Women in regional Victoria will soon have better access to medical abortion and contraception services, thanks to a generous gift.
The Royal Women’s Hospital will use funding from the Jack Brockhoff Foundation to strengthen the skills of health professionals across three key regional areas of Victoria. This will ensure more women can access timely and safe reproductive healthcare close to home.
The Foundation has gifted over $500,000 through its Bold Futures Project Grants to support a three-year plan to enhance local clinical capacity. It's the biggest single philanthropic gift in Australia for this cause.
The initiative will commence in Sunraysia where clinicians will be supported by the Women’s to learn more about how best to offer local medical and surgical abortion services. The funding will also support increased training on how to provide long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
In the next three years, the program will expand into Gippsland and the Grampians. These regions currently face a postcode lottery for access with women often waiting several weeks for a referral. In some cases, this delay can make medication abortion no longer possible. Some face additional barriers, such as the lack of a local doctor who provides medical abortion services. Conscientious objection can make referrals harder. Financial costs, travel distance and stigma all add to the challenges.
Associate Professor Paddy Moore AM leads the Women’s Abortion and Contraception Service. She said the program aims to remove barriers.
“Access to abortion and contraception should never depend on you live,” she stated. " When women can’t access timely care, they face enormous stress, financial strain, and in some cases, the loss of choice altogether. By training more clinicians in these regional areas we can ensure women receive essential abortion and contraceptive care as soon as they need it.”
Louise Kuramoto, Executive Officer at the Jack Brockhoff Foundation, spoke about their commitment to equity.
“We want to see a Victoria where all women can access essential healthcare, no matter their postcode,” she said. "Supporting this program means removing barriers and giving women the care they need in their own communities.”
Women seeking information or support can contact: 1800 My Options