Hello Tequilla,
When I first read your question, I thought, a list of centers in
Geelong or Melbourne will do the trick. I'm seeing now why you are
asking this question here, and frankly, I'm shocked that in Victoria,
you may not be *allowed by law* to have this treatment. This law sent
women across state borders to have safe treatment, or worse, into the
shadows for unsafe and illegal procedures. To comply with both the
Sex Discrimination Act and the Infertility Treatment Act at this time,
a woman may have to prove a psychological reason for being unable to
engage in sexual intercourse with a man in order to legally receive
infertility treatments, including artifical insemination.
Onus on lesbians to show IVF-only baby option by Larissa Dubecki (The
Age, 11/16/2001)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/state/2001/11/16/FFXTAREE1UC.html
So, what are your options in the Melbourne/Geelong area? Clearly an
advocate of women's and lesbian's rights, the following may be the
best place to start to determine your best fertility and health care
options. Clinics in Geelong are also listed below.
Fertility Access Rights Lobby, Victoria (Women's Health Victoria) at
http://www.whv.org.au/far_lobby.html. Click "Services" for the
question hotline phone number.
Monash IVF - Geelong
Geelong Private Hosptial
Suite 1, level 1
Cnr Bellarine & Ryrie Streets
Geelong
Victoria 3220
Phone toll free 1800 628 533
* Dr Alan Trounson at Monash IVF has endorsed the "Fertility Access
Rights Discussion Paper" found above.
Melbourne IVF
Geelong Specialist Centre
200 Malop Street, Geelong, 3220
Ph: (03)5224 1955 Fax: (03)5224 1906
http://www.mivf.com.au/
* Beware that the language Melbourne IVF uses to describe their
artificial insemination program is quite specific to dealing with "the
husband's" sperm. This may have no bearing on their response, but it
should be pointed out.
Infertility Clinics in Australia & New Zealand (Australian Infertility
Support Group)
http://www.nor.com.au/community/aisg/clinics.htm#Victori
General Practitioners
Dr Ruth McNair – Convener FAR lobby, Lesbian Health practitioner, GP
Fertility Access Rights Lobby, Victoria (Women's Health Victoria) at
http://www.whv.org.au/far_lobby.html
Additional resources:
"Door opens to baby help for lesbians" by Gabrielle Costa and Misha
Ketchell (The Age, 11/15/01)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/state/2001/11/15/FFXG2J5ZZTC.html
McBain v State of Victoria: Access to IVF for all Women (Parliament of
Australia)
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2000-01/01RN03.htm
McBain v State of Victoria: Implications Beyond IVF (Parliament of
Australia)
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2000-01/01RN04.htm
Fertility Resources: Links (Concept Fertility Centre)
http://www.conceptfert.com.au/links.htm
Parenting Resources (GayLawNet)
http://www.gaylawnet.com/links/linksp.html#parenting
"Make conception safer for lesbians, forum told" (The Age via The
International
Lesbian and Gay Association, 11/17/99)
http://www.ilga.org/Information/Legal_survey/Asia_Pacific/supporting%20files/victoria_Make%20conception%20safer%20for%20lesbians.htm
Search strategy:
(Geelong | Melbourne) Victoria fertility treatment
homosexual GP victoria
I sincerely hope this will be helpful to you.
Regards,
mother-ga |
