Overseas students and workers in Australia on special visas are being forced to abort their babies if they become pregnant.
Last month a major SA hospital reported that a massive one third of abortions are being performed on overseas students (The Advertiser, 3/11/09, p 6). Unofficial reports from other states suggest a similar situation Australia-wide.
The grim reality is that women who come to Australia on special student or work visas are not covered by Medicare. Most only have basic health insurance which does not include pregnancy-related items. Giving birth costs over $10,000 in doctor and hospital fees – compared with about $800 for an abortion in a Sydney clinic or $1700 in an SA public hospital.
Distraught faces
“If these women become pregnant, they find that abortion is the only option they can afford,” says Robyn Grace. “I see their distraught faces every week.”
Robyn Grace gets up very early twice a week and takes the long drive from her home in the Adelaide hills to the government abortion clinic. Years ago, the Mareeba hospital healed very sick babies – before it was rebuilt in 1992 and euphemistically renamed the Pregnancy Advisory Centre (PAC). In over 95 percent of cases, PAC pregnancy “advice” is to terminate the life of a healthy unborn infant.
Pre-abortion counselling involves asking the pregnant woman: “Do you understand what you are doing?” If the answer is “Yes”, there is no explanation of abortion risks or alternative options.
Robyn Grace and a church pastor pray on the footpath outside the PAC. “I count the women as they go in,” Robyn told VoxNews. “One week recently I counted a third who were distressed or in tears. Some have their partners with them, but often men will drive the women to the PAC and leave them. Quite a few are from Africa or Asia.
PAC staff ensure that contact with the women is difficult, but Robyn tries to ask one brief question: “Would you like any help or support with your pregnancy?” One day those words brought special joy.
Hassled by guard
“It was a Wednesday – not our usual day,” Robyn says. “We had been hassled by a burly PAC security guard; the local council had issued fines of $150 - we didn’t know why we felt we had to go then. But God did. Unknown to us, a family in India had gathered the previous night to pray for their daughter and sister Rachel in Australia. They had been devastated to hear she was about to have an abortion.”
That morning, Rachel and her husband Samuel parked opposite the PAC. They looked miserable. They had arrived on a work visa a few months earlier, but their hopes of an easier life were dashed when Samuel – a trained chef – was exploited by his employer and paid very low wages.
Then Rachel found she was pregnant. They went to the local hospital, but were told there would be no help with birth costs. All they could afford was an abortion. Both were heartbroken.
Robyn crossed the road to greet them. They were amazed when she asked if they needed help. Rachel’s face lit up, but Samuel remained distraught. “How can you help us?” he said. “We cannot afford to have our baby!”
I will help you
“I will support you all the way through your pregnancy,” Robyn said, handing him a leaflet. “Here is some information about The Beginning of the Journey of Life, with my name and contact details. I will help you. Phone me.”
They drove away in a daze. The next day, they phoned. “Thank you!” said Samuel, expressing his heartfelt relief. But for Robyn, the full cost of her promise was beginning to hit home.
Some Christian friends suggested that a faith-based hospital might provide a free or discounted service. They made a formal request for help on Robyn’s behalf, but the answer was no.
A midwife offered her services for a home birth at a reduced rate. Her generosity has already allowed several babies of overseas students and workers to be born at no cost to the parents, but the federal government is moving to ban home births altogether.
$10,000 to save one baby
Rachel was not comfortable with a home birth since it was her first baby, so Robyn booked her in at a public hospital. There, even though the midwife provided her services at a big discount, the fees totalled $7000.
Along with medical insurance for the baby after birth, Robyn has paid about $10,000 of her own money, earned as a casual florist – to save just one baby. “But what is money, compared with a human life?” she says.
Robyn has already spoken to a government senator. She is praying and working for change in the tragic situation where “pro-choice” policies have led to “no-choice” for vulnerable visitors to our nation.
In the meantime she would value prayer and help of any kind including baby equipment – for all the overseas mums she cares for. Phone her on 0403 760 200.
Reprinted under a different title from VoxNews by permission of FamilyVoice Australia, 4th Floor, 68 Grenfell Street, Adelaide, SA 5000.
