- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency number
- 000
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: travelladies.app, travelsafe-abroad.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- SARC is free, confidential, and separate from police — you can access medical care and counselling there without being required to report to police.
- The emergency contraception pill can be bought at any Perth pharmacy without a prescription or age restriction, but if a pharmacist declines on personal/religious grounds they must refer you to one that will supply it.
- The newer 120-hour EC pill (ulipristal acetate/EllaOne) isn't always in stock everywhere in Australia, so if you're close to the 72-hour mark for the standard pill, call ahead or go to a larger pharmacy.
- For an IUD, implant, or a new ongoing pill prescription, book with a GP or a sexual health clinic (e.g. Sexual Health Quarters in Perth) rather than expecting a pharmacy walk-in — these take an appointment, unlike emergency contraception.
- As of the 27 March 2024 reform, abortion in WA is legal on request up to 23 weeks of pregnancy with no referral and no mandatory counselling required — a significant change from the pre-2024 20-week limit.
- Early medical abortion (the MS-2 Step pill) is TGA-approved only up to 9 weeks of pregnancy; beyond that, options shift to surgical abortion or later-pregnancy pathways requiring two practitioners.
- GPs are the standard first point of contact for abortion care in WA, and telehealth options exist for early medical abortion, which can be useful for nomads without an established local GP.
- For general OBGYN care (not abortion-specific), most private specialists in Perth require a GP referral to claim a Medicare rebate — as a temporary visitor this rebate typically won't apply unless you're covered under a reciprocal healthcare agreement, so ask about self-funded/private rates upfront.
- Subiaco (a short trip from the CBD) is Perth's main private-hospital and women's-specialist hub, clustering several obstetrics/gynaecology practices around St John of God Subiaco Clinic.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Perth is generally relaxed by day, but some women travelers report catcalling and being followed by men, particularly at night in the city centre. Unwanted attention is more associated with nightlife districts and late-night streets than daytime areas.
Walking Alone at Night
Daytime walking is considered safe across most of Perth, including the coast, but caution is advised after dark, especially in quiet or poorly lit streets, empty laneways in the CBD, and areas like East Perth or Heirisson Island. Northbridge, the main nightlife strip, is not a no-go zone but is flagged as the part of the city centre where people should be most alert after venues close, due to alcohol-fuelled disturbances and opportunistic crime rather than targeted violence.
Taxis and Getting Home
Catching a taxi late at night can mean a long wait, as drivers are harder to find after midnight and pick-ups are concentrated at designated ranks in Northbridge rather than hailed on the street. Guides advise sorting out transport home before a night out ends, rather than trying to arrange it once venues are closing and crowds are leaving at the same time.
Nightlife-area Precautions
Because Northbridge's bars and clubs can get lively and occasionally disorderly late at night, it's worth watching your drink, avoiding leaving it unattended, and sticking to busy, well-lit routes rather than quiet side streets or station areas once pubs and clubs start closing.
General Solo-travel Precautions (Australia-wide)
Australia's official travel advisory recommends that solo women stay in public view if approached by a stranger, avoid being drawn into isolated areas, and keep valuables and cash secure and out of sight. These are general precautions for solo travel in Australia rather than specific to Perth, but apply equally here.
How Women Nationally Feel About Walking Alone After Dark
National data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that most women who do walk alone in their local area after dark feel safe doing so, though a smaller share still feel unsafe, and women are considerably less likely than men to walk alone after dark at all. This reflects the national picture rather than Perth-specific figures, but gives useful context for how common caution around night walking is among Australian women generally.
Abortion Law And OB-GYN
Access Routes
- Telehealth
- Telehealth has become a significant channel for early medical abortion access across Australia, including for women in Perth and regional WA, without needing to attend a clinic in person for the consultation.
- Primary Pathway
- General practitioners are the main entry point — around 80% of abortions in WA occur before 9 weeks of pregnancy and are managed via GPs.
- Medical Abortion
- MS-2 Step (mifepristone/misoprostol) is TGA-authorised up to 9 weeks (63 days) pregnancy. GPs, nurse practitioners and endorsed midwives can all prescribe it, and pharmacies can dispense it — the first tablet is taken in-clinic, the second at home 24–48 hours later.
- Surgical Abortion
- A short in-clinic or hospital procedure under anaesthetic, available depending on pregnancy; later-pregnancy procedures require referral to specialist day clinics or hospitals as they become more complex and are offered at fewer sites.
- Conscientious Objection
- Health practitioners may conscientiously object but must then refer the patient to another practitioner or provide approved information on where to access the service (this exception does not apply in an emergency).
- Counselling And Consent
- Mandatory counselling was abolished in the 2024 reform — it remains available on request but is never a legal requirement, and no referral is needed to access care.
Abortion Time Limits
- Citation
- Before March 2024 limit was 20 weeks now 23
- After Limit
- After 23 weeks + 1 day, two medical practitioners must agree the abortion is appropriate, considering medical, psychosocial and social circumstances. From around 22 weeks, feticide is recommended by RANZCOG guidelines as an additional clinical step.
