November 2006 - Fertility expert to lead national body

One of Australia’s leading experts on fertility, Dr Devora Lieberman, has been elected as the national President of Australia’s peak organisation for sexual and reproductive health.

"Australia faces many challenges", Dr Leiberman said, "to ensure that women and men maintain high levels of sexual health".

"The health care system in our country is well structured, through Medicare, but there can and must be improvements."

"There is a need", Dr Liebermann argued, "for a National Sexual Health Strategy to address several priority areas.

"Australia’s rate of Chalmydia is amongst the highest in developed countries", Dr Leiberman stated. "The current campaign is addressing this, but needs to be extended, particularly in rural and remote areas."

"The level of abortions in Australia is high, but can only be addressed through consistent national sexuality education campaigns, including all contraceptive options."

"Sexually transmitted infections in Australia’s indigenous communities remain extremely high", Dr Liebermann stated. "Governments at all levels are acting, but failing due to a lack of coordination and partnership with local indigenous communities. This is evident in the increased risk of HIV/AIDS transmission."

Dr Liebermann is a medical specialist in infertility, and will provide national leadership to SHFPA at a time when Australia faces many decisions in population, fertility, sexual health, family life and family planning.

One of Dr Liebermann’s first duties will be to represent SHFPA at a briefing for members of Federal Parliament and others in Canberra on Tuesday 28 November, being conducted by the Fertility Society of Australia.

Dr Liebermann will join Ms Elizabeth Hammond, President of Family Planning Queensland, as one of two Australian representatives to attend the International Planned Parenthood Federation meetings in China, 2007.

Contacts:

Rebecca Smith, National Media Manager