As lead for reproductive health at Logan Hospital, Dr Catriona Melville is working hard to drive change to ensure women have access to timely, compassionate, and evidence-based care.
With more than 25 years’ experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGYN) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), she says she is focused on improving access to reproductive health services at every stage of life, from adolescence to menopause.
Since joining Logan Hospital, Dr Melville has focused on one of the biggest challenges in reproductive health - access.
“Making sure women can easily get the right care, at the right time, is fundamental,” she said.
In less than a year, Dr Melville has collaboratively led key achievements that include launching Metro South Health’s first public surgical termination of pregnancy (TOP) service at QEII, creating clearer referral pathways, and establishing a clinical space for the Reproductive Health team to relocate to soon.
“These changes are about making services more responsive, more reliable, and closer to home for women,” Dr Melville said.
Dually qualified in OBGYN and SRH, Dr Melville brings a unique perspective of the entire reproductive journey to her work.
“I’ve seen how reproductive health connects across the whole journey, from adolescence through to menopause and beyond,” she said. “Investing in SRH is not only about individual wellbeing, but also about wider social and economic benefits.”
Her experience in women’s health has reinforced the need to reduce stigma, expand services, and ensure women feel empowered to advocate for their own health.
Looking ahead, Dr Melville says she is excited about the future of reproductive health.
“There are local and system wide projects in the works that will further expand women’s choices and improve patient experience”.
“These include empowering nurses and midwives to prescribe medications for early medical termination, improving access to menopause care in the public system, and strengthening training pathways to grow the workforce,” she said.
“Our team is also scoping an outpatient surgical service to manage retained pregnancy tissue after miscarriage or termination and for surgical TOP.
She also highlighted the importance of better pain management during procedures, self-referral pathways for patients, and robust data collection to shape policy.
“Ultimately, the goal is to make reproductive health care more accessible, proactive, and evidence-driven,” she said.
As Australia marks Women’s Health Week, Dr Melville’s message to women is simple but powerful: don’t put your health on hold.
“You are entitled to advocate for yourself, be empowered to ask questions, and take the time you need for your care. Reproductive health is a cornerstone of wellbeing, and when women thrive, everyone around us benefits. Saying yes to yourself isn’t selfish - it’s essential.”