Abortion services in Victoria

Abortion is legal in Victoria. Abortion services are located in both Melbourne and rural Victoria, although the majority of service providers are located in Melbourne. Costs vary from one clinic to the next and between early and later-term pregnancy terminations. Some service providers offer reduced fees to students, health care card holders and those experiencing financial difficulty. Medicare covers a portion of the expenses, while private health insurance may reimburse all costs.

Services in rural areas
Abortion services tend to be concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne. There are services in some rural areas and options should be discussed with your referring doctor, or contact your local community or women’s health service (see website http://www.health.vic.gov.au/vwhp/links.htm). Most Melbourne service providers cater for country women and offer a ‘same day service’.

How to find a provider
Most abortion service providers in Victoria are listed in the table in this fact sheet titled ‘Public hospital services’ and ‘Private services A-Z’.

Abortion services are provided by some of the large public hospitals in Melbourne and some rural hospitals. Private services are in the Yellow Pages under ‘Pregnancy Termination Services’. Your GP, community health service or women’s health service may also have information about local providers.

How to choose a service
There are a number of issues to consider when you choose a service:

• Cost – some public hospitals provide a small number of abortions at no cost. Out-of-pocket expenses vary with private providers and range from around $200 to $400. There is often a discount for students or health care card holders. It may be possible to have your health fund billed if you have private insurance. Some providers will reduce or waive the fee if you are experiencing financial difficulty. Fees can increase for terminations after 12 weeks.
• Privacy – some services are known to attract anti-abortion picketers and so may have an alternative entrance to maintain your privacy. Ask over the phone beforehand if you are concerned.
• Same day service – some services may require two visits, although many will just require one visit.
• Contraceptive services – some services may be able to insert Implanon or an IUD (intrauterine device) while you are under anaesthetic.
• Type of anaesthetic – these vary from a ‘local’, where you are awake, to a ‘general’ where you are asleep. ‘Twilight’ anaesthetic is somewhere in between.
• Length of pregnancy – most providers will perform an abortion up to 12 weeks after the last normal period. Some providers will perform terminations for later pregnancies.

• Your doctor
• Family planning clinic
• Women’s health centre
• Community health centre
• Specific hospitals
• Directory of local community or women’s health services
• Yellow Pages under ‘Pregnancy Termination Services’

• Abortion is legal in Victoria.
• Most abortion service providers are located in Melbourne.
• Costs vary from one clinic to the next.
• Abortion services exist in some rural areas, and options should be discussed with your referring doctor.