Innovative ideas to new services: Family Planning

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"Financial independence allows the Brotherhood to speak out; to determine its priorities, to develop innovative approaches to issues, and to be flexible enough to adjust to areas of real need. Projects created in these conditions can then become independent, leaving the Brotherhood to get on with other urgent needs. `long-standing commitment to a socially balanced society' This innovative tradition has generated services still thriving today under their own steam - Community Aid Abroad, Family Planning, Legal Aid, and Alcoholics Anonymous are just a few that have become household names in Australia. Both innovation in services and wellresearched policy advocacy have been the hallmarks of the Brotherhood and made it unique among welfare agencies, providing fences at the top of cliffs rather than ambulances at the bottom!" Extract

Source: Brotherhood Action, Winter 95

 

 

1966

BSL’s Family Planning Clinic opened for a 3-month trial period. 

 

1967

BSL’s Family Planning Clinic established in Fitzroy in July 1967 as a pilot project for low income families, prompted by concern expressed by the Victorian Council of Social Service.  What had once been a ham & beef shop at 75A Brunswick Street became in the 1960s the first comprehensive Family Planning Clinic in Victoria; upstairs offices were provided for the expanding Community Aid Abroad and downstairs later became a new Material Aid Centre.  ^[1]

 

1969

In its second year (1968-1969) the Family Planning Clinic saw 381 new patients.  As well as advising on all methods of contraception, the clinic took routine cancer smears and referred for further investigation problems of infertility, and gynaecological conditions.  At the same time, the Brotherhood questioned whether it was appropriate for a welfare agency to provide a medical service, or whether this should be included in existing government health schemes.     In 1969 the Commonwealth introduced free health insurance, but the greatest number of family incomes fell within the $40-$49 range, missing out on that cover “by a hair’s breadth”.   ^[2]

 

The Sidney Myer Charity Trust gave the Family Planning Clinic $1,200 to provide an extra clinic session and to pay the salary of a social worker to do a survey of the attitudes of people attending the clinic (some attended from as far away as Loch in the east, Seymour in the north and Bacchus Marsh in the west.) 

 

The Brotherhood published a booklet Action for Family Planning, on sale at booksellers and newsagents (60 cents), recommending that the State Government accept the responsibility to provide, within the framework of existing medical services, family planning services for low income families

 

1970

Demand on the BSL's Family Planning Clinic in Fitzroy required an additional session from February, bringing the total to four weekly sessions, two in the morning and two in the evening.  Over the previous three years, 1062 patients attended the clinic.  Five doctors, six trained nurses and one BSL staff member were on the clinic staff during 1970.  After assessment based on income, rent and the number of dependants, one-third of the total number of patients made no payment for services received and only a small proportion paid the maximum fee.  The Brotherhood  requested a subsidy for the clinic from the State Government ^[3]

 

1971

In its fourth year of operation the Family Planning Clinic was attended by 709 patients, 346 of whom were new. The clinic reduced the number of weekly sessions from three to two from October, given the establishment of clinics by the Family Planning Association, hospitals and a number of municipal councils.  The decision was taken to close the clinic at the end of 1972. ^{[4]  [5]}

 

1972

The BSL's Family Planning Clinic was phased out over 6 months, reducing to one weekly session and closing on 19 December.  Over that time patients were referred to the most appropriate clinic and the closure coincided with the opening of a clinic by the Fitzroy Council in November.  This was staffed by Dr Helen Church who had been the medical officer for the BSL's evening clinic for the previous five years.

 

1993

BSL protest letter re closure of family planning clinics by Victorian State Government ^[6]

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