Guidelines and training for abortion service providers

This guideline provides best practice clinical guidance for health professionals on abortion care in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.

The guideline, published by Manatū Hauora replaces the Interim Standards for Abortion Services and is intended for use by health practitioners who provide or are looking to provide abortion care and cover pre-, during and post-abortion specific content.

• Download the New Zealand Abortion Clinical Guideline

Abortion counselling is no longer mandatory, however, people seeking an abortion must be made aware that counselling is available to them. Abortion related counselling must be in line with the standard as outlined in this document.

The standard is grounded in Te Tiriti and health equity practice and describes what Manatū Hauora expects of those delivering abortion related counselling.

The standard outlines what abortion counselling is, who can provide abortion counselling and the principles. It sets out the connection with Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standard NZS 8134:2021 and sets out the rights of people receiving abortion counselling.

• Download the Standard for Abortion Counselling in New Zealand

The Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standard NZS 8134:2021 defines the updates to the quality and safety requirements for the provision of included services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ngā Paerewa reflects the shift towards more person- and whānau-centred health and disability services. People are empowered to make decisions about their own care and support in order to achieve their goals, with a stronger focus on outcomes for people receiving support.

Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability services standard 8134:2021 and the corresponding Sector Guidance for Abortion Services provides a suite of information about best practice abortion provision.

• Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standard

Online training is currently available to health practitioners via LearnOnline. These resources include:

• webinar recordings about abortion data regulations and reporting for those providing abortion services
• an e-learning module about changes to the abortion legislation for all health practitioners.

Health practitioners can create a LearnOnline account through the link above to access these resources.

Please note: When you create a LearnOnline account or use an existing account to complete or access this training, we may collect and use the information provided to support the development of further workforce training. If information about the training is published, it will be done so anonymously. You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you related to this, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. For any queries, please email: csaact@health.govt.nz

First-trimester abortion training modules

The New Zealand College of Sexual and Reproductive Health (NZCSRH) has developed free training modules for first-trimester abortion with cultural safety at its core. The training is suitable for those not currently providing services, but wishing to start, and current abortion providers wishing to upskill in culturally safe practice or further develop additional skills, such as surgical abortion provision or point of care ultrasound. This training aims to increase the availability of, and access to, abortion services by growing a diverse abortion workforce across the sector, including those in primary or community settings.

The training is focused on delivering abortion care that better meets the needs of Māori, Pasifika, gender diverse and disabled people, who experience greater inequity when accessing health services like abortion care.

The training includes an early medical abortion (EMA) module, an early surgical module (ESA), a triage and communication skills module and an early pregnancy point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) module. Access to the free training is available here.