Abortion in the ACT
Finding out you are pregnant is different for everyone. Regardless of your situation, this may be a stressful time where you need information and support to feel confident to make a decision that is right for you.
Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) and MSI Australia both offer respectful, non judgemental and non directive counselling to provide accurate information and support to people experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.
Your General Practitioner (GP) may also be a good source of support. Some GPs have undertaken training to provide non-directive pregnancy counselling.
The ACT Government has provided funding so that all ACT residents (with or without a Medicare card) can access free abortions and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) at the time of abortion.
Free services are available through MSI Australia, at its Canberra clinic located at 1 Moore Street, Canberra City, including:
- Medical abortions up to nine weeks of pregnancy gestation.
- Surgical abortions up to 15 weeks and six days of pregnancy gestation.
- LARCs, such as the hormonal IUD, can be provided at the time of abortion.
To book an appointment, please call MSI Australia on 1300 003 707 or book online.
Free medical abortions will be available at more locations, such as select General Practitioners (GPs), in the coming months.
In the meantime, you can also access
- medical abortions at up to nine weeks of pregnancy gestation through a trained GP or through telehealth services, at a cost
- surgical abortions for up to 14 to 16 weeks pregnancy gestation at Gynaecology Centres Australia, Queanbeyan (depending on surgical risks), at a cost.
In specific cases, the Canberra Hospital can provide abortions, including at later gestations.
For access to abortions beyond 16 weeks pregnancy gestation that cannot be safely performed at the MSI Australia clinic in Canberra, patients need to organise an appointment with an MSI Australia clinic in Sydney, including travel and any other relevant requirements.
ACT residents who need to travel interstate to receive medical treatment may be eligible for the ACT interstate patient travel assistance scheme (IPTAS).
There is currently no publicly available lists of GPs who are trained to provide medical abortions, but your GP or SHFPACT should be able to assist you with this.
More information about abortion options and support services is available from:
