- Published:
- Tuesday 17 April 2018
Women across the Mornington Peninsula will soon have access to timely, affordable, local sexual and reproductive health services, thanks to a new health centre in Frankston from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today joined Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny to announce the women’s sexual and reproductive health centre, to be based at Peninsula Health Community Health.
Another new centre will be based at the Ballarat Community Health Services, in addition to centres at cohealth in Melbourne’s west and Bendigo Community Health Service, which opened last year.
In total, the Labor Government is delivering eight sexual and reproductive health centres over four years – half of which will be located in regional Victoria.
In addition, Victorian women – no matter where they live – can access expert, evidence-based information with Women’s Health Victoria now operating Victoria’s first women’s sexual and reproductive health phone line, 1800 My Options.
1800 My Options is free and confidential and provides Victorians with sexual and reproductive health information, and directs them to clinical services such as contraception, pharmacy services, counselling support, termination providers and a range of other services.
Both the centres and the phone line are part of Victoria’s first-ever Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Plan, supported by $6.6 million in Labor Government funding.
The strategy includes:
- Developing a new app to support the work of the Centre of Excellence in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Providing free facial hair laser treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome
- Delivering family planning training for doctors and nurses, particularly in regional Victoria
- Supporting the continued rollout of endometriosis resources
- Working with Aboriginal women and women with disabilities to improve sexual and reproductive health.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“For too long women’s sexual and reproductive health issues have been neglected. That’s why these new centres will make a real difference.”
“Women in Frankston will be able to get the timely expert advice and clinical services they need, without the stigma.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Carrum Sonya Kilkenny
“I am encouraging all women to treat their sexual and reproductive health as a top priority. It is vital that women in Frankston and across the region can access the services they need and deserve to improve their sexual and reproductive health, closer to home.”