Baby Xena is one of 155 babies born with the help of Public Fertility Care, Victoria’s free IVF service proudly led by the Women’s.
Since launching in 2022, the service has opened the door to parenthood for hundreds of Victorians who might otherwise have missed out due to financial or geographical barriers, or a lack of access to specialist care.
With 10 partner sites across the state, including six in regional Victoria, the program is delivering fair and inclusive reproductive healthcare.
The difficult journey experiencing infertility
After four long years of fertility treatment and multiple failed attempts, Cassie and Steven were emotionally and financially exhausted. They had even taken out a second mortgage and were ready to give up on their dream of becoming parents.
Then they transferred into Public Fertility Care at the Women’s.
“The difference in care was immediate. One of the doctors picked up on something no one else had – that it actually takes my body longer to grow egg follicles. They extended my IVF cycle from one month to two, and it changed everything.”
Cassie’s final two IVF rounds, fully publicly funded, were her most successful. On the last round, 23 eggs were collected, with two viable embryos frozen. The first transfer failed. The second embryo – and their final chance – became Xena.
“She was our lucky last one,” Cassie said. “We were just about to give up, and now we have her. It’s a miracle.”
Support through one of life’s hardest journeys
Victoria’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas praised the program’s impact, especially for those historically excluded from fertility care.
“Our government believes that everyone deserves the chance to start or grow their family.,” Minister Thomas said.
“Public IVF is ensuring that families like Cassie and Steven’s are no longer locked out of that dream.”
Associate Professor Kate Stern, Head of Reproductive Services at the Women’s, said the program is “more than IVF, it’s about wraparound care – counselling, genetic testing, donor services, fertility preservation. And it’s about equity,” A/Prof. Stern said.
For Cassie, that care meant more than just the science. It meant being seen, heard, and supported through one of life’s hardest journeys.
“There wasn’t a single moment at the Women’s where we didn’t feel confident in our care,” she said.
Her advice to those still on the IVF journey is deeply heartfelt. “Take care of yourself. Keep going. Trust your medical team,” she said. “If we’d stopped, we wouldn’t have her. And now our family is complete.”
Learn more about Public Fertility Care and the egg and sperm bank.
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