The Victorian Women’s Health Services, with support and insight from GEN VIC and Birth for Humankind, welcome the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare.
Despite Australia’s world-class public health system, the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of women, girls and gender diverse people through their lifespans are not consistently met across the country. Access to contraception, abortion, perinatal, pelvic pain, menopause and other sexual and reproductive healthcare services often depends on the postcode, income, language spoken, residency status, ability, or gender identity of the person seeking care.
In order to ensure that all people living in Australia can access the SRH services that they need in a timely manner, reform and coordination is needed at a national level.
This submission highlights the following key factors in Victoria and across Australia relating to access to reproductive healthcare:
- Cost of services
- Workforce capacity and sustainability
- Health literacy
- Health service cultural safety
More information about the Senate Inquiry Into Universal Access To Reproductive Healthcare can be found here.
Victorian Women's Health Services (2022) Submission to Senate Inquiry Into Universal Access To Reproductive Healthcare. Victorian Women's Health Services. Melbourne.
