Sydney was the proud host of the inaugural Fertility Care Centres of Australasia (FCCAu) Conference, held recently at Campion College.
Bringing together leading voices in Restorative Fertility Health Care, the event celebrated the life-affirming science of Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM), including Creighton Model FertilityCare™, NaProTechnology, and broader Catholic healthcare ethics.
NaPro Medical Care aims as providing best-practice medical care while respecting the right of the child to be conceived as a natural act of love between the mother and father.
The conference opened with dinner and a public forum featuring keynote speakers Rev. Dr Paschal Corby OFM Conv., a respected Catholic bioethicist and theologian, Dr Teresa Hilgers, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from the Saint Paul VI Centre for Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha, USA, and Dr Brendan Miller, Toowoomba-based specialist in Restorative Reproductive Medicine.
Dr Hilgers spoke passionately about the value of the Creighton Model of natural family planning and NaProTechnology:
“They are absolute gifts to women and couples everywhere… Through them, we will advance women’s healthcare.”
She also delighted attendees with a personal story—sharing a photo from her childhood in St Peter’s Square with her family and Drs John and Evelyn Billings.
Dr Miller gave an engaging account of his pioneering robotic surgeries for conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, introduced from the St Paul VI Institute to his practice “Pink and Blue” in Toowoomba.
“The fact that you’re there gives people the opportunity to access real women’s health care,” he affirmed.
At the dinner FCCAu recognised the work of Dr Veronica O’Connell who has worked for 20 years in this field.
Present was one of the families she helped support with NaPro medical care and their daughter who is celebrating her 18th birthday.
Emilie-Kate Maslak’s life is a testament to the power of natural family planning and NaProTechnology. Her parents, Tadeusz and Carol Maslak, shared their moving fertility journey with guests.
“Through the natural procreative methods developed, we received a lovely daughter… conceived in love, through love, by love, for love,” said Tadeusz.
Carol added, “This is a blessing of marriage… so affirming as a woman to be actively involved in my personal health care.”
Attendees also heard from Dr Gabriel James (Mater Hospital, Brisbane 2023 STOP trial research) into bio-identical progesterone for women with threatened miscarriage, and from Dr Hilgers on its potential in postpartum depression treatment. Her father, Prof Thomas Hilgers, joined online to support her presentation on Luteinised Unruptured Follicles (LUF).
Genevieve Burton, FCP, presented The Wonder of Eve—a program for teenage girls on understanding their fertility cycles—offering hope for future education initiatives in Australian schools.
A highlight on the first day was a powerful talk by Reta Khoury of Serenity Counselling, who addressed the psychological journey of infertility and the role of counselling within a NaPro-informed care model.
The event affirmed the importance of science guided by compassion and Catholic ethics, honouring the quiet pioneers in this field, such as Dr Veronica O’Connell and Dr Catherine Lennon, who have championed natural fertility care in Sydney.
As Rev. Dr Corby reflected, this work is a struggle but a vital witness to the dignity of the human person. In a world of quick fixes and artificial solutions.
“The beautiful grounds of Campion College were the perfect backdrop for this conference, where participants could attend daily Mass, surrounded by Catholic artwork and ethos, and receive scientific, ethical, spiritual and theological nourishment for the journey of work ahead of us,” said Dr Amanda Lamont of the FCCAu board.
“I’m sure I was not alone in leaving the conference feeling renewed and re-inspired in the vocation to this work, with a stronger sense of the support of a collegial network of like-minded professionals.”
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