The Albanese Government is delivering more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives by providing free training to health practitioners in the placement and removal of IUDs and birth control implants.
Launched during Women's Health Week, this free training will boost the number of health practitioners qualified to provide birth control implant services, particularly in regional, rural and remote locations.
The aim is to ensure that more women, regardless of where they live, can access birth control implant services if that's their preferred method of contraception.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners will deliver the national training project.
This will include offering scholarships for regional, rural and remote participants will be available to cover the costs of travel and accommodation to attend training.
General practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and midwives are encouraged to undertake the accredited training.
Approximately 70% of Australian women of reproductive age use some form of birth control, but an estimated one third have an unplanned pregnancy at some point in their lives.
This has been partially attributed to low uptake of Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), which are one of the most effective types of contraception.
The investment is part of the Government's expanded landmark Women's Health Package, investing $792.9 million in funding to deliver improved healthcare access and affordability for women and girls.
Applications for the national training project can be found here: www.familyplanningallianceaustralia.org.au/learn/auslarc/
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
"This will make it easier for doctors and health professionals to undertake training in the use of IUDs and birth control implants.
"Health practitioners will have access to hands-on training and clinical placements at 21 sites across the country, with mobile outreach clinics helping reach some rural and remote communities.
"I welcome the launch of this project and thank Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners for their hard work and cooperation in delivering this vital training.
"This is all part of our government's work to improve access to contraception and support better reproductive health outcomes for women and communities across Australia."
Quotes attributable to Chief Executive Officer Daile Kelleher Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia:
"This funding will be game changing for health professionals who want to provide more options for contraception but can't get the training required due to cost, travel or time.
"The focus on regional and remote practitioners will help expand the workforce and ultimately allow people across Australia to have greater choice in contraception.
"This is a strong commitment to choice and access, and we welcome this investment.
"We look forward to delivering this project across Australia with our sexual and reproductive health organisations in each state and territory, in partnership with RACGP."
Quotes attributable to President, Dr Michael Wright, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners:
"Long acting reversible contraception, or LARC, is the most effective contraception option for many women; however, unfortunately, uptake has remained relatively low in Australia.
"This is why increasing the rebate for LARCs was a key initiative in our RACGP 2025 Federal Election Platform.
"The boost in Medicare rebates for Intrauterine Device insertion and birth control implants is expected to save around 300,000 Australian women a year up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs."
