The Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative seeks to build a unified national research and advocacy agenda to progress reproductive justice in Australia. Reproductive justice seeks to ensure all people have rights to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children and parent children in safe and healthy environments.
About us
The Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative brings together University of Melbourne researchers and key partner organisations who are tackling aspects of reproductive justice.
Despite some progress in reproductive justice in Australia, significant challenges remain, and there is currently no unified Australian agenda or platform to progress reproductive justice.
The Hallmark Initiative provides the opportunity to:
- Highlight the significant and novel work being undertaken at the University of Melbourne
- Develop a uniquely Australian adaptation of the concept of ‘reproductive justice’ in partnership with the community
- Provide support to emerging researchers
- Seed new research on emerging and pressing issues
- Amplify the impacts of the research in the development of new public policies and law.
People in the initiative are drawn from across the University with expertise in health, population and health sciences, law and social sciences.
The Abortion stigma Community of Practice is hosted by the Reproductive Justice Hallmark. It strives to destigmatise abortion in Australia by cultivating and enhancing rigorous, collaborative, and evidence-based abortion stigma research, measurement, and intervention.
Read more about the work of the Abortion Stigma Community of Practice
Applications open – 2025 Seed Funding Grants
The Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative is offering a seed funding scheme for grants of up to $20,000 to support interdisciplinary research projects (including pilot projects) in the field of reproductive justice research, with the primary purpose of building capacity and supporting new and emerging research areas within the field.
The Coordinating Investigator must have a PhD and hold a salaried academic appointment at the University of Melbourne of at least 0.5 EFT until December 2026.
Applications open: Monday 16 June 2025 at 9am
Q&A session: Thursday 17 July 2025, 3-4pm via Zoom. RSVP to reproductive-justice@unimelb.edu.au
Applications close: Monday 11 August 2025 at 5pm (late applications will not be accepted)
Application form (via SmartyGrants)
If you have any questions about the seed funding, please contact Bronwen Merner, Academic Convenor at reproductive-justice@unimelb.edu.au
What is reproductive justice?
The term “reproductive justice” was coined in the United States in 1994 by twelve black women “to build a politics that will change our lives and inevitably end our oppression.” (Ross, 2017).
This loosely defined movement responded to the limitations of an individually focused reproductive choice approach by marrying it with the principles of social justice. The reproductive justice framework, with its foundations in human rights, social justice, feminist activism and intersectionality inspired this Hallmark Research Initiative.
Despite it being widely accepted that reproductive rights are essential to women’s freedom, health and well-being, reproductive autonomy is under attack in the United States and continues to be constrained in many countries.
In Australia, the challenge of reproductive justice is to ensure that all people have the rights to, and are practically able to, maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, have equitable access to quality assisted reproductive treatment and prenatal screening, and give birth to and parent children in a safe and healthy environment.
Research themes
Our work will be grouped loosely around the following themes:
Defining reproductive justice
The original definition of reproductive justice was developed by black activists in the United States. In this research theme, we aim to adapt this definition so it aligns with the Australian context. We will develop a sociological and ethical analysis and identify the key reproductive justice issues in Australia. We will also explore the socio-political histories that shape the reproductive lives and experiences of people in Australia. We will also engage with key ethical debates to consider the rights and responsibilities of individuals and state actors in relation to reproduction.
Intersectionality and reproduction
Intersectionality is a concept developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the United States that emerged from the experience of black female factory workers (Crenshaw 1989). It is a key concept informing reproductive justice yet is often under-theorised and/or not adapted for other cultures. Mapping the intersecting oppressive forces that impact reproduction in Australia will be a key interest. We will explore the reproductive experiences and challenges to reproductive justice for gender diverse people, the intersection of gender-based and family violence and reproductive health, and institutionalised racism.
