It felt a bit like Federal Budget night last night as women around Australia sat waiting for the findings of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee on Perimenopause and Menopause to be released.

There were winners and losers, mixed feelings, and in some cases outright anger at the findings of the Inquiry. Most people got a mention across one of five broad areas for change.

Life is complicated for most people aged 45 - 60, not in the least because of the impact of family responsibilities, work pressures, gender discrimination and significant life events including menopause. This perfect storm can affect a woman’s financial stability - from her capacity to earn, save and to retire well. This article summarises some key challenges women face, and outlines three strategies to prepare for financial stability in midlife.

Teaching is an incredibly rewarding yet demanding career. Teachers experience high levels of stress at work, and this stress can intensify the symptoms of menopause.

In a workforce that is 75% female, around 82,576 women are likely to be impacted by menopause and retire by the age of 54. If we are to keep our teachers well and at work, we need to understand the impact of menopause on teachers in Australia and identify opportunities to make positive changes in this important sector.