Sexual and reproductive health is a human right and a fundamental contributor to people’s optimal health and wellbeing. Victoria’s population is statistically among the healthiest in the world; however, the burden of sexual and reproductive health morbidity continues to rise. There are increasing rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs), teenage fertility, unplanned pregnancy and low uptake of contraception. These outcomes are influenced by sexual and reproductive health inequities, the term used to describe health inequalities that are socially produced, avoidable, unfair and systematic in their unequal distribution across the population.

This document is a four year sexual and reproductive health promotion strategy for the western region of Melbourne. It incorporates primary prevention initiatives that work to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes for the community by redressing the social, cultural and economic drivers of sexual and reproductive health inequities.