Regulating reproduction
Reproduction remains subject to a range of laws, policies, and other forms of regulation. Despite the gradual reform of unethical and unjust laws, challenges remain in the regulation of reproduction and there are many practices that are not consistent with reproductive autonomy. There are still inadequacies in information provision and communication about birth options, and a lack of access to continuity of care in maternity care. There is only emerging recognition of the impact of birth trauma. In addition, there is evidence of ongoing structural reproductive coercion, with specific groups considered “at risk” (especially those of indigenous, rural, migrant and refugee backgrounds) targeted for highly invasive long-acting, reversible contraceptives. In this theme, we will identify the areas of regulation of reproduction most urgently in need of reform.
Reproductive markets
In a capitalist society, reproduction inevitably becomes entwined with market forces. In Australia, abortion and IVF are predominately available in the private sector and religious institutions can and do opt out of providing services. The profit motive can result in marketing of fertility preservation options that prey on social anxieties around fertility. Global markets for surrogacy result in the womb being constructed as a “rentable space” (Kearney 2022). New technology, like non-invasive prenatal testing and preimplantation genetic testing also creates new legal and ethical challenges. This theme will explore the intersection of local and global markets for reproduction.
Our goals and strategies to meet them
Goal one: Build partnerships with relevant communities to ensure the research and advocacy agenda is relevant to their needs
To achieve goal one we will:
- Work with non-government organisations (who support communities to realise their reproductive health and rights and improve access to and quality of reproductive health services) to develop a sustainable model for community engagement with our research and advocacy
- Design and pilot a community engagement model for the Hallmark.
Goal two: Convene and support a new network for emerging researchers in reproductive justice
To achieve goal two we will:
- Establish and support a network for emerging researchers in reproductive justice at the University of Melbourne and partner organisations.
Goal three: Develop an interdisciplinary agenda for reproductive justice in Australia summarised in a position paper to share with decision-makers
To achieve goal three we will:
- Conduct a literature review to synthesise existing knowledge on reproductive justice, paying specific attention to the Australian context
- Host a conference to showcase Australian research and evidence and devise an agenda to guide the Hallmark activity (this will include a research agenda and advocacy plan)
- Disseminate a position paper summarising the reproductive justice agenda for Australia
- Host a public-facing event in collaboration with our community partners for two-way engagement on reproductive justice.
Goal four: Build new collaborations to tackle pressing research questions using a reproductive justice framework
To achieve goal four we will:
- Offer a round of seed funding for researchers across diverse disciplines
- Apply for external funds to support new interdisciplinary research to maximise the linkages and synergies in the work of steering committee members in this area
- Establish and support a network for emerging researchers in reproductive justice at the University of Melbourne and partner organisations.
Read recent newsletters
Stay informed on Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative activities and events with our monthly newsletter.
-
May 2025
In this edition: Gender Equity and Reproductive Justice Symposium (30 May) | 'Women's Reproductive Health Needs and Work' (3 June 2025) | 'SexRurality Conference 2025' (June 11-12 2025), and more.
-
January 2025
In this edition: Register for the Hallmark Research Initiative Launch | Catalyst Grants in Women's Health Research Priorities
-
December 2024
In this edition: Save the date for Renee Bracey Sherman and Hallmark Launch | PhD scholarship winner announced | Migrant women's experience of reproductive coercion and abuse.
-
August 2024
In this edition: Reproductive Rights and Abortion Conference 2024 | Research Hot Off The Press!
-
July 2024
In this edition: 'Making gaybies: Queer reproduction and multiracial feeling' | PhD Scholarship opportunity |The non-fatal strangulation offence as a response to domestic and family violence
-
June 2024
In this edition: Welcome to the Reproductive Justice HRI | PhD Scholarship opportunity | 'Weighing the Future: Race, Science and Pregnancy Trials in the Postgenomic Era'
Contact us
To get in touch with the Reproductive Justice Hallmark Initiative team please contact academic convenor Dr Bronwen Merner by email to Bronwen.merner@unimelb.edu.au
Subscribe to the Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative newsletter.
First published on 12 June 2025.
Share this article