Oral Presentation Women's Health Forum 2021

Regional, Rural and Remote Abortion Access Program: Improving Abortion Access Equity in Queensland (#12)

Rachael Smith 1
  1. Children by Choice, Windsor, QLD, Australia

Background:

Children by Choice is a Queensland-wide provider of information, counselling and referral on all pregnancy options – abortion, adoption and parenting. Between 2015-2017, Children by Choice service data indicated that rural clients, when compared with those in South East Queensland, required more ongoing counselling, greater financial support, were more likely to report domestic violence (38% vs 32%) and sexual assault (17% vs 13%), and had to travel  five times further (205km vs 41km each way) to access abortion services. In July 2018 Children by Choice commenced the philanthropically-funded Regional Rural and Remote Abortion Access Project (RRRAAP) to address these barriers.

 

Method:

Across three years of implementation, the RRRAAP has targeted:

  1. Referral: Building capacity among professionals/services to provide coordinated support, accurate information and timely referral.
  2. Access: Streamlining and improving abortion access for vulnerable clients.
  3. Support: Establishing an abortion doula initiative.

Results:

Through the RRRAAP, we have:

  • Sponsored more than 800 Queensland health professionals to undertake professional development, including 11 ultrasound training packages to enable GPs to provide dating ultrasounds at point of care, eliminating a cost and logistical barrier.
  • Created an online map, listing over 100 abortion and contraception providers, accessible to consumers and health professionals seeking access to safe, relevant, and accurate referral.
  • Provided direct financial support to over 100 women and pregnant people (average $450/client) to assist with travel and abortion costs.
  • Established Australia’s first abortion doula training program in partnership with the Australian Doula College. 16 doulas are now providing volunteer physical, emotional and informational support to Queenslanders accessing abortion care.

Conclusion:

 

Now in its final year, this presentation will report on how this multi-level response has contributed to improved access to abortion care in regional, rural and remote communities in Queensland. Impact of key project foci will be described, including implications for practice.