Abortion services in Victoria

The majority of Victorian abortion service providers are located in Melbourne. Costs vary from one clinic to the next and between early and later term pregnancy terminations. Some offer reduced fees to students, health care card (HCC) holders and those experiencing financial difficulty. Medicare covers a portion of the expenses, while private health insurance may reimburse all costs.

In October 2008, Victorian legislation was changed to decriminalise abortion and change how services are regulated in Victoria.

Services in rural areas
Abortion services tend to be concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne. However, there are services in some rural areas and options should be discussed with your referring doctor. Most Melbourne services cater for country women and offer a ‘same day service’.

How to find a provider
Some of the large public hospitals in Melbourne and some rural hospitals provide abortion services. Private services are listed in the Yellow Pages under ‘abortion’. Your GP, community health service or women’s health service may 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 a woman is in difficult financial circumstances. The later a pregnancy is after 12 weeks, the more expensive an abortion will be.
• Privacy – some services are known to attract anti-abortion picketers and so may have an alternate entrance to maintain your privacy.
• 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 anesthetic.
• Type of anaesthetic – these vary from a ‘local’, where you are awake, to a ‘general’ where you are asleep. ‘Twilight’ anesthetic 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.

• 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.

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