Access to sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare is a fundamental human right which contributes to positive health, social and economic outcomes across the whole community. Australia’s health system must enable all people to effectively exercise choice and control without fear of discrimination or disadvantage and to be adequately supported in their decisions. Women in regional and remote areas in particular should feel confident that they can access appropriate sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare without facing excessive barriers of cost or distance.

Prioritisation of universal access to reproductive healthcare, including contraception and sexual health, maternity care, pregnancy terminations (terminations), conditions like endometriosis, and menopause is particularly important in the current environment, with Australia continuing to experience the health, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government responses.

Report overview:

• Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter that provides an overview of the various government supports and initiatives aimed at providing and improving sexual and reproductive healthcare in Australia, with a focus on the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 (Women’s Health Strategy). It also provides information on the conduct of the inquiry, including information on submissions and public hearings.
• Chapter 2 focuses on contraceptives, and their role in minimising unintended pregnancies and improving sexual health. The chapter starts with a discussion of the issue of unintended pregnancies and follows with an overview of the different types of contraceptives available domestically before canvassing the key barriers people commonly face when trying to access contraceptives.
• Chapter 3 focuses on pregnancy care, with a particular emphasis on the accessibility of maternity care and termination services in Australia. It provides an overview of the forms of pregnancy care that women commonly access before detailing the significant barriers that women encounter when trying to access these services.
• Chapter 4 explores the barriers to reproductive healthcare for various groups within the Australian community before analysing how people with these groups are hindered by the accessibility barriers that currently exist.
• Chapter 5 explores the level of sexual and reproductive health literacy across the Australian community and some of the barriers that currently exist to raising literacy levels. This chapter also discusses evidence related to the value of reproductive health leave for employees in Australia, and potential impacts on health and gender equity outcomes for women.