As with all health facilities, we are constantly updating our service delivery to reflect the advice and guidelines of the World Health Organisation and the Australian federal and state and territory governments.

We are open and available to assist you with your questions and appointments. We have moved our support office to working from home; so we may take longer to answer your calls, we appreciate your patience.

If you have an appointment with us, you don’t need to confirm this or take any further action. We will contact you and support you if there are any changes to your appointment.

Elective procedures

Abortion is an essential service and is a Category 1 service. We will continue to provide abortion services throughout this pandemic.

We are still providing contraception and vasectomy services, but they have been restricted. These restrictions have been put in place so we can minimise exposure to our staff and clients, yet we can continue to provide these vital services.

Vasectomy

We have postponed all vasectomy services until further notice as we respond to COVID-19. If you have booked a vasectomy service with us, we will contact you to about a service at a later date. What this change means is that we will have a wait list for all clients seeking a vasectomy service and continue to keep you updated as the current public health situation unfolds. We hope to resume vasectomy services soon.

Standalone contraception

Standalone contraception will only be performed with local anaesthetic.

This restriction does not apply to people having a contraceptive device fitted at time of their termination.

Before your appointment

When you contact us for a booking, we will ask some simple screening questions to make sure we are giving you the most up-to-date information and connecting you to the right service. When you arrive at our clinics, our team will also ask you a series of screening questions and take your temperature.

We are asking that you do not bring your support person into our clinic with you. We know that having a support person with you is helpful, however, to reduce the spread of Coronavirus, we ask that support people do not enter the clinic.

If you are a minor and need your parent or legal guardian with you that is fine, this also extends to those that require a support worker i.e. a mental health worker.  Any support person attending the clinic with you will also be asked routine screening questions and have their temperature taken.

You can have a support person over speaker phone for parts of the appointment and they are welcome to wait in the car or return to pick you up from the clinic.

Medical abortion

If you have had a medical abortion and are having your follow up pregnancy test at home, it is very important that you do not do your home pregnancy test before the 14 days. Please refer to your information sheet provided at your appointment. If you take the test before 14 days, we will not be able to confirm that the result is correct.

Please make sure you keep your test safe and do not lose it. We will not be able to send another replacement test if it is lost. This urine test is not the same as a regular pregnancy test. If it is lost, you will need to have a blood test instead.

Medical abortion by phone

If you are having a medical abortion by phone, you do not need to have a blood test before your doctor consult. We will send you forms to get an ultrasound.

You will also recieve the pregnancy test and follow the same process as above.

We know that this is a very stressful time for everyone, and there is a lot of information going around. Here are some tips for focusing on your sexual and reproductive health, and counselling and support services.

Wellbeing

While it can seem strange to be thinking about your period and menstrual cycle right now, keeping track of it can be a way to feel in control and in tune with your body. It can also help you practice safe sex while we are in self-isolation.

Stress may have an effect on your regular menstrual cycle, so it is helpful to know what effect this unprecedented event may have on your body. Sometimes you can miss a period, or your regular cycle can become very irregular. Using a menstrual checked app can be helpful to stay ‘in tune’.

Counselling and support services

There are several counselling and support services who you can contact for help during this time.

• 1800 Respect is a confidential online and telephone counselling, information and referral service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is for those experiencing the impacts of sexual assault, domestic and family violence. Victims of sexual assault, domestic and family violence, as well as their family and friends, can call 1800RESPECT or visit their website.
• Relationships Australia offers services around the country that include counselling, family dispute mediation and a range of family and community support and education programs. You can call them on 1300 364 277 or visit their website.
• Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. You can call them on 13 11 14 or visit their website.
• Men’s line is a free telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns. Their counsellors specialise in family and relationship issues, including relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, parenting, family violence, suicide prevention and emotional well-being. You can call then on 1300 78 99 78 or visit their website.

If you would like the latest information about COVID-19 including the symptoms and how to keep you and your loved ones safe, you we recommend you visit the World Health Organisation website.

If you would like to know more about the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Australia, we recommend you visit the Australian Government COVID-19 pages.

For people living with a disability, head to Women with Disabilities Australia for some great resources.