News, articles and position statements. Follow us on Twitter @msi_australia
Planned changes from 20 July to Medicare items for telehealth consultations will significantly impact on timely, affordable access to sexual and reproductive health services across Australia, according to MSI Australia and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM). MSI Australia and ASHM are calling on the Federal Government to urgently reinstate temporary MBS item numbers …
A new study published in the July issue of BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health shows that at-home medical abortion via telehealth is accessible, convenient, and plays a key role in the accessibility of abortion care across Australia. The joint qualitative study between MSI Australia, Ibis Reproductive Health, and Monash University showed that participants selected the at-home telemedicine model for the …
MEDIA STATEMENT MSI Australia is bracing for a surge in later gestation terminations and increased client complexities including financial hardship and domestic violence as the nation slowly moves towards recovery from COVID-19. The concerns have been highlighted in MSI Australia’s latest situation report, released today, that details the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on Australians sexual and reproductive health. “While …
MEDIA STATEMENT Permits have been granted for anti-choice groups to restart their weekly picketing outside MSI Australia’s Midland clinic from today. The anti-choice groups had their permits cancelled towards the end of March as part of the public health response to COVID-19. Despite this, picketers showed up at the clinic on 27 March and WA Police were called. As the …
Staff and clients at MSI Australia are one step closer to having their privacy, dignity and safety protected from anti-choice picketers with the WA Government committing to introduce Safe Access Zone legislation this year. Safe Access Zones provide a 150 metre safety bubble around abortion care clinics. They stop harassment, intimidation and public judgement of staff and clients by picketers …
New South Wales is one of the last states to decriminalise abortion. We have seen the positive effects of decriminalising abortion in Queensland last year, with increased access to services in hospitals and more doctors willing to provide vital services without fear of prosecution. Marie Stopes strongly supports the bill to remove abortion from the Crimes Act in New South …
Scaremongering About Abortion Should Not Be A Federal Election Tactic With a Federal election two days away, inflammatory and misleading material has appeared throughout electorates, and online, about abortions in Australia. The majority of Australians, 70.5% according to the ABC’s Vote Compass, believe abortion should be more accessible, so the views expressed in the distributed material are not in line …
MSI Australia welcomes the High Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of safe access zones in Victoria and Tasmania. Acting CEO of MSI Australia, Jamal Hakim said that “today’s High Court ruling demonstrates that women’s health, safety and privacy is absolutely critical when accessing healthcare services.” “A lot of effort has gone into the defence of these zones because they are …
Australia urgently needs a national approach to the provision of sexual and reproductive health services and today, that need is one step closer to being met with the announcement by the Australian Labor Party that it would fund a national strategy if elected to Government this year. “While we have made some headway on sexual and reproductive health issues, it’s …
MSI Australia has been recognised by the Australian Council of Health Care Standards (ACHS) for its outstanding work with consumers to improve the patient experience. The award recognises MSI Australia’s work engaging consumers in workforce training, co-design of services and facilities, and advocacy campaigns and media. It also recognises the organisation’s transparency in reporting safety and quality outcomes publicly, and …
Reproductive Coercion is a hidden form of violence and control that can have life altering consequences. Reproductive coercion is behaviour that deliberately prevents a person from making decisions about their reproductive health. It includes: contraceptive sabotage including “stealthing” Pressuring another person into pregnancy Forcing a person to have an abortion or continue a pregnancy Forcing a person into sterilisation. The …
MSI Australia welcomes White Ribbon Australia’s reinstatement of the reproductive rights statement on their website. We do, however, hold concerns as to what the stakeholder consultation process entails. The recent commentary from White Ribbon has also left us confused as to what White Ribbon is; a membership organisation or an organisation that advocates against domestic violence. Our main concern with …
MSI Australia welcomed the passing of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018 in the Queensland Parliament last night. CEO of MSI Australia, Michelle Thompson, said the passing of the Bill will modernise the State’s termination of pregnancy laws, provide certainty for healthcare professionals involved in abortion care, and stop treating women seeking abortions as criminals. “This is a vote for …
MSI Australia welcomes the release of the Queensland Law Reform Commission report that recommends removing abortion from the State’s Criminal Code. CEO of MSI Australia, Michelle Thompson, said the announcement today by the Queensland Labor Government to support the recommendations and introduce draft legislation to decriminalise abortion was a win for Queensland women. “We are delighted that the Queensland Government …
Gender bias is all around us. It can be subtle, like calling a grown woman a “girl” or it can be obvious such as sexually harassing someone on the basis of their gender. Regardless of the form it takes, gender bias plays a crucial role in forming the way we perceive gendered roles and responsibilities. The media that we consume …
