Click on the slide!

The Pill Turns 50

Dreams for our Daughters

Fifty years ago, the first oral contraceptive pill was made available, instigating profound female and societal change that has seen it become the most widely used and trusted form of birth control for over 100 million women around the world. 50 years on, Australian women are being asked to celebrate its inception by voting on a vision for women over the next 50 years through a national  initiative, ‘Dreams for our Daughters’.

Click on the slide!

NZ Conference

The NZ Sexual Health Society invites you to attend its 2010 Conference in Wellington, from 9-11 September 2010, with a line up of local and international speakers covering a range of topics including the use of the internet to improve sexual health, improving access to services, and meeting the needs of diverse populations.

More...
Click on the slide!

Harbouring Desires

The Australasian Sexual Health Conference 2010 will be held in Sydney from 18th - 20th October 2010 and will feature national and international keynote speakers. Register now!

More...
Click on the slide!

Annual Report 2009

Respectful, supporting & safe relationships are the foundation of sexual rights.

"Reflecting on the challenges, successes and opportunities of 2008-09, the word that springs to mind is ‘relationships.’ In the reopening of the Canberra office, my appointment, strengthening of governance and organisational processes and our national and international program work, relationships have been at the very heart of all SH&FPA’s activities" says Naomi Knight, CEO of SH&FPA, in the 2009 Annual Report (PDF: 2.9MB).

"Respectful, supportive and safe relationships are the foundation of sexual rights. In Australia and internationally, sexual rights are afforded by the well- off – those who are educated, have access to finances and resources, stable and secure housing, health and wellbeing, ability (as opposed to disability) and sexuality and gender identity neatly defined by the community."

More...
Click on the slide!

Latest International Projects Newsletter

The latest edition of SH&FPA's international projects newsletter Working In the Region is now available. Click  here to download the newsletter (PDF: 647kb) about work to improve sexual and reproductive heatlh in the Asia-Pacific region.

More...
Click on the slide!

Call To Action

Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia, with its partners Public Health Association of Australia and Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, launched a Call to Action for a national sexual and reproductive health strategy for Australia.

More...
Click on the slide!

Contraception: an Australian clinical practice handbook

Available now from SH&FPA Member Organisations

The 2nd Edition of the essential guide to Contraception for GPs in Australia.

More...
Click on the slide!

STIs are spreading fast. Always use a condom.

Learn more about STI prevention, testing and treatment....

More...
Click on the slide!

Making Choices

"Making Choices: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights" by Dr Gill Greer

Speech by the International Planned Parenthood Federation Director General, in Austr...

More...
SH&FPA Strategic Plan 2010-2013 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rosa Josifoski   
Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:08

Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia Strategic Plan 2010-2013

SH&FPA is a leader in shaping the sexual and reproductive health rights agenda through advocacy, networking and capacity building. The SH&FPA Strategic Plan 2010-2013 outlines the organisation's values and the guiding principles SH&FPA embraces to achieve specific outcomes for the development of sexual and reproductive health agendas, both nationally and internationally.

 

Untitled

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 August 2010 16:09
 
Welcome PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   

Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SH&FPA) is a national federation of eight independent state and territory sexual health and family planning organisations.

SH&FPA is also responsible for an international program which contributes to sexual and reproductive health in the Asia Pacific Region. SH&FPA believes that knowledge and freedom of choice in sexual health and family planning is a basic human right.

Read more...
 
The Pill Turns 50 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Matt Schmidt   
Tuesday, 11 May 2010 08:25

As the contraceptive pill celebrates its 50th year, leading organisations unite to ask Australian women their vision for future generations

Fifty years ago today, the first oral contraceptive pill was made available in the United States – instigating profound female and societal change that has seen it become the most widely used and trusted form of birth control for over 100 million women around the world.

Now, 50 years on, Australian women everywhere are being asked to celebrate its inception by voting on a vision for women over the next 50 years through a national charity initiative, ‘Dreams for our Daughters’ – an initiative from Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SH&FPA), Australia’s foremost sexual health organisation, supported by Bayer Schering Pharma (a division of Bayer Australia Limited), the company that brought the Pill to Australia. For every vote cast, $1 will go to the charity that is striving to make that dream a reality.

 

“Living a life free from violence, building an environmentally sustainable future, having safe and affordable housing and enjoying sexual and reproductive health rights are all vital dreams for women that with our ‘Dreams for our Daughters’ campaign we would like to see become a future reality,” said Naomi Knight, Chief Executive Officer of SH&FPA, Australia’s foremost sexual health organisation.

