When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: The Sibyl Centre, University of Sydney Camperdown campus
Entry: Free and open to all with registrations essential

Feminist narratives about women taking control of their health, originally rooted in women’s health movements, are increasingly being used by companies and social media influencers to market health products, tests, and treatments. However, many of these health interventions lack strong scientific evidence or ignore existing research that shows there is no benefit.

Hear Drs Brooke Nickel and Tessa Copp from Sydney Health Literacy Lab talk about their leading research into how areas of women’s health, from fertility testing to menopause hormone therapy, are increasingly being hijacked by vested interests to market unproven health interventions using the language of empowerment. They make the case that this can lead to overdiagnosis and potentially costly overtreatment, ultimately putting many at risk – and what's needed to counter the inappropriate medicalisation of women's health.

This event is hosted by Jess Hill, award-winning journalist and the 2026 Writer-in-Residence Fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre. Now in its 10th year, the Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellowship is a pioneering initiative connecting leading Australian creative writers with global health researchers to address complex health and social challenges through literature.

Accessibility: Lift and wheelchair access and hearing infrared system are available at the venue. Please note any requirements when you RSVP.
Getting to campus: Parking is limited on campus. In the interest of sustainability and where possible, we encourage attendees to take public transport to this event. Visit the University's page on getting to campus to plan your travel.

For full event details including speaker bios, visit the Sydney Ideas website.