12C. ASRH Abstracts Session: Social, political & cultural aspects: Reproductive health, justice and rights
Tracks
Track 3
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 |
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
Speaker
Mx Yeşim Karasu
Team Leader, Trans Health Equity
ACON
Trans and Gender Diverse People’s Understanding of and Reception to Information on Menopause and Related Hormonal Fluctuations
Biography
Yeşim Karasu (they/them) has a strong vision for queer health and empowerment - particularly regarding suicide prevention and wellbeing for trans and gender diverse people. With a background in psychology and LGBTIQA+ health, Yeşim specialises in meaningful community engagement and the development of resources with and for priority populations.
Mx Budiadi Sudarto
Research Officer (Part Time)
Monash University
“I felt that I have to give myself”: The influence of stigma and gender affirmation on safer-sex practices among overseas-born trans and gender diverse people in Australia
Biography
Budi Sudarto (they/them) is a casual research officer at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University. Their research focuses on HIV and other STI prevention strategies for marginalised communities, including overseas-born gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, international students, and trans and gender diverse communities.
Ms Lene Ritter
Community Engagement Worker
Children By Choice
New online screening tool and information portal supports reproductive autonomy among people experiencing Reproductive Coercion and Abuse
Biography
Lene Ritter is a community engagement worker at Children by Choice, specialising in sexual and reproductive health. With over 7 years of nursing experience, she develops and delivers education to consumers and professionals. Lene is dedicated to social and reproductive justice, advocating for accessible education and choices in reproductive health.
Dr Shelly Makleff
Research Fellow
The University Of Melbourne
Strategies to Reduce Abortion Stigma in the Healthcare Workforce
Biography
Shelly Makleff (she/her) is a McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Her research focuses on reducing abortion stigma in the health system to improve quality of care and accessibility.
Erin McBride
First Nations Abortion Access: Starting Difficult Conversations, Establishing Cultural Safety.
Biography
Erin is Clinical Nurse Consultant in Gimuy, Cairns. She applies co-design concepts to amplify the voices of marginalised populations and agitates for innovations in healthcare.
Natasha Chong is a Senior Aboriginal Health Worker. She was born on Jagera country, Ipswich. She advocates for culturally safe pregnancy options.
Ms Catherine Bateman
Abortion, Contraception And Sexual Health Nurse
Australiasian Sexual Health and HIV Nurses Association
Miles to go: despite full legalisation, access to abortion care still requires work on timeliness, quality and access: two nurse led advocacy projects.
Biography
Cath is an NP Candidate at Latrobe Community Health Service. Cath works alongside GPs to plan and deliver high quality sexual and reproductive health care for community members. Cath represents sexual health nurses at the Australasian Sexual Health and HIV Nurses Association and the Victorian Abortion and Contraception Working Group.