“The Pill came about as a result of a vision that women one day would be able to choose when they have children, and in reality it’s gone beyond this goal as the fufillment of sexual and reproductive health rights have far reaching implications and are fundamental to how individuals are able to participate in social and economic activities.

“The availability of the Pill on 11 May 1960 irrevocably changed the course of history, enabling women to take control of their family planning and pursue careers, education and family on their own terms.We now ask ourselves, what’s next for women? Through ‘Dreams for our Daughters’ we celebrate this milestone by looking forward to the next 50 years,” continued Ms Knight.

‘Dreams for our Daughters’ brings together four well known charities who are currently striving to make our dreams a future reality. Dreams include, sexual health reproductive rights for every women, the dream to end violence against women and for Australian women and families to live in a clean, sustainable environment.

Dr Edith Weisberg, spokesperson for Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia believes it is important for women to realise how far the Pill has evolved in the last 50 years.

“Women have more options than ever with many different types of oral contraceptives. Some of the latest Pills provide health benefits beyond contraception such as reduced premenstrual symptoms, hormonal fluctuation and acne. Today, most women will be able find a Pill that is suitable for them, and should talk to their doctor about the latest options,” said Dr Weisberg.

SH&FPA’s campaign to celebrate 50 years of the Pill is proudly supported by Bayer Schering Pharma.

Bayer Schering Pharma has a long history in providing women with reliable and trusted contraceptive options. It is proud to support SH&FPA and leading charity organisations to celebrate the anniversary of what is widely considered one of the most influential inventions of the 20th century.

How to vote:

Women can vote online now on the Facebook site www.facebook.com/50yearsofthepill

SH&FPA will also host voting terminals at a live-site located in Westfield Bondi Junction (NSW), Westfield Chermside (QLD), and Westfield Carousel (WA) from 13 – 16 May. In addition to voting terminals, women can also receive the latest information about women’s health and contraception.

Additional information is available at www.understandingyou.com.au

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 July 2010 10:50
 
Annual Report 2009 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Matt Schmidt   
Friday, 19 February 2010 07:14

Respectful, supporting & safe relationships are the foundation of sexual rights.

"Reflecting on the challenges, successes and opportunities of 2008-09, the word that springs to mind is ‘relationships.’ In the reopening of the Canberra office, my appointment, strengthening of governance and organisational processes and our national and international program work, relationships have been at the very heart of all SH&FPA’s activities" says Naomi Knight, CEO of SH&FPA, in the 2009 Annual Report (PDF: 2.9MB).

"Respectful, supportive and safe relationships are the foundation of sexual rights. In Australia and internationally, sexual rights are afforded by the well- off – those who are educated, have access to finances and resources, stable and secure housing, health and wellbeing, ability (as opposed to disability) and sexuality and gender identity neatly defined by the community."

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2010 14:32
 
Latest International Projects Newsletter PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Thursday, 21 January 2010 10:58
The latest edition of SH&FPA's international projects newsletter Working In the Region is now available. Click  here to download the newsletter (PDF: 647kb) about work to improve sexual and reproductive heatlh in the Asia-Pacific region.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 February 2010 16:01
 
Call To Action PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   

A national Sexual & Reproductive Health Strategy for Australia

Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia, with its partners Public Health Association of Australia and Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, launched a Call to Action for a national sexual and reproductive health strategy for Australia Thursday 26 June 2008.

The launch was hosted in Canberra by the Parliamentary Group on Population & Development, a cross-party forum of Australian Members of Parliament and Senators.

The Call to Action and Background Evidence Paper are available for download from the SH&FPA website.

Download Call To Action (pdf, 1MB)

 
Contraception: an Australian clinical practice handbook PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   

Contraception an Australian Clinical Practice HandbookSexual Health & Family Planning Australia recently launched the 2nd edition of this leading practice resource for medical and sexual health professionals, which is available now from your local sexual health and family planning organisation:

Co-authored by medical experts from the State and Territory Member Organisations of SH&FPA, the second edition has been updated to include the latest international research and expert opinion of all methods of contraception.

The Handbook supports optimal clinical practice, providing GPs and nurses with the latest evidence-based consensus recommendations on contraceptives in the Australian setting.

Key features include:

  • Comprehensive information on contraceptive options, including advantages and contraindications
  • Prescribing in special circumstances (eg young women, women post partum)
  • New practice recommendations
  • Essential drug interaction information
  • Comprehensive guidelines for patients with complex medical conditions (eg thromboembolism, diabetes, HIV)
  • Alternative contraceptive technologies

For more information, download the Contraception: an Australian clinical practice handbook (2nd Edition) flyer (PDF: 128kb)