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Article Australia’s First Public IVF Clinic Set To Open

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The nation’s first public IVF clinic will open in Melbourne tomorrow, providing free treatment for thousands of people struggling to realise their dream of parenthood.

The clinic will be run by the Royal Women’s Hospital and Monash Health, opening up treatment for those who currently can’t access private fertility services.

The service is set to begin on October 18, with additional locations to be rolled out across Victoria in a phased approach.

The first-of-its-kind public fertility care service will be available to those who can’t afford private services, including:

  • Low-income earners living in outer metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria
  • People who need donor or surrogacy services, such as LGBTIQ+ and single people
  • People who need fertility preservation due to medical treatment, such as those with cancer or undergoing gender reassignment treatment
  • People who need testing for monogenic conditions.

“IVF can be a game changer for people who might be struggling to have a child, but too often and for too many, it’s financially out of reach,” Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said.

“Our Australian-first public fertility service will remove the cost barrier for thousands of eligible aspiring parents – and make it easier for them to start a family of their own.”

The service will expand to sites in Epping, Sunshine, Bendigo and Mildura commencing in early 2023. More sites will eventually be established in Warrnambool, Shepparton, Ballarat, Geelong and Heidelberg.

It’s expected to help up to 4000 Victorians, saving them an average of $10,000 annually. The services will include:

  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI), IVF and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles including assisted reproductive treatments, counselling, information, and support
  • Less invasive, lower cost fertility services prior to IVF or ICSI treatment
  • Donor services through the establishment of Victoria’s first public sperm and egg bank
  • Altruistic surrogacy services
  • Fertility preservation where medical treatment may compromise fertility including cancer treatment and gender reassignment treatment
  • Genetic testing where people are known carriers of serious medical conditions.

To access the public fertility care service, a referral from a GP or specialist is needed. Those seeking treatment will then be placed on a waiting list for an initial appointment at a public fertility care service.

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  • I am so happy to hear this is finally happening. I did ivf and it was very expensive. To open this up to people who haven’t been able to afford it is really wonderful.

    Reply

  • Exactly what people need! Thank you

    Reply

  • I thought this was going to be a thing YEARS ago. It will definitely help so many people. Hopefully other states follow

    • Yes, it would be great if other states follow.

      • there are bulk billed clinics but very strict on who can be clients, no donors , no same sex , if difficult cases they wont take you ..in other words these clinics only take woman who they think have a good chance of getting pregnant

    Reply

  • Hope this becomes available in Sydney and other areas too as I have a few friends who would befit from this service.

    • there are already bulk billed clinics in sydney, my clinic only cost me $600 to do a cycle of ivf

    Reply

  • I so hope this becomes available to more Australians who struggle, I am about to start IVF and I’v no idea how we are going to get the money, at this stage it’s looking like it won’t be in our favours for another baby

    • I have 3 ivf babies. I used my super to pay for 2 of then. You can access super on compassionate grounds for medical treatment and ivf is included. Supercare can look after the entire process for you so that your application goes through easily. Maybe that is an option for you. Hope all goes well with your ivf.

    Reply

  • Fantastic news everyone deserves access to ivf.

    Reply

  • I think this is amazing! So many of my friends going through infertility can’t afford IVF and they truly deserve to be parents. This is life changing.

    Reply

  • I love this, bring hope and joy to families in need without the huge price tag. Good luck to all that try ????

    Reply

  • This is great.

    Reply

  • This is amazing and will change so many lives for the better.

    Reply

  • This could be a life changer for a lot of couples.

    Reply
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