Fertility care is limited

Dear Echo News,

Here in Perth’s eastern suburbs, access to fertility care is already limited.

There are no major fertility clinics in our region, and many locals are forced to travel long distances often while juggling work, financial strain, and mounting emotional stress.

As a psychologist and IVF coach based in Darlington, I see firsthand how isolating, expensive and traumatising this process can be.

What makes it worse?

The complete lack of dedicated mental health support.

Despite the high psychological toll of IVF;  anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship breakdowns – there is no specific Medicare rebate for therapy during fertility treatment.

Patients are left to fund support out of pocket or use their 10 subsidised sessions under a general mental health care plan, which for most doesn’t even scratch the surface.

I’ve reached out to our Bullwinkel MHR  Trish Cook multiple times over the past two months, hoping to open a conversation about this. She initially acknowledged my email and then nothing. No follow-up. No meeting. No support.

Meanwhile, we see her attending events across the electorate but not engaging with an issue affecting one in six people, in one of the most under-resourced IVF regions in Perth.

The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has already recommended a dedicated psychological rebate in its national 10-year plan.

Other conditions, like perinatal depression and pregnancy loss, already receive targeted Medicare-funded support. Fertility patients deserve the same.

This is a call for leadership, not lip service.

IVF patients in the hills and beyond are silently struggling – and we need our representatives to step up.

E Bancroft

Darlington

Echo News social media comments

In response to Kalamunda rates rise:

A Patricia:

Gary Ticehurst’s statement that the 5 per cent increase is not among the highest in the metro area is contradicted by available data. For example, the 5 per cent increase is higher than neighbouring councils like Gosnells and Swan.

Without a full breakdown of his benchmarking methodology, the figures he gave are misleading. At least 90 per cent of community submissions to City of Kalamunda opposed the 5 per cent increase yet the councillors ignored this opposition, undermining the integrity of the consultation process.

Ratepayers deserve fiscal responsibility, not escalating increases that outpace inflation and ignore community hardship.

M Woodhouse:

What additional services will we get? I work in local government and understand what they do. I work in finance. I understand how a council spends its money.

A 5 per cent increase is excessive compared to other rate increases across councils. My rates are excessive compared to other councils and I receive less services. The average increase is around 3.5 to 4 per cent.

This is an entire 1 per cent higher than the average increase. We have a cost-of-living crisis. The council should be working to make things affordable for ratepayers.

We already pay higher rates in Wattle Grove than homes valued at similar prices in other suburbs, but we don’t get the same services.

For me, a 5 per cent increase does not equal $25. It is $150 on a property that is 650sqm. Compared to a same-size property worth $1 million in Southern River, less than my property’s worth and they pay $2000 in rates.

I pay $1000 – $3000 more for way less services. How is that equitable?

D Bowman:

Same happening in City of Swan. No regards for those already doing it tough.

In response to Community rallies for Kookaburra cinema: 

K Beale: 

Like and follow the Facebook page: Keep the Kookaburra Cinema.

A GoFundMe page has also been created.

In response to Wastewater spill in upper Swan River: 

J Hamer: 

If a private company did this there would be hell to pay – somehow the rules don’t apply to the government?