By Gladys Barreta
Women and girls will now have easier access to sexual and reproductive health care thanks to a new Women’s Health Hub in Melton.
The Hub will be one of six hubs to be established across Victoria and will deliver free or low-cost confidential care for women including contraception, medical abortion, referral for surgical abortion, and the testing, early diagnosis and treatment of STIs.
According to data from Victoria’s sexual and reproductive advice line, 1800 My Options, Melton has the highest levels of calls seeking advice for unplanned pregnancy.
The new service will help avoid long-term health issues through treatments, reduce the likelihood of incontinence and the need for ongoing treatment and possible hospitalisation.
A spokesperson for the City of Melton Council said Council would like to see continued investment in local health services for our fast-growing community.
“The support from the new hub provided by the Victorian Government will mean women and families across the City of Melton can access much needed health support resulting in immediate and long-term positive health outcomes for our community.”
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas said the hub will help to close a service gap in the west and provide women in Melton the health care they need and deserve.
“We’re also backing the dedicated workforce, with our Women’s Health Scholarships helping them to upskill in critical areas such as IUD insertion and caring for women with menopause and PCOS.”
The scholarships will also provide training to promote cultural safety and remove existing barriers for First Nations women, women from migrant and refugee backgrounds and LGBTIQA+ communities.
The initiatives are part of the State Government’s $153 million women’s health package that is also delivering 20 comprehensive women’s health clinics, mobile and virtual women’s health clinics, a dedicated Aboriginal women’s health clinic, and a doubling in the number of laparoscopies for endometriosis and associated conditions.
For more information, visti: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/sexual-and-reproductive-health-hubs.
