This year’s International Women’s Day theme is nothing new for the dedicated and compassionate team at True Relationships and Reproductive Health.
In fact, we’ve been working to Balance the Scales for all women and girls since our founders and pioneering members challenged the highly conservative social and political environment of Queensland – more than 50 years ago.
Queensland was the last state of Australia to set up a family planning clinic.
When the Family Planning Association of Queensland (True’s original entity name) opened in the early 1970s, it gave Queensland women safer access to contraception and reproductive health information, helped normalise discussions about sexual health, and challenged existing social barriers — which was a significant step forward in a conservative environment where such services were previously limited or stigmatised.
CAPTION: Early Family Planning Clinic
Before that first clinic opened
When the Family Planning Association of Queensland opened that first clinic in Fortitude Valley in March 1972, it marked a significant shift for Queensland women — socially, medically, and culturally.
At the time Queensland was socially and politically conservative, especially regarding sex and family planning. That wasn’t something that changed quickly, even remaining somewhat conservative into the 1980s and early 1990s.
Sex education in schools was limited or non-existent.
Contraceptive information and services were difficult to obtain, particularly for unmarried women and young people.
Termination of pregnancy was illegal, and individuals often had very limited support or information about pregnancy options.
Queensland had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Australia.
CAPTION: Family Planning Association of Queensland stand at the 1975 RNA Show
What impact did the Family Planning Association of Queensland have for women from the 1970s?
-
Improved access to contraception and information
The Family Planning Association of Queensland actively provided information about contraception and reproductive health, offering women safer, more informed ways to manage their pregnancies— something that had previously been hard to access.
Clinics offered counselling and education that helped women make informed choices about their bodies and relationships.
-
A new source of health services outside traditional doctor pathways
Before the Family Planning Association of Queensland, many women could only get contraceptive advice from GPs and, even then, were restricted by social norms.
The new clinics that came throughout the years – as the Association became Family Planning Queensland, and then True Relationships and Reproductive Health – meant women could more readily access specialised family planning services, including counselling, pregnancy and STI testing, and contraceptive methods.
-
Greater public discussion and destigmatisation
The very act of opening that first clinic in Fortitude Valley, and providing education, helped break down taboos about sexual health matters.
Women began to have a space where reproductive health could be discussed openly with professionals and peers.
-
Foundation for broader sexual and reproductive rights movements
The Family Planning Association of Queensland’s presence supported later developments — such as education programs, community advocacy, and the growth of related services (e.g., organisations focusing on pregnancy options and abortion information).
Although not directly a political advocacy group in those early days, the Association overlapped with broader demands for reproductive choice and education during the 1970s and 1980s.
CAPTION: Books for sale at the Family Planning Association of Queensland's state headquarters c.1978. Source: Acc. 34252/160 Family Planning Queensland archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
A longer-term legacy with True
True’s incredibly courageous and ambitious founders and pioneers laid the groundwork for decades of improved reproductive and sexual health services across Queensland, which empowered women to understand and take control over their own bodies.
As we have expanded from a single volunteer-led clinic into multiple regional and outreach clinics, and become a key educator, we’ve continued to grow and serve thousands of people (especially women) each year.
CAPTION: June Morris featured in The Telegraph newspaper on 17 January 1984
CAPTION: Majorie Millburn at the Family Planning Association of Queensland in the 1970s. Source: Acc.34252/151 Family Planning Queensland archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Until June 2026, an exhibition is on show at the State Library of Queensland honouring founders June Morris and Marjorie Millburn and the 50 years we’ve been providing the state with sexual and reproductive healthcare, education and advocacy, first as the Family Planning Association of Queensland, then as Family Planning Queensland, and more recently as True Relationships and Reproductive Health.
CAPTION: Explore the history of True Relationships and Reproductive Health at the State Library of Queensland's Extraordinary Stories exhibition until June 2026.
