Pregnancy Choices

You have the right to make your own decision based on your own feelings, values and beliefs. Sometimes there is no perfect option, but an option that best fits your situation at the time.

Whatever decision you make it is important to act as early as possible to help you decide.

Grampians Health is a pro-choice service and is committed to improving access to sexual and reproductive health care throughout our region.

Counselling gives you the opportunity to talk to a trained health professional in a safe and confidential environment. This may be helpful if you would like some independent support in deciding what to do about your pregnancy.

A pregnancy options counsellor can speak to you about all your options including abortion, parenting a child, adoption and kinship care. They will support and listen to your concerns without encouraging one option over another.  Pregnancy options counselling can be provided by psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, GPs and counsellors who are specially trained in this area. 

1800 My Options is a confidential and free phone line and online service offering information about contraception, pregnancy options and sexual health. 1800 My Options can help you find a person who provides non-directive pregnancy options counselling. 

Many pregnancy options counsellors provide a telehealth service which means you don't need to see them face to face. Instead, you can speak to them either on the phone or via a video call. Learn more at www.1800myoptions.org.au.

Abortion is a safe and common medical procedure, used to end a pregnancy. Abortion is a time sensitive decision and the choices available to you depend on how far along the pregnancy is.

Grampians Health Ballarat offers both medical and surgical abortion services, as well as a telehealth abortion service for people living in the Grampians region who are unable to attend in-person in Ballarat and have a home internet connection.

Surgical abortion is also available at Grampians Health Stawell.

A referral from your general practitioner is required to access the Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic. For more information, please telephone 03 5320 4221 or call the Gynaecology Nurse Specialist on 0428 863 773.

You can contact 1800 My Options, which is a free, confidential and pro-choice service that can help you find decision making support or an abortion service near you. Self-referral and telehealth options are available.

• Website: 1800 My Options
• Phone: 1800 696 784 (weekdays 9am – 5pm).

Information and guided decision-making tools are also available online at the Better Health Channel.