North Sydney)

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The Melbourne cult-favourite is heading up to Sydney’s shores at both Bondi and a newly-announced North Sydney location. Their new North Sydney location will be the city’s largest ultra-luxury wellness club, offering a six-storey sanctuary that blends fitness, relaxation, and cutting-edge preventative health care. Members will enjoy facilities ranging from magnesium pools, cedarwood saunas, and a holistic spa to bio-hacking treatments, world-class gyms, meditation caves, and an organic wholefoods restaurant.

3. HOUSED (Macquarie Park, Bondi Junction, Penrith, Narellan, Thornleigh, Chatswood and Alexandria)

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This brand new wellness precinct and gym located in Macquarie Park has high-performance training zones, group classes, Pilates, Yoga, HIIT, state-of-the-art recovery amenities like saunas, steam room, infrared saunas, mineral spas, cold plunges – all under one roof. Memberships are seamlessly app-connected and designed for flexibility (starting at just $19.95 per week). And if their Macquarie Park locale isn’t ideal for you, they also have locations in Bondi Junction, Penrith (opening August), Narellan (opening October), Thornleigh, Chatswood and Alexandria.

4. City Cave (multiple locations)

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About: If you’re looking to make sauna, massage, and float therapy a part of your weekly routine, City Cave might just be the solution. With centres just about everywhere in Australia, and membership options for regular visits, you can relax to the tune of 400kg of epsom salts in a private float room, or detox in an infrared sauna no matter where you are.

5. Nimbus Co (Bondi, Byron Bay, Manly, Neutral Bay)

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About: For a little R&R on Sydney’s east, we love Nimbus co. You can chill out solo in a small infrared sauna, or bring a friend (or two) to the large sauna room, where you’ll find complimentary towels, water, and an iPad for your entertainment. For those looking for the full experience, why not compliment your sauna with a plunge in the ice bath?

6. Shelter (Double Bay)

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About: You might be better-acquainted with Shelter’s heart-racing cycle and boxing classes, but did you know this luxe gym is also home to it’s own wellness facilities? If a workout isn’t enough to get you sweating, a visit to their traditional and infrared saunas surely will be, followed by a rejuvenating ice bath.

7. Capybara (Surry Hills)

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About: A new addition to Surry Hills, Capybara is serenity personified. Designed to offer a reprieve from our fast-paced world, the spaces pays tribute to wellness rituals from various cultures, from the sento and onsen of Japan, to the Moroccan hammam. There are also memberships available for those looking to develope a regular wellness ritual.

8. Slow House (Bondi)

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About: After closing their smaller space on Bondi’s Curlewis street, Slow House partnered with Beach Fit to develop the ultimate wellness haven. The larger, luxe fit-out not only offers saunas and a bathhouse, but massages, full body treatments, and facials. An oasis just steps away from Bondi Beach.

9. Sauna Amalfi (Avalon)

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About: Designed with the light, bright Amalfi Coast in mind, Sauna Amalfi is the perfect escape from modern life, nestled in the streets of Avalon Beach. Here, you can unwind with a 45-minute infrared sauna (complete with TVs and Bluetooth speakers, so you can tune into a show as you tune out from the world), or embrace extremes with contrast therapy, as you switch between teh warmth of the sauna and the chill of a cold plunge.

10. RCVRI (Cronulla, Manly, Coogee, Martin Place (opening soon))

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About: RCVRI is a wellness-lover’s dream, with (literally) everything you need to restore and recover at your fingertips. Whether you want to keep things traditional with a steamy sauna, or go all-in on zero gravity flotation bed, the options are endless.

11. CalmBar (Rozelle)

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About: CalmBar is dedicated to the benefits of cold and heat exposure, combined with the intrinsic power of the breath to get through it. Melt away your stress with 30 minutes in the infrared sauna, followed by a challenging (but rewarding) plunge in an ice bath handmade from Western red cedar. There’s also shower facilities stocked with fresh towels and sumptuous Leif products.

12. Sense of Self (Surry Hills)

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Opening: second half of 2025

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Melbourne’s iconic bathhouse Sense of Self is opening the doors to its first Sydney location in the second half of 2025 (exact date yet to be confirmed). The outpost will be located in a whopping 1000-square-metre warehouse space on the border of Surry Hills and Paddington, and will be kitted out with hot pools, cold plunges, saunas, steam rooms and massage treatment spaces.

