Victoria expands access to women’s healthcare services
08 Sep 2026
The expansion is being highlighted during Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week, as Victoria continues to invest in services for conditions that have often been overlooked, underdiagnosed or difficult to access.
More options for women’s healthcare
Victoria’s Virtual Women’s Health Clinic has supported more than 1,000 women and girls through phone and video appointments. The service helps people access care without needing to travel or wait for an in-person appointment.
GP and nurse-led telehealth services can provide support for abortion care, sexual health, contraception, pelvic pain, endometriosis and menopause. The clinic has also been named a finalist in the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in the Excellence in Women’s Healthcare category.
For women living in regional and rural areas, the Nina Mobile Women’s Health Clinic has completed its first year of service. The mobile clinic has visited 34 towns and provided healthcare to more than 1,150 women and girls, including cervical and breast screening, contraception and menopause care.
Victoria’s network of Women’s Health Clinics has now provided care to more than 16,000 women. The clinics offer free specialist support for conditions such as endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, heavy periods, menopause, perimenopause, prolapse and incontinence.
The final Women’s Health Clinics are expected to open this year, with all 20 clinics planned to be operating by November 2026.
Sexual and reproductive health support
Victoria’s 20 Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs are also providing free and low-cost services. During the past financial year, more than 12,500 women received support through the hubs.
This included more than 3,400 appointments for long-acting reversible contraception and more than 1,700 women accessing abortion care.
Improving healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls is also a key focus. Victoria’s Aboriginal Women’s Health Clinic has supported more than 400 Aboriginal women and girls during its first year, through services in Frankston and Thomastown.
A further 50 scholarships were provided to health workers employed by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to help build the future Aboriginal women’s health workforce.
Earlier support for pelvic pain
A new Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network has also been launched to improve early diagnosis and treatment for children and young people under 18 who experience pelvic pain or painful periods.
Research is also continuing to address gaps in women’s healthcare. Fifteen new projects have started through the Women’s Health Research Catalyst Grants program, covering areas such as sexual and reproductive health, heart disease, chronic pain, cancer and neurodegenerative conditions.
The projects aim to improve research and build stronger evidence for future women’s healthcare.
Helping women find the right care
Women’s Health Victoria’s 1800 My Options service has reached 50,000 calls since it began in 2018. The free and confidential service now receives about 730 calls each month, providing information and referrals for contraception, abortion and sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Victoria has also continued work to improve the way women’s pain is understood and treated. The Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report, released in November 2025, was informed by contributions from 13,000 women, girls, gender-diverse people, carers and clinicians.
Practical changes are now being introduced, including free access to Penthrox (the green whistle) for IUD procedures at Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs. This provides another pain relief option for women having an IUD inserted.
The range of new and expanded services reflects Victoria’s focus on making women’s healthcare more accessible, affordable and responsive to women and girls at different stages of life.
Victoria expands access to women’s healthcare services
Source: Victorian Government, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Program