Medical abortion pill access expanded in landmark move

By Natassia Chrysanthos
July 11, 2023

Access to medical abortions will be dramatically expanded in Australia under major changes that will allow all doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe the pregnancy termination pill, and all pharmacies to stock it.

The landmark move to slash red tape around who can prescribe and dispense the drug should enable medical abortions to become a first-line option for women who want them, by encouraging thousands more health professionals to provide access to the two-part medication.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/medical-abortion-pill-access-expanded-in-landmark-move-20230710-p5dmzs.html

The Roe v Wade Fallout. What Can Australia Do?

Reproductive rights are also foundational to gender equality, a theme that is expected to be part of future Australian aid efforts, though so far it has not included sexual and reproductive health and rights.

July 7, 2023
By Anu Kumar

A few days ago, the President and CEO of global reproductive justice organisation, Ipas, Dr Anu Kumar was in conversation with Honorary Associate Professor Sally Moyle from the ANU Gender Institute. The pair discussed the impact of Roe v. Wade on the gains of 50 years and the assault on women’s and girls’ rights today.

I am a reproductive justice warrior. I have been for nearly all my adult life, and for the past 21 years, I’ve been in a leadership role at Ipas, a global reproductive justice organization that works to increase access to abortion care, contraception, and sexual and reproductive rights around the world. I’ve seen a lot of success in this area — since the 1970s, over 100 countries have liberalized their abortion laws including Ireland, Benin, Nepal, and Argentina.

Ipas, working with partners, has been a part of many of these victories and, importantly, translating those legal changes into actual services. There is one very notable exception to this progressive trend: the United States.

Continued: https://www.broadagenda.com.au/2023/the-roe-v-wade-fallout-what-can-australia-do/

07.07.2023

reproductive justice warrior

Australia – WA’s abortion laws are set for a major overhaul. Here’s everything you need to know

By Keane Bourke
June 21, 2023

WA's abortion laws are set for their first shake-up in a quarter of a century.

Reforms aimed at streamlining access to abortion and bringing the laws into line with other states have been introduced into parliament today.

So what's changing, and how much opposition is there likely to be?

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-21/what-you-need-to-know-about-new-wa-abortion-laws/102502514

21.06.2023

Reimagining medical abortion in Australia: what do we need to do to meet women’s needs and ensure ongoing access?

Danielle Mazza
Med J Aust 2023; 218 (11): 496-498. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51979
19 June 2023

There is much to be done to make high quality, accessible medical abortion a reality in Australia

The overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States has renewed impetus in Australia to ensure the availability of high quality, accessible abortion services. But decriminalisation and the availability of medical abortion do not in and of themselves mandate service delivery or ensure access. Numerous barriers continue to exist. These include issues such as inconsistent abortion laws, over‐regulation, lack of regional level planning and accountability for service delivery, sparse and inconsistent services across the country, inadequate numbers of skilled providers, a lack of training opportunities for the current and future workforce, and consumer concerns such as high costs and difficulty navigating services.

Continued: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/218/11/reimagining-medical-abortion-australia-what-do-we-need-do-meet-womens-needs-and

Australia – New WA abortion laws designed to make access to terminations easier

By Daryna Zadvirna
June 10, 2023

An overhaul of Western Australia's abortion laws that will streamline access to terminations is set to be introduced to parliament following successful community consultation.

Thousands of health professionals and members of the broader public in WA were surveyed on six proposed amendments late last year.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-10/wa-abortion-law-changes-time-limit-access-laws/102465580

10.06.2023

News

abortion law reform

Amber-Jade Sanderson

decriminalisation of abortion

Dr Nicole Filar

John Quigley

Sue Ellery

Western Australians for Safe Access Zones

Australia

Human Rights

Law

Australia – Want long-term contraception? There are more effective options than the pill. But they can be hard to find

June 2, 2023
by Deborah Bateson

Australians’ access to a range of contraceptive options depends on where they live and how wealthy they are. A recent parliamentary inquiry recommends ways to end this “postcode lottery” for people who want to use long-acting reversible contraception.

There are several types of long-acting reversible contraception: the hormonal contraceptive implant, the hormonal intrauterine devices (IUD) and copper IUDs.

Continued: https://canadianinquirer.net/2023/06/02/want-long-term-contraception-there-are-more-effective-options-than-the-pill-but-they-can-be-hard-to-find/

02.06.2023

hormonal contraception

Australian women’s access to abortion is a postcode lottery. Here’s what needs to change

May 30, 2023
Danielle Mazza

When the American legal precedent protecting women’s right to an abortion in the United States, Roe versus Wade, was overturned last year, women around the world felt anxious.

In Australia, despite abortion being legal, there was increasing concern about women’s ability to access abortion. This led to a Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive health care. This inquiry has now concluded.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/australian-womens-access-to-abortion-is-a-postcode-lottery-heres-what-needs-to-change-206504

30.05.2023

abortion at hospitals

abortion postcode lottery

barriers to abortion access

Calls for Australia to make contraception free following similar moves by British Columbia, parts of Europe

ABC Radio Perth / By Alicia Bridges
April 12, 2023

As parts of Europe and Canada start to provide free access to contraception, women's rights and sexual health advocates are trying to build momentum toward a similar change in Australia.

Last month, British Columbia became the first Canadian province to make prescription contraception free for all residents. It joined the United Kingdom, Ireland and France as jurisdictions providing free access to prescription birth control — either for all residents or certain age groups.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-13/calls-for-australia-to-make-contraception-free/102198058

12.04.2023

Women's Health Matters

Australia

Oceania

Contraception

Australia – Women share difficulties and stigma around accessing abortion care with Senate inquiry

By political reporter Georgia Hitch
Feb 25, 2023

Feeling shamed and judged, travelling hundreds of kilometres and ending up significantly out of pocket: these are some of the issues raised by women in their own words with abortion access in Australia.

The stories were gathered by Monash University as part of an ongoing research project into what barriers, or enablers, there are for people seeking abortions.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-26/senate-inquiry-universal-reproductive-healthcare-abortion-access/102018234

25.02.2023

News

abortion stigma

barriers to abortion access

Australia – The game-changing plan to cut barriers to medical abortion

By Nell Geraets
January 16, 2023

A push is under way to make medical abortion more accessible across Australia by cutting down the regulatory barriers around who can prescribe the pill combination and where it can be stocked.

Non-profit pharmaceutical company MS Health – the private sponsor behind medical abortion in Australia – submitted applications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in December that proposed expanding the number of health practitioners eligible to prescribe the medication, and removing the requirements for recertification and pharmacist registration.

Continued: https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-game-changing-plan-to-cut-barriers-to-medical-abortion-20230108-p5cb2i.html