MSIA is a non-religious, non-political development agency. We
do not allow our funds to be used for party-political or evangelical
purposes. We are committed to sustainable projects which achieve
enduring change and so do not engage in welfare activities.
We work wherever there is an unmet need for successful, innovative,
sustainable and quality reproductive health initiatives. We
do not discriminate on the grounds of race, culture, ethnicity,
gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability,
political or religious persuasion and our projects work across
all these boundaries.
When was Marie Stopes International
Australia established?
Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) was established
in Melbourne in 1998 and has access to nearly 3 decades of international
development experience as a result of its belonging to the Marie
Stopes International (MSI) Global Partnership of over 40 country
programs.
What countries does Marie Stopes International Australia work
in?
Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) works with local
partners and governments to provide vital reproductive health
services in low income communities in the Asia Pacific including;
Indigenous Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Philippines and Viet Nam.
The Marie Stopes International (MSI) Global Partnership that
MSIA belongs to, provides services to around 2 million people
and their families in 40 countries across Africa, Asia, the
Middle East, Latin America and Europe.
Who was Dr Marie Stopes?
Dr. Marie Stopes was a family planning pioneer in Europe at
the turn of the 19th century. She fought enormous prejudice
to establish the first family planning clinic in London in 1915,
believing strongly that until women could determine the numbers
of children they had, they would never be able to lift themselves
out of poverty and ill health. Her work continues today through
Marie Stopes projects throughout the UK, Australia and the world.
What is the mission of
Marie Stopes International Australia?
Our mission is to ensure the fundamental human right of all
people to have Children
by Choice, Not by Chance.
Every woman and man has a basic human right to enjoy reproductive
health. These rights rest on the recognition of the basic right
of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly
the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have
the information and means to do so, and the right to attain
the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also
includes the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction
free of discrimination, coercion and violence.
Unfortunately, in the countries in which MSIA works, these
basic human rights are a luxury. MSIA partners work with considerable
success to ensure and protect these rights. They have focussed
on ensuring individuals from all walks of life have knowledge
to make an informed choice.
Is Marie
Stopes International Australia a private company?
No, Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) is an Australia
non-profit, non-government organisation and is a registered
charity in Australia.
What is the connection
between Marie Stopes International Australia and Marie Stopes
Australia?
In 2002, Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) established
a tax deductible dedicated charity, Marie Stopes Australia (MSA),
to further our aims of improving health among needy communities
in Australia. MSA is located in the same office as MSIA.
What is Marie Stopes International
Australia’s connection with Marie Stopes International
in Australia?
Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) and Marie Stopes
International (MSI) in Australia are separate legal entities.
MSIA is an Australian not for profit, non-government organisation
(NGO) and registered Australian charity, working with local
partners and governments to provide vital reproductive health
services in low income communities in the Asia Pacific.
MSI in Australia, is a registered branch of the UK based Marie
Stopes International. MSI in Australia operates a national network
of sexual and reproductive health clinics on a fee-for-service
basis, with profits going towards the Marie Stopes International
charitable work providing reproductive health information and
services in areas of need around the world.
Why does
the Marie Stopes International Australia Partnership charge
clients fees?
Evidence suggests that most clients, even those in poorer communities,
are willing and able to make a contribution towards the cost
of their care. Increasing the sustainability of its work in
developing countries by charging clients affordable fees helps
cost recovery.
The Marie Stopes International (MSI) Partnership's experience
is that well-designed and efficiently run programs with modest
overheads can recover a significant proportion of their costs
by charging affordable fees. Programs that can help sustain themselves
are not only better able to survive fluctuations in donor funding
but are also able to build up resources which can then be used
if needed.
Working in tandem with the principle of cost recovery is project
cross-subsidisation. For example, where a centre, usually in
an urban setting, is able to generate a surplus, this is used
to subsidise the activities of a less profitable centre that
may be in a rural location or one that serves a lower-income
community.
Is Marie
Stopes International Australia able to provide funding for non
Marie Stopes International Australia Partner projects or organisations?
No, unfortunately. Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA)
is not a grant giving body and is not able to fund non-MSIA
Partner projects or organisations. To help fund its own work
the MSIA Partnership receives funding from a variety of donor
organisations, from global institutions and large charitable
foundations to private individuals.
Does
Marie Stopes International Australia recruit people from developed
countries to work in the developing world?
No, Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) aims to build
enduring, locally managed Partners and therefore has a policy
of advertising and recruiting locally for positions in the developing
world.
What
is Geri Halliwell's link with Marie Stopes International Australia?
Geri Halliwell was made a United Nations Population Fund Goodwill
Ambassador in 1998 to promote the global need for reproductive
health information and services. She is assigned to Marie Stopes
International (MSI) and was chosen because of her commitment
to the issues and her worldwide youth appeal.
Since her appointment, Geri has helped raise awareness of
the issues for Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) by
visiting Population Services Philipinas, MSIA's Partner program
in the Philippines.
“Marie Stopes International is doing great work around
the world - empowering women with reproductive choice and
making sure everyone knows about safe sex. I fully support
what they do."
How can
I donate to Marie Stopes International Australia?
Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA) is a not for profit
organisation and relies on the generosity of the public to improve
the health and quality of life of women, men and their families.
By making a donation to MSIA today, you can help us to provide
vitally needed reproductive health care to people in the Asia
Pacific. Even the smallest gift will help will help us save
lives.
You can donate now by clicking one of the links below
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