New Zealand Legislation: Acts

31 Supervisory Committee to appoint or approve counselling services

• (1) For the purposes of this Act, the Supervisory Committee shall from time to time—

  • (a) appoint suitably qualified persons to provide counselling services for persons considering having an abortion; or

  • (b) approve any agency for the provision of such counselling services.

  (2) In appointing or approving persons or agencies for the provision of counselling services under this section, the Supervisory Committee shall have regard to the following matters:

  • (a) every counselling service should be directed by an experienced and professionally trained social worker:

  • (b) that suitably trained lay counsellors may also be used where there are insufficient professional social workers:

  • (c) every counsellor should be thoroughly familiar with all relevant social services and agencies, and able to advise patients, or refer them to appropriate agencies for advice, on alternatives to abortion, such as adoption and solo parenthood.