- On Request Limit
- Up to 23 weeks of pregnancy, on request, with only one health practitioner's involvement required.
Country Legal Framework
- Summary
- Abortion in WA was decriminalised in September 2023 under the Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023, with the reforms taking effect on 27 March 2024. It is now treated as standard healthcare under Part 12C of the Public Health Act 2016 rather than the Criminal Code.
- Jurisdiction
- Western Australia (Perth is the WA state capital)
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Citation Note
- Abortion Legislation Reform Act 2023 (WA); Public Health Act 2016 (WA) Part 12C; WA Department of Health
Named OB-GYN Options In Perth
Perth Obstetrics & Gynaecology Service (POGS)
- Type
- Private specialist obstetrics & gynaecology practice
- Contact
- (08) 6270 0123
- Location
- Level 3, St John of God Subiaco Clinic, 25 McCourt Street, Subiaco (walkable from Subiaco train station)
- Notes
- Specialist-led private obstetric and gynaecological care; over 8,000 births supported; patients choose their own specialist obstetrician or gynaecologist.
SubiOG Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Type
- Private specialist obstetrics & gynaecology practice
- Contact
- via clinic website
- Location
- Suite 209, St John of God Subiaco Clinic, Subiaco
- Notes
- A small team of obstetrician-gynaecologists offering pregnancy care, general gynaecology, laparoscopic surgery, colposcopy and IUD insertion, working alongside midwives.
King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)
- Type
- Public tertiary women's and newborn hospital
- Contact
- via WA Health
- Location
- Subiaco
- Notes
- WA's main public referral hospital for complex obstetric/gynaecological care and gynaecological oncology; several Perth specialists (e.g. gynaecological oncologists) hold consultant appointments here alongside private practice.
Contraception Access
Ongoing Pill IUD Implant
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Notes
- The oral contraceptive pill, hormonal IUDs (e.g. Mirena, Kyleena) and the contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) are all legally available in Australia but require a prescription and, for the IUD/implant, insertion by a trained GP or nurse — they are not walk-in pharmacy purchases like emergency contraception. Sexual Health Quarters (formerly Family Planning WA) in Perth is a specialist clinic offering consultations, pill prescriptions, and IUD/implant insertion. Some pharmacy chains operating in WA offer a script-renewal service for an existing pill prescription, but WA does not currently have a broad pharmacist-initiated prescribing pilot for new hormonal contraception (unlike Queensland).
Emergency Contraception Pill
- Process
- Pharmacist will typically ask a few private, confidential screening questions (weight/BMI, medications, breastfeeding status) before dispensing. Pharmacists may decline to supply on religious grounds but are required to refer the person to another pharmacy that will.
- Availability
- Available over-the-counter at any Perth pharmacy without a prescription, regardless of age. Two types are sold in Australia: levonorgestrel (effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex) and ulipristal acetate/EllaOne (effective up to 120 hours, though stock can be limited at some pharmacies).
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Price Levonorgestrel
- A$15
Low end of typical price range
- Price Levonorgestrel High
- A$30
High end of typical price range for levonorgestrel EC
- Price Ulipristal Acetate Ellaone
- A$50
Ulipristal acetate (EllaOne) is generally pricier than levonorgestrel; range roughly AUD 30-50
Copper IUD As Emergency Contraception
- Availability
- Most effective form of emergency contraception (over 99%), but must be inserted by a doctor/nurse within 120 hours of unprotected sex, so requires a same/next-day appointment with a GP or sexual health clinic — availability can be a limiting factor.
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Price Device And Insertion
- A$70
Low end; typical range is roughly AUD 70-150 outside the public hospital system, plus a separate consultation fee for the appointment
- Price Device And Insertion High
- A$150
Assault Support Services
Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)
- Phone Freecall
- 1800 199 888
- Phone 24hr Crisis Line
- (08) 6458 1828
- Type
- 24-hour sexual assault crisis service
- Location
- Subiaco, Perth (address given only when contacted)
- Eligibility
- Females and males, aged 13 and over
- Description
- Perth's dedicated emergency sexual assault (rape crisis) service, based in Subiaco. Provides medical care, forensic examination and crisis counselling for people assaulted within the previous 14 days, plus ongoing counselling for past assaults. Free and confidential; not part of police, though it will support a survivor's decision to involve police.
1800RESPECT
- Phone
- 1800 737 732
- Type
- National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling line
- Description
- 24/7 national telephone and online counselling service for anyone affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence.
Crisis Care Helpline (WA)
- Phone
- 1800 199 008
- Type
- State crisis intervention and referral line
- Description
- Western Australian after-hours crisis response and referral line, used for urgent safety concerns including family and domestic violence.
WA Police
- Phone Emergency
- 000
- Phone Non Emergency
- 131 444
- Type
- Police / emergency response
- Description
- For immediate danger call 000. For non-emergency police assistance or to make a report after the fact.
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Perth
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.