Gold Coast nurse Eugenia Garcia recently completed the inaugural Queensland Health Women's and Girls Health Improvement Scholarship to enhance her knowledge in supporting women with endometriosis and other pelvic pain.
When Gold Coast clinical nurse Eugenia Garcia worked as a theatre nurse in gynaecology, she encountered many women affected by endometriosis and pelvic pain.
These women shared stories of years of debilitating pain before finally receiving a diagnosis and surgical treatment.
“Many of these women suffered from pelvic pain for a long time and told me how hard it was to find answers,” Eugenia recalled.
“For many, their pain was dismissed or minimised as just ‘period pain'.”
In 2023, Queensland Health consulted thousands of women across the state and heard about the widespread nature of pelvic pain and endometriosis. It was revealed that many women felt they were not taken seriously by healthcare professionals when seeking help.
Historically, across the world, there has been significant delays in diagnosing women with endometriosis due to normalisation and stigmatisation of symptoms. However, research into the condition is helping to increase awareness about the condition among healthcare providers.
In Queensland, 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with endometriosis — a condition that continues to increase demand for specialised nursing roles such as care coordinators, nurse navigators, nurse practitioners, and nurse educators.
To meet this growing need, Queensland Health has introduced annual scholarships in pelvic health – an initiative of the Women’s and Girls’ Health Improvement program.
This program enables registered nurses and midwives to undertake postgraduate study focused on endometriosis and pelvic pain through the Australian College of Nursing.
Up to 2028, Queensland Health will offer up to twenty scholarships to Queensland Health nurses and midwives each year, and up to twenty to Queensland Health physiotherapists. Successful nursing and midwifery recipients can choose to specialise in either continence management or endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The scholarships support Queensland Health nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy staff to care for and treat women and girls experiencing pelvic pain.
Eugenia was among the first recipients of these scholarships, which were awarded to 21 nurses and midwives across the state in 2024 to undertake a three-month inaugural training program this year.
Eugenia began her scholarship in January while continuing her nursing duties at the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Interdisciplinary Clinical Services (EPPICS).
“The scholarship has significantly enhanced my nursing skills and knowledge, enabling me to provide holistic, patient-centred care to the women I see in the clinic ,” Eugenia said.
“I’ve learned so much about the female pelvic anatomy , pathophysiology, and medical and surgical treatments of endometriosis and management of pelvic pain.”
These new skills allow Eugenia to better support patients at EPPICS by helping them navigate their care and, most importantly, advocate for and empower them to regain control of their health.
EPPICS is Queensland’s first specialised clinic offering comprehensive care to patients with endometriosis and pelvic pain. The interdisciplinary team provides patient care and referral pathways to community services and self-care resources, supporting long-term management of these complex conditions.
“Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain have traditionally been misunderstood or misdiagnosed,” Eugenia explained.
“It’s vital that patients receive holistic support and care.”
Through her scholarship, Eugenia has deepened her understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of endometriosis, as well as related comorbidities involving pelvic organs like the bladder and bowel. She has also studied the role of the central nervous system in chronic pain and how psychosocial factors contribute to the complexity of the condition and impact treatment outcomes.
Armed with this knowledge, Eugenia is now equipped to contribute to evidence-based, holistic care plans for women living with endometriosis and pelvic pain.
“I believe the most important part of my role as a nurse specialist is to provide patients with a safe space where their experiences are heard and validated, especially for those who have struggled with these conditions for many years,” she said.
“I’m incredibly proud to have received this scholarship and hope that the knowledge I’ve gained will benefit our community of women and girls for years to come.”
To learn more about endometriosis and what it is like living with the condition, read our Newsroom story: Claire’s endometriosis journey: how she found hope after years of suffering
Applications for scholarships starting in 2026 close on 20 June 2025.