Victoria’s world class Public Fertility Care provides access to comprehensive fertility assessment and treatment, including IVF.
Public Fertility Care is free, but there may be some out-of-pocket costs incurred outside of the service for medications, tests, and investigations.
Eligibility criteria
Victoria's Public Fertility Care is available to singles and couples and people of all genders whose situation or health may prevent or impair fertility or safe conception and/or who have been trying to conceive naturally but have been unsuccessful.
To be eligible for the service, you will need to:
- be a Victorian resident who holds a Medicare card
- have a referral from a GP or specialist which includes all necessary test and investigation results
- meet age criteria as follows:
- aged 42 years or younger using your own eggs
- aged less than 51 years and seeking to use donor eggs (the egg being used must be 42 years or younger at time of collection).
If you are part of a heterosexual couple who has been trying to conceive, the following also applies:
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If aged under 35 years: |
If aged between 35-42 years (inclusive): |
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Have been trying to conceive for more than a year. |
Have been trying to conceive for at least six months. |
| You need to be using an egg (your own or from a donor) that is 42 years or younger at time of treatment. | |
Locations for Public Fertility Care
Public Fertility Care is led by the Women’s with its partner fertility services across Victoria. The Women's catchment areas include the City of Melbourne, Yarra City Council, Mooney Valley City Council, and Maribyrnong City Council.
Our partner fertility services are Barwon Health, Bendigo Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Grampians Health, Mercy Health, Mildura Base Public Hospital, Monash Health, Northern Health, Southwest Health, and Western Health.
The Women’s is partnering with health services across Victoria so your care can be provided closer to your home.
Your GP or specialist must still make your referral to the Women’s. Your referral will be triaged by the Women's and we will contact you to let you know whether it is accepted.
If your care is to be provided by one of our partner health services, you will be advised of that service's name in your letter from the Women's. That partner health service will then contact you to arrange your first appointment. You will attend all your appointments at that service and then come to the Women's only for your procedure/s.
Our current health service partners are:
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Barwon Health, Geelong
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Bendigo Health |
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Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton
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Grampians Health, Ballarat
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Mercy Health, Heidelberg |
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Mildura Base Public Hospital |
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| Monash Health |
Gippsland
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Northern Health, Epping |
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Southwest Healthcare, Warrnambool
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Western Health, Sunshine Hospital |
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Referrals - taking the first step
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will need to see your GP or specialist for a referral to the Women’s.
Your GP or specialist must ensure all relevant tests and investigations are completed before making your referral.
There may be some out-of-pocket expenses for investigations. To ensure we can review your referral as quickly as possible, your referral must include the results of these tests before it is provided to us.
Referral form
Your GP or specialist should use our Reproductive Services Referral Form.
The completed referral - including copies of your test results - can be faxed to the Women's at (03) 8345 3036. Your referral will be valid for 12 months.
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Primary patient investigations |
Partner tests (if you are accessing our service with a partner): |
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The current waitlist timeframe (from referral received to patient's first appointment) is approximately 4 to 6 weeks (updated May 2024).
An estimated timeline from referral to treatment, up to 12 months:
- GP referral: A referral is sent from the GP or specialist to the Women's. This includes results of required tests and investigations.
- Referral review: The referral is processed and triaged by the Women's. Both the patient and GP are notified on next steps via a letter.
- Patient is added to the waitlist: The accepted referral is added to the waitlist - either at the Women’s or their local health service.
- First appointment: A letter is sent to the patient when an appointment has been scheduled at the Women’s or their local health service.
- Follow-up appointments: Additional appointments may be required, depending on an individual patient’s needs.
- Treatment plan is established: The patient is provided with a fertility treatment plan.
- Nurse education: The patient attends an education session about the treatment plan and learns about medication management.
- Counselling: The patient is required to attend counselling sessions, tailored to their treatment plan.
- Fertility treatment commences: Fertility treatment usually commences 1-3 months after all the steps leading up to a plan is complete.
Your referral will be triaged by clinical staff at the Women’s. You will receive a letter from the Women's, outlining if your referral has been accepted.
You will then be contacted with a date and time for your first appointment.
If your care is to be provided by one of our partner fertility services, you will be advised of that service's name in your acceptance letter and that service will contact you to arrange your first appointment. You will attend all your appointments at that service and then come to the Women's only for your procedure/s.
Your first appointment will be scheduled as soon as possible. Once you are enrolled with the service, you will be starting your fertility treatment journey.
Frequently asked questions
While Public Fertility Care is free, there may be some out-of-pocket costs incurred outside of the service for medications, tests, and investigations conducted by a pathology and/or diagnostic service.
At your first appointment, you will be asked questions about your fertility history. Further tests may be ordered to assess your fertility.
A health assessment will also be performed, to ensure you are in the best possible condition to safely have a baby.
If you are coming to our service with a partner, they may also be asked about their fertility history. Further tests may be ordered to assess their fertility.
After this first appointment, staff will liaise with you to book further appointments.
- A letter from the health service confirming your appointment
- Your Medicare card, Health Care Card and/or Pension Card*
- Details of any current medications*
- Photo identification (Australian Driver Licence or Passport)*
- Supporting documentation if you are an asylum seeker*.
*If you are using our service with a partner, your partner should also bring these documents to your first appointment.
Your Public Fertility Care team will work with you to decide which treatment is appropriate.
Treatments may include:
- assisting your ovulation, with a focus on timings, known as ovulation induction
- a lifestyle assessment and weight management strategy to reduce the impact of excess weight on fertility
- artificial insemination or IVF. If artificial insemination or IVF is recommended, a counselling session will be organised for you before this treatment begins.
Not yet. In 2024 we hope to be able to provide Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT).
Please find below some background information on PGT testing:
PGT testing is a technique used in IVF to help reduce the risk of passing on known genetic conditions.
This process occurs after the embryos have grown in the laboratory for about 5-6 days. A few cells are extracted from each embryo and tested. If the testing shows an embryo does not contain the genetic condition, the embryo can then be transferred into a patient’s uterus to attempt a successful pregnancy.
However, PGT cannot guarantee the birth of a healthy baby. Therefore, people who become pregnant are advised to have prenatal testing (e.g. DNA testing or chorionic villus sampling) to confirm PGT results.
To find out more about PGT, visit the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority.
If you need to change the time of your appointment, let the health service know as soon as possible. This will give us the opportunity to offer your appointment time to another person in need.
If your appointment is at the Women's (Parkville), email reproductiveservices@thewomens.org.au or call us on (03) 8345 3200.
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Australia’s first public egg and sperm donor program is now open for donations at the Women’s. To find out how to donate, visit the egg and sperm bank webpage. |
Date reviewed: 02 August 2024
Date reviewed: 02 August 2024