The SEARCH Project is a free training and capacity building program funded by NSW Health and administered by Family Planning Australia. It aims to improve equitable access to abortion and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) across NSW.
SEARCH offers training and support to clinicians for sustainable, safe and affordable provision of high-quality abortion and LARC clinical services.
Specific, but not exclusive areas of focus include regional and rural NSW, areas with limited access to service provision, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
SEARCH’s Project Advisory Committee includes representation from RANZCOG, AMA, Rural Doctors Network of Australia, NSW Rural Doctors Network, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Australian College of Nursing, Women’s Health NSW, Waminda, Walgett AMS and others.
The organisation aims to build capacity predominantly in primary health settings. However, this is dependent on an agreed health pathway within district level, including access to emergency department services for complications, and referral to public sector services for complicated cases and surgical termination when local providers are not accessible.
Project components include access to the following free resources that can be customized to the local service level:
- comprehensive clinical governance policies and procedures for LARC and abortion services
- accredited training in LARC and abortion service provision
- comprehensive client-facing resources about LARC and abortion
- comprehensive communications and marketing collateral for LARC and abortion services
- data collection methods and materials
- communities of practice for providers
- financial models for primary care services
For more information, or if your practice is interested in becoming a SEARCH partner, contact Suzi Parker at [email protected] or call (02) 8752 4360.