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 in Melbourne.

Costs vary between clinics but all procedures are covered, in part, by Medicare. Discounts are available for concession card holders. Even if you are not covered by Medicare, fees may be reimbursed by private health insurance providers. Costs also depend on how long you have been pregnant and whether you will be having a surgical or medical abortion.

Abortion 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 doctor or you can contact your local community or women’s health service (see the Where to get help section of this fact sheet for details about how to access the Directory of Local Community or Women’s Health Services). Most Melbourne service providers cater for rural women and offer a ‘same day service’.

How to find an abortion service

Most abortion service providers in Victoria are listed in this fact sheet, but you can also find information through your doctor or other health services.

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

There are also some abortion services available in rural areas that are not listed below. Your doctor can provide you with details of these services.

How to choose an abortion service

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

• Cost – some public hospitals provide a small number of abortions at no cost. If you have a Medicare card, out-of-pocket expenses vary with private providers and range from around $200 to $500. If you do not have a Medicare card, out-of-pocket costs can be higher. It may be possible to have your health fund billed if you have private insurance. Fees vary based on how long you have been pregnant and whether you are having a medical or surgical abortion.
• Discounts and waiving fees – there is often a discount for students or health care card holders. Some providers may reduce or waive the fee if you are experiencing financial difficulty.
• 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 anaesthetic (for which you are awake) to a general anaesthetic (for which you are asleep). Twilight anaesthetic is somewhere in between. The type of anaesthetic used will vary according to your provider and your individual circumstances.
• 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.
• Medical or surgical abortion – most providers use a surgical procedure to perform abortions. however, an increasing number of services offer a medical procedure. The type of abortion you have will depend on the length of your pregnancy and the procedures available from your provider. Information about the differences between medical and surgical abortions is provided in the Better Health Channel fact sheet on Abortion.

Please note, this information is intended as a guide only. Always contact providers directly for specific information relating to your individual circumstances.

Public hospital abortion services A–Z

NAME	TELEPHONE	ADDRESS	FEES	DURATION OF PREGNANCY	TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC	TYPE OF PROCEDURE AVAILABLE	DAYS OF SERVICE	COUNTRY WOMEN SAME DAY SERVICE
Contraceptive and Counselling Clinic – Monash Medical Centre	(03) 9594 2952	246 Clayton Rd, Clayton	Medicare card: No cost Limited places – priority is given to teenagers and victims of sexual assault Phone for further information	Less than 12 weeks on the date of the termination	General	Surgical	Phone Monday 3.00–4.30pm for a first appointment Procedures on Fridays only	No
Pregnancy Advisory Service – The Royal Women’s Hospital Unplanned Pregnancy Guide	(03) 8345 3063 Because of the high volume of calls, callers may not get through immediately	Cnr Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville	Public patient: No cost Limited places Private patient: Contact the Pregnancy Advisory Service for fees	6–12 weeks Limited appointments available up to 16 weeks	Usually general anaesthetic	Usually surgical abortion Medical abortions may also be available, depending on individual circumstances	Monday to Friday	Yes Some same day services are available Phone to discuss.

Private abortion services A–Z

NAME	TELEPHONE	ADDRESS	FEES	DURATION OF PREGNANCY	TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC AVAILABLE	TYPE OF PROCEDURE AVAILABLE	DAYS OF SERVICE	COUNTRY WOMEN SAME DAY SERVICE
Fertility Control Clinic	(03) 9419 2922	116–118 Wellington Pde, East Melbourne	Medicare card: Weekdays: $320 Saturday: $350 Concession: Weekdays $230 (no concession on Saturdays) Fees are higher after 12 weeks	Up to 16 weeks	Local, general and twilight anaesthetic	Surgical	Monday to Friday Saturday morning	Yes
The Hampton Park Women's Health Care Centre	(03) 9799 2817	2–4 Warana Dve, Hampton Park	Under 12 weeks pregnant: Medicare card: $330 Concession: $285 Private (Not covered by Medicare): $725 Fees are higher after 12 weeks	Up to 13 weeks	Local and twilight anaesthetic	Surgical Also provides medical procedure tablet	Monday to Friday	Yes
Dr Marie	Freecall: 1800 003 707	East St Kilda	Phone for information regarding fees Prices vary for concession and Medicare card holders, and for people who are not covered by Medicare	Up to 12 weeks	Twilight anaesthetic	Medical and surgical	Days of operation vary from week to week Phone for information and appointments	No
		East Melbourne	Phone for information regarding fees Prices vary for concession and Medicare card holders, and for people who are not covered by Medicare	Minimum 5 weeks –up to 8 weeks and 6 days	Not applicable for medical abortions	Medical	Usually Monday and Wednesday Phone for information and appointments	Yes if available appointment Medical procedures require two appointments approximately two weeks apart
		Maroondah	Phone for information regarding fees Prices vary for concession and Medicare card holders, and people who are not covered by Medicare	Up to 24 weeks	Twilight anaesthetic	Medical and surgical	Usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Phone for information and appointments	Depends on type of procedure Early surgical procedures require one procedure only Medical procedures require two appointments approximately two weeks apart Surgical procedures in later pregnancy require two appointments on two consecutive days
Monash Family Planning	(03) 9544 9902	252 Clayton Rd, Clayton	Medicare card: $350 Not covered by Medicare: $800	6–12 weeks	General anaesthetic	Surgical	Open every day for information Appointment days vary each week Phone for further information and appointments	Yes
The Women’s Clinic in Dandenong	(03) 9792 4622	129 Cleeland St, Dandenong	6–12 weeks Medicare card without private health insurance: $300 Phone for further information regarding fees Prices vary depending on whether you have a Medicare card, private health insurance and for pregnancies greater than 12 weeks.	Up to 13 weeks	General and local anaesthetic	Surgical	Phone for further information and appointments	Yes

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Women’s health services
• Community health centre
• Pregnancy Advisory Service Tel. (03) 8345 3063
• Pregnancy Birth and Baby Helpline Tel. 1800 88 24 36
• Family Planning Victoria
• Directory of local community or women’s health services
• Yellow Pages under ‘Pregnancy Termination Services’

Things to remember

• Abortion is legal in Victoria.
• Most abortion service providers are located in Melbourne but some provide ‘same day’ services for women from country areas.
• Abortion services are also available in some rural areas. Your doctor can provide you with details of these services.
• Costs vary between clinics but all procedures are covered, in part, by Medicare. Discounts are available for concession card holders. Even if you are not covered by Medicare, fees may be reimbursed by private health insurance providers.

You might also be interested in:

• Abortion.
  
• Abortion - counselling options.
  
• Abortion - emotional issues.
  
• Abortion pill - RU486 (mifepristone).
  
• Abortion procedures.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

(Logo links to further information)

Womens Health Victoria

Last reviewed: December 2011

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

If you would like to link to this fact sheet on your website, simply copy the code below and add it to your page:

<a href="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Abortion_services_in_Victoria?open">Abortion services in Victoria - Better Health Channel</a><br/>
Abortion is legal in Victoria. Most Victorian abortion service providers are located in Melbourne but there are clinics in rural Victoria. Costs vary between clinics. Medicare covers a portion of the cost. Some clinics provide discounted fees to students, health care card holders and others.

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Copyight © 1999/2012  State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.