13. Soak Bathhouse (Bondi Junction and Alexandria)

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Gold Coast gem Soak will be opening two locations in Sydney this year. The Bondi Junction outpost will boast two mineral pools, three hot springs inspired thermal spas, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool and an invigorating cold bucket, while its Alexandria counterpart will feature 700 square metres of state-of-the-art facilities – the brand’s most expansive locations yet – including warm magnesium-rich mineral pools, steamy hot spas, invigorating cold plunge pools, dry cedarwood saunas and aromatic steam rooms.

14. One Playground (Surry Hills and Marrickville)

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While you might be familiar with One Playground’s gyms, at their Surry Hills and Marrickville locations, they’ve also recently introduced dedicated wellness spaces. Here, you’ll find classes geared towards slower movement — like Pilates and yoga — as well as  everything you need to recover, from infrared saunas to vitamin-infused showers.

15. Saltuary (Five Dock)

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For something a little left-of-centre, look to Saltuary In addition to infrared saunas and massage therapy, there’s also a handcrafted salt therapy room, designed to heal you from the inside out. Expect a bespoke space equipped with a halogenerator, which diffuses micro-fine salt particles throughout the room.

Need more help to unwind? Here are 10 of the best wellness retreats in Australia.

Feature images: one, two.

The post These are Sydney’s best wellness sanctuaries for a some winter self-care appeared first on RUSSH.

Access to the Pill over the counter was introduced as a 12 month trial but in September 2024, the NSW State Government decided to make the scheme permanent.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the scheme was designed to provide women with easier and more affordable access to essential healthcare.

“At a time when seeing a GP can be difficult, we hope that this service will make it a little bit easier for women to access affordable healthcare, where and when they need it,” he said.

The scheme says that if you’ve been taking your Pill for two years or more and you’re on a “low-risk” Pill, then you can receive a 12 month refill at the pharmacy without needing a prescription. It’s a service available to women and people who menstruate aged 18-49.

But nearly two years on, and 10 months follow the scheme becoming a permanent fixture, there are still significant issues in being able to access this scheme.

Many pharmacists haven’t completed the required training to offer the Pill over the counter

Part of the scheme required that pharmacists complete an additional layer of “stringent” training in order to offer this service in their pharmacies. But unfortunately many pharmacists haven’t completed the training.

I called four pharmacies in my local area and one further away. The response? Two were completely unaware of the new legislation. In fact, one pharmacy went to great lengths to tell me that no such legislation exists that would cover a pharmacist-script for an oral contraceptive. Two knew about it but said they hadn’t done the required training course to offer the service. The final, non-local pharmacy knew of the change in policy and they had not done the training either, but agreed they could issue a one-time emergency three-month supply as a gesture of goodwill — as opposed to the 12-month course that has been advertised by NSW Health.

There is no up-to-date directory to show which pharmacies provide the service

It was during a busy work day that I realised I need a top up my oral contraceptive – crucial medication in the management of my PCOS. I didn’t have time to sit in a waiting room for two hours to see my GP, so I decided to try grabbing my medication over the counter.

I checked the NSW Government website for more information, which then sent me to a healthdirect page to find participating pharmacies. This page was simply a list of pharmacies by location with an accompanying map. There was no information as to which pharmacies offered the service and no way to search or filter for it.

The only solution to sourcing a pharmacy that offers the Pill over the counter is to call stores individually and ask.

The “time” barrier to accessing healthcare is still there

It’s undeniable that the cost of healthcare is a significant barrier to access. But time is potentially an even more significant restriction.

The wait times in a bulk-billed medical centre can be hours-long. In appointment-based clinics, it’s a struggle to actually get a time. Sure, one can access telehealth sessions but those are few and far between, and don’t attract the same Medicare rebate as in-person visits. All of these scenarios often mean time off work or away from caring duties, which in many instances is not feasible for the average person.

Access to the Pill over the counter is a measure designed to assist with the time barrier, allowing women to drop into a local shop and leave with their medication inside of 15 minutes.

But, if you have to call dozens of pharmacies to find one that will provide the service and then travel a distance to reach said pharmacy, how is this any more accessible than requiring a script?

The post Why are so many Australians still unable to access the Pill over the counter? appeared first on RUSSH.