The Natural Family Planning ('NFP') program is funded by the Commonwealth Government and administered by the NFP Board of Management on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Australia. It is a national health initiative which contributes to the sexual and reproductive health of Australians by promoting and delivering services in natural family planning and fertility awareness.
In the NFP program we are inspired by the call to human dignity as expressed in the tenets of the Catholic Church. This shapes the way we offer our services, and the way we serve the community
Those engaged in the NFP program seek to provide nationally the highest quality service in natural fertility management.
To contribute to the sexual and reproductive health of the Australian community by providing, within the Catholic tradition, a natural, non-interventionist alternative in fertility management.
* provide services in natural family planning which assist couples to achieve, space and/or avoid pregnancies.
* provide education programs in sexual and reproductive health to schools, professional and community groups,
* maintain quality professional competencies through rigorous training programs and continuous reaccreditation processes;
* educate medial practitioners and other health professionals in natural family planning as an effective and natural method of family planning;
* promote natural family planning as a method of regulating birth which is effective, drug and device free, and environmentally responsible; and
* ensure equity of access to natural family planning services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Natural Family Planning?
A. Natural Family Planning, or NFP, is a non-interventionist method of fertility control. It is an educative strategy that enables couples to assume control of their family planning responsibilities.
Q. How does NFP work?
A. NFP requires no drugs, no mechanical or surgical intervention! Couples are educated in fertility awareness by NFP Educators, trained and accredited by one of two national professional teaching associations of NFP. The exemplary standard of the professional competencies of these two associations is underwritten by indemnity insurance.
Q Who can use NFP?
A. Any couple can use NFP. However, NFP is especially sought by couples who seek a shared responsibility for family planning. In 1995-96 the NFP Program provided NFP services to another 9000 people – now independent in their fertility management and/or family planning.
Q. Why do people choose NFP?
A. Most people decide to use NFP for health reasons. While many women experience contraindications to medicalised and mechanical family planning methods, increasing numbers simply prefer a non-interventionist approach to health care. Small numbers elect to use NFP for religious reasons.
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Q. Where is NFP available?
A. The NFP Program ensures equity of access to NFP services for all Australians. There are 135 NFP Centres, staffed by over 200 trained and accredited NFP Educators.
Q. What about women who have special needs – live in rural or remote areas, are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders or from other countries?
A. The NFP Program is committed to providing NFP services to all Australians and recognises ‘special’ needs call for ‘special’ strategies! NFP Educators:
* make face-to-face contact with people in rural and remote areas;
* use correspondence and/or modern technology to teach NFP and maintain ongoing support;
* are culturally inclusive in program methodologies; and
* utilise client ‘needs-specific’ program strategies such as training material in foreign languages.
Q. Is NFP effective?
A. Yes. NFP is based on the latest scientific knowledge in fertility awareness. Independent field trials have been conducted by the World Health Organisation and others. Results of the trials, giving method related pregnancy rates and the Pearl Index - number of pregnancies occurring for each '100 women years' of use - are available on request from
nfpp@bigpond.net.au.
Q. What role does NFP have in Government health policies?
A. The NFP program contributes to Government health policies, by
* providing clinical and education services to the Australia community;
* providing non-interventionist option in family planning; making a significant contribution to fertility and preventative health programs; and delivering cost-effective outcomes, to which the Catholic Church has contributed.
Q. Does NFP have a contribution to make in areas of medicalised reproductive health?
A. Definitely. In some NFP Centres, nearly half of the clients are assisted to achieve pregnancy. Some women, who have unsuccessfully tried to achieve pregnancy through the IVF Program, are achieving successful outcomes with the expertise of NFP Educators. The NFP Program believes it can make a major cost-effective contribution as a screening tool in the area of sub-fertility.
Q. What about reproductive health education?
A. NFP Education programs form an important part of many courses dealing with sexuality and reproductive health including marriage education programs, medical and para-medical education and secondary education curriculum. NFP Programs are in demand for their high quality content and presentation. School principals increasingly appreciate the family values and critical self-evaluation that underpin the secondary school courses on reproductive health.
Q. Who funds NFP?
A. The Commonwealth Government funds the NFP Program under the Department of Health and Aged Care ‘Family Planning Program’ and contributes 75%-80% of all NFP monies. The Catholic Church also contributes to this program.
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