What are family planning clinics?

Family planning clinics are specialised healthcare facilities that provide support relating to:

• reproduction
• contraception
• pregnancy

Support may include a consultation or assessment by a health professional. Family planning clinics can also perform certain procedures.

Family planning clinics also offer information to help you make choices around pregnancy, including:

• how to plan for a healthy pregnancy
• how to prevent unplanned pregnancies
• your options if you have an unplanned pregnancy

You do not need a referral to go to a family planning clinic for general advice or assessments.

However, you may need to get a referral if you need a procedure done. Not all procedures require a referral.

Australian states and territories have their own family planning clinics. These are often called different names (see Resources and support).

What services do family planning clinics offer?

Family planning clinics provide confidential, non-judgemental services for sexual and reproductive health. Services and advice are patient-centred and pro-choice.

The goal of family planning clinics is to provide high-quality information and support to people from all backgrounds. This allows them to have control over their own sexual and reproductive health throughout their life. Having all the information can help you make an informed decision regarding your reproductive health.

Every Australian state and territory has clinics that are designed to provide support and guidance around:

• contraception
• pregnancy
• termination of pregnancy (abortion)
• sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis C and hepatitis B
• LGBTIQA+ services and gender identity
• menopause information and management
• counselling surrounding pregnancy and pregnancy options

Family planning clinics also provide support around sexual assault and reproduction coercion (where you are pressured by another person or people about your reproductive choices).

Family planning clinics can provide counselling and support for unplanned pregnancy. They can help you understand your options regarding your pregnancy. They can also support you in taking the next steps towards your decision. If needed, they can refer you to other services to help you make a fully informed decision about continuing or terminating (ending) a pregnancy by abortion.

Read more about making decisions about unplanned pregnancies.

Family planning clinics can also provide training for healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

Parents, guardians and teachers can also get educational information and resources from family planning clinics. This can help them learn how to support young people to make informed choices about contraception and their own reproductive health.

How can I access family planning services?

You can access family planning services through:

• face-to-face healthcare
• telehealth services
• phone support
• a pregnancy helpline
• health promotion services

Some clinics have a day procedure unit to perform specific procedures.

Does it cost to go to a family planning clinic?

Most family planning clinics charge a consultation fee. This fee is different depending on whether you see a doctor or a nurse. If you need a procedure, this cost is added to the consultation fee.

If you are eligible for Medicare, you may be covered for some of the services at a family planning clinic. Even if you receive a Medicare rebate, there is often a gap between the consultation fee and the amount refunded by Medicare. Ask about fees and rebates before you have a consultation or procedure at a clinic.

At most family planning clinics, bulk billing is offered if you:

• are aged 18 years or younger
• have a concession card, such as a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Low-Income Health Care Card
• are a full-time student
• are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person

What age do I have to be to go to a family planning clinic?

Family planning clinics are for people of all ages. There is no law in Australia that says how old you must be before going to a family planning clinic.

If you are 16 years of age or older you can consent (agree) to your own medical treatment. If you are under 16, you may be able to consent without your parent or guardian's permission, depending on the type of medical treatment you need.

The staff who work at family planning clinics are specially trained to support people of all ages and stages of life.

Some contraceptives, like the pill (combined oral contraceptive pill), need a doctor's prescription. If you are aged 16 years or older and the contraceptive is safe for you, you are allowed to have them prescribed.

Where can I find a family planning clinic?

Family planning clinics can have different names depending on where they are based in Australia. Each Australian state and territory has its own family planning service:

• ACT — Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT).
• NSW — Family Planning Australia.
• Northern Territory — Family Planning Welfare Association of NT Inc.
• Queensland — True Relationships and Reproductive Health.
• South Australia — SHINE SA.
• Tasmania — Family Planning Tasmania.
• Victoria — Sexual Health Victoria.
• Western Australia — Sexual Health Quarters.

Resources and support

Your GP is another source of support for information about reproduction and sexual health.

You can also check what is available at your local community health centre. Your school may also have a youth health nurse who can talk to you about where you can go for support.

You can find your nearest family planning clinic using the Service Finder.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Other resources to support you include:

• Children by Choice is a support service for people making decisions about their pregnancy.
• In the Know has many resources on sexual and reproductive health.
• You can call the Family Planning Australia Talkline on 1300 658 886 for free and confidential information, advice and options

Languages other than English

In The Know has sexual and reproductive health resources in other languages.

You can find translated fact sheets about contraception and sexual health on the Family Planning Australia website.

The Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne has translated fact sheets about contraception in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Yarning about Pregnancy: Working through your options is a resource by Family Planning Australia for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

You can find out more about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander pregnancy health at Stronger Bubba Born or watch the How to Have a Safer Pregnancy video.

Yarning SafeNStrong — a free counselling service for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, supporting individuals, friends and families with wellbeing.

Information for sexually and gender-diverse people

1800 My Options has sexual and reproductive health information for LGBTQIA+ people, including options, rights and services relevant to contraception and family planning.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia has a Genders, Bodies and Relationships Passport. This is a tool to support clear communication between intersex, trans and gender diverse people, and health and social care services. The Passport is designed to help people get quality care and help organisations to achieve inclusive practice.