How to Access an Abortion in NSW

By Sarah Jasem 

This article is a non-comprehensive guide to try and help demystify how one actually goes about having an abortion in New South Wales, some things to expect and a list of resources for your own use. It’s not really about the debate, and it’s not here with the intention to persuade anyone that abortions are easy, but because the actual practicalities of having one can be confusing or invisible under the larger rhetoric surrounding the political debate. 

NSW is one of the last states in Australia to have abortion in its criminal code. This does not mean that all abortion is a criminal offence, but an unlawful abortion, one not conforming to the guidelines set about in the law, is considered a crime and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It is a crime to have a medical or surgical abortion in NSW unless the doctor believes that carrying out the pregnancy would be dangerous for the pregnant person’s physical or mental health, and they may take socioeconomic factors into account. 10 years is a lot of jail time for a very arbitrary- sounding law, and there have been persistent efforts to decriminalise abortion for many years. 

Where do I go to even ask about abortions?

Family Planning NSW has a list of clinics on their website, including  Marie Stopes and more. The law in NSW doesn’t specify how late abortions can occur. Generally abortion services can become quite limited after 20 weeks gestation, but abortions can occur after 20 weeks gestation if the pregnancy would endanger the person’s’s life or health. 

You can go to your GP for a referral if you wish, but you don’t need a referral from a doctor to go to a clinic. The clinic has its own doctors, who will do a consultation with you prior to the procedure.  You don’t have to know what you want before the clinic consultation- you can and should ask questions regarding the procedure, how much an abortion would cost for you (taking into account any health care funds, and the number of weeks gestation you are), whether or not it is right for you, as well as your circumstances. Marie Stopes also has free over the phone decision-based counselling. 

Protesting has been banned within 150m of abortion clinics in NSW, but be mindful of pro-life religous groups that masquerade as “pregnancy support” with the intention to convince people out of an abortion.  You can also bring someone with you into consultations with you, but are sometimes advised to let the clinic know beforehand. If you need support from sexual assault services, there is an outreach clinic at RPA, and know that whatever you do or do not say is your own decision, and doctors can advise but are also obligated to protect your confidentiality. 

What types of abortion are there, and how do I know which one I’m eligible for? 

Firstly, try and record your period dates as there are two types of abortion- medical and surgical. 

Medical abortions are administered up to 9 weeks from the first day of your last period. So, that is less than 63 days from the first day of your last period. Medical abortions consist of 2 prescribed medications (mifepristone and misoprostol) over 2 days and can come from private health clinics, some GP’s and public health services.During your consultation with the doctor, if you are eligible for a medical termination, an ultrasound and a blood test is done and if eligible, the drugs will be prescribed. If you’re far away from a clinic, you can also call Family Planning NSW and ask for telehealth consultation. This involves  a consultation with the doctor, who can refer you for a blood test and ultrasound, check the results and have the 2 medications delivered to you via courier. Your doctor also give you a booklet that contains detailed instructions on how to take the medication, as well as support lines if you have any questions or experience any issues after hours. 

Medical abortions should always be taken with a friend or family member available at home/ in a safe space with you, and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if you have any questions; what time to take them, how you might feel, what to look out for, aftercare and follow up consults. 

Surgical abortions are performed  if you are past 8 weeks of gestation, usually happening in the first trimester (up to 14 weeks gestation) though you can access one at any point of pregnancy.The tissue is removed from your uterus by suctioning while under general anaesthetic, and drugs may be given beforehand to soften your uterus lining. You have every right to ask questions before and after a procedure, as well as withdraw from the procedure at any point before it commences. At some clinics, counselling and the procedure may be done on the same day, but you can ask for them to be performed apart if you want more time to think. You can find more info here.

How much does it all cost?

Consultations with a doctor or nurse at NSW family planning clinics cost $22 after the Medicare rebate, but the service will be bulk billed if you have proof of being 18 or younger, have a health care concession card, pensioner concession card, low income health care card, youth allowance, DVA card or your University student ID. The medication used for a medical abortion is under $100, and surgery generally starts from around $500 upward,dependent on the clinic and your gestation period.Your doctor will be able to give you an estimate, even in a first consultation. 

How can I get financial assistance?

If healthcare and emergencies are a factor which can’t be covered by you alone as a student, you might want to check out Sydney University’s bursaries, which are offered within a window at the beginning of each semester. Simply fill out an application where you fill in your budget, income and outcome, and attend a meeting to see if anything can be offered to you for that semester. You could also meet with an SRC Caseworker, who may be able to advise you on other avenues of financial assistance. 

So, abortions aren’t free- Are there any free services? 

Family Planning is able to assist with the process of aquiring an abortion, and have detailed information on their website. Children by Choice, a QLD based pro-choice organisation, also have numerous resources available. The University also has CAPS (Counselling and psychological support) if you want to set precedents in place to look after your mental health for the longer term, however please bear in mind that the University often has waiting lists, and longer- term individual counselling has to be sought from external sources! There’s also the option of obtaining a mental health plan and referral from your GP.