These steps are generally followed for surrogacy arrangements facilitated by a clinic. For traditional surrogacy arrangements not utilising a clinic, parties need to obtain counselling and legal advice prior to conception. Note that the laws vary from State to State [...]
The number one question that every surrogate is asked is "how much do you get paid?" And whilst we expect the question, and can even understand why someone may ask, the question itself can hurt, and undermine the altruism of [...]
Surrogacy Laws Australia Are you exploring your options for growing your family through surrogacy? Below is an overview of Australian surrogacy laws as they stand today. Surrogacy in Australia is regulated in each State, which means there is no uniform [...]
Gay dads are growing in numbers around Australia as they pursue surrogacy to grow their families. The media is buzzing with news that Ian Thorpe and his partner Ryan Channing, are planning to have a baby via surrogacy. Channing was [...]
Do you need a surrogacy broker or consultant? Surrogacy is bit like Project Management. In fact, by the time you’re home with your baby, you’ll feel like you deserve a PhD in international relations and event management. You did all that [...]
After a baby is born through an Australian surrogacy arrangement, a Parentage Order is required to transfer parentage from the surrogate and her partner to the intended parents. When the baby is born, the surrogate and her partner register the [...]
A surrogacy agreement is not the same as a commercial contract. The elements of a basic contract include (1) an offer, (2) acceptance, (3) consideration (usually money) and (4) an intention to create a legal relationship. For example, you offer to buy [...]
Surrogacy in New South Wales is regulated by the Surrogacy Act 2010. If you are an intended parent living in NSW, then the surrogacy laws that apply to you are those of New South Wales. This is the case, even [...]
Surrogacy in the Northern Territory is neither legal or illegal. This is because there are no surrogacy laws in the Northern Territory at all. All the States and the ACT have their own surrogacy laws, but the NT has none. [...]
Surrogacy in South Australia. If you are an intended parent living in South Australia or a surrogate carrying for South Australian intended parents, the Family Relationships Act 1975 applies to you. The criteria for surrogacy in SA includes: That the [...]
If you are an intended parent living in Tasmania or a surrogate carrying for Tasmanian intended parents, the Surrogacy Act 2012 applies to you. The criteria for surrogacy in Tasmania includes: That the intended parents have a social or medical [...]
I'm a law nerd really, so the idea of law reform and particularly those laws that affect me, is pretty exciting. The Victorian Review of the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act, has finally concluded, and the Report released this week. Recommendations [...]
Surrogacy in Western Australia If you are an intended parent living in Western Australia or a surrogate carrying for Western Australia intended parents, the Surrogacy Act 2008 applies to you. The criteria for surrogacy in WA includes: That the intended [...]
Altruistic surrogacy is one of the most complex and amazing journeys you'll ever take, regardless of whether you're the surrogate team or the intended parent team. Even when things go right, they can still be difficult, and every team faces [...]
When travelling down the surrogacy path, the most important part is the relationship between the surrogate (and her partner, if she has one) and the intended parents. And rather than just hoping, or 'feeling' that everyone is on the same [...]
One of the first questions asked by surrogates and intended parents, is whether the intended parents can give gifts to their surrogate, or her family members, without compromising the surrogacy agreement or the Parentage Order application. And what sort of [...]
There are such a low number of surrogacy births in Australia each year (somewhere between 50 and 70 in total), that it is no surprise that many hospitals will rarely come across a surrogacy birth. As a result, hospital surrogacy [...]
Surro-baby, Darcey, turned one last weekend. Her dads threw her a party, of course, and like all first birthdays, it was more of an anniversary for the parents than it was a party for the baby. An anniversary of survival, [...]
Surrogacy can be all-consuming - for the intended parents, and the surrogate family. Relationship-building takes time (particularly if we want to get it right) and so does the process. Medical appointments, counselling, legal advice, blood tests, police checks, psychological assessments, [...]
In this first episode of The Australian Surrogacy Podcast, you'll hear from me, Sarah Jefford, and about why I decided to make a surrogacy podcast. I am a surrogate and a surrogacy lawyer living in Melbourne with my family. In [...]
In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing my intended parents, Mike and Nate, about their surrogacy journey and becoming gay dads to baby Darcey. Mike and Nate started talking about having children on their second date, and they [...]
In this episode of The Australian Surrogacy Podcast, I interviewed my husband, Troy, about his experience as a surrogate's partner. I was often asked what Troy thought of me being a surrogate, so this week I thought it would be [...]
In this episode, I speak with Bec, a gestational surrogate who gave birth to Holly in 2016, for an interstate couple. Bec speaks with candour and humour about her journey and has lots of insights for intended parents and surrogates [...]
The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Epsiode 5: Rhiannon In this episode you'll hear from the sensational Rhiannon, who was a gestational surrogate for her brother and his partner not once, but twice - and is planning on doing it again! Listen [...]
This is Part 1 of my interview with Felicity, a parent through surrogacy in America. Felicity and her partner suffered with infertility, miscarriage and the loss of her baby daughter Lily, before eventually having a child through surrogacy in the [...]
The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 6 (Part2): Felicity. This is Part 2 of my interview with Felicity. Felicity is an intended parent and pursued surrogacy in the US after suffering infertility and loss. Make sure to listen to Part 1 [...]
Traditional surrogacy is not as common as gestational surrogacy. This is Part 2 of my interview with Carla. Carla talked about her journey as an egg donor in Part 1; in Part 2 she tells us how she leaped from [...]
Mike and Glenn are gay dads that pursued surrogacy overseas, but after hitting roadblocks and ultimately not having any success, they turned to Australian surrogacy - and are now eagerly awaiting the birth of their daughter, with the help of [...]
Hillary is a cancer survivor, having suffered with cancer as a single mother, and when she met her prince charming years later, they decided to grow their family through surrogacy. I am always inspired and humbled when I hear stories [...]
Kate is a gestational surrogate for a gay couple, Mike & Glenn (listen to their story at Episode 10). Kate is due to give birth any day now, and in this episode you'll hear all about her plans for a [...]
Marnie is a cancer survivor and is now considering surrogacy as an option to grow her family. Marnie has some great insights for people considering surrogacy and leaning on the friendships you can build in the community. [...]
Henry and Lisa suffered with infertility and turned to surrogacy to grow their family. Henry & Lisa are well-known in the surrogacy community, both for their support of other intended parents and surrogates, but also for their senses of humour. [...]
Sarah Jefford sat down and chatted with Sheridon Byrne, a Melbourne-based Doula, to talk about Sarah's surrogacy journey. Sheridon provides Doula services to the queer community, and we talked about how surrogacy can be an option to grow a family. [...]