The Woman Behind the Fight for Law Reform

The Woman Behind The Fight for Reform
By Erin MacDonald


On a constant bustling road in Windsor sits a little purple house with a green roof and a bright red door surrounded by weeds and graffiti. The traffic noise is continuous, trains roar across an overpass and only one small sign out of the front of the house distinguishes it as something different from the next. The sign reads “CbyC: unplanned pregnancy counselling and information – abortion, adoption and parenting education”, the basis of Brisbane-based organisation Children by Choice (CbyC). How many women have stood here before the red door with a life changing decision to make?

Cait Calcutt, a former CbyC coordinator has the kind of smile that reaches her eyes and puts you at ease. Her brown eyes are welcoming and warm, and though small you can feel her strong presence in the room. Her warmth and support is the first thing the women coming through the red door would feel as it encompasses the organisation.

Cait wasn't always interested in abortion law reform. Originally from Western Australia, it was while she was at university in the mid-90s that she became involved. “My friend found out abortion was still illegal in WA and we were outraged and thought it was terrible,” Cait recalls. They went along to an AGM of the Association for Legal Right to Abortion, a pro-choice organisation in Western Australia. Being the youngest women amongst the group they decided to join and become committee members and this is where Cait's abortion law reform journey began.

It was the 1998 arrest of two doctors for performing abortions that created the public outcry for reform in WA. “We were one of the leader's in that campaign,” Cait recalls. After the reform Cait worked in the sexual and reproductive health field throughout Australia but found she wanted to continue to work in abortion law reform in particular. “The experience in WA really struck something within me and I knew there was more I could do in this area,” she says.

Upon seeing an advertisement for the position of Coordinator of Children by Choice, she jumped at the chance and applied. “It [CbyC] had such a great reputation and was well regarded by those involved in pro-choice politics,” she says. So Cait moved across the country to continue her law reform journey in a state where abortion was still illegal.

Cait has now been at CbyC for a decade and has been instrumental in not only the law reform campaign but also other campaigns, including the RU486 debate, abortion access and pregnancy counselling. She almost whispers and pauses while talking about her part in the campaigns illustrating a remarkable modesty about her advocacy efforts. She plays down her achievements and gives credit to the organisation and those around her.

“The great thing about CbyC is we are committed to changing things on a social and political level. Making a change on a political level is very satisfying and winning the RU486 campaign was really good.” Cait cites cheekily that she liked how they “got one up” on Tony Abbott, the Health Minister at the time of the RU486 debate. “Though who knows what might happen now if Tony Abbott is elected prime minister,” she says.

Margot Kingston, a friend and former colleague, says she is constantly impressed by what CbyC achieves. “They are still really a grassroots organisation. Cait really made a difference in the coordinator role in what they do on a political level. They've grown up over time to have a great reputation and I think Cait really nurtured that,” Margot says.

Despite campaign success Cait says the best thing about her job is the small things, such as helping a woman resolve something so she can access a termination. “It is always tinged with disappointment, though. Because it is a difficult and long process sometimes, and it makes you realise that it shouldn't be this hard. It really brings home the reason we're fighting to change this law,” Cait says.

That fight for law reform in Queensland was turned up last year after the arrest of Cairn's woman, Tegan Leach, for procuring her own abortion. Cait was heading off on maternity leave as the story broke but followed the campaign daily. Cait voice fills with strong emotion as she discusses her pregnancy and how it helped her connect with abortion law reform on a deeper level.

“Being pregnant for the first time really made me feel like I can truly understand what our clients go through. Having never been in that situation before it really illustrated to me the injustice that it is illegal for a woman to make a choice about her own body. This case really ignited the fire again for so many of us and we will fight,” Cait says.

Her whole demeanour changes as she discusses the reforms made by the Queensland government in the wake of the Tegan Leach case. With a deep frown on her face, her eyebrows furrowed, hands clasped tightly in her lap she says how disappointed she was with how it turned out.

“They were fairly meaningless and it has made things a lot harder. It has narrowed services instead of encouraging doctors to return to practice. They are still uncertain whether it is legal or not. It didn't do anything to address that abortion is still a criminal offence and it didn’t do anything for women,” Cait says.

Her passion for abortion law reform is evident in the way she speaks and conducts herself. Margot Kingston says Cait is an effective lobbyist. “What always strikes me about Cait is this ongoing determination to see reform occur and her incredible patience and willingness to listen that comes across in how she presents to the world,” Margot says. Her CbyC colleague, Kate Marsh, agrees “Cait is one of those really strong and inspiring people lobbying for law reform.”

Cait and the women of Children by Choice crowded in that small purple house are fighting and hope one day to have a win. However even if that win isn’t coming soon the small things each day are satisfying in themselves. “Being given that trust by a client is a real privilege,” Cait says. That is what is on offer for every woman who visits the small purple house with the bright red door surrounded by noise and graffiti but filled with warmth and support from Cait and the other women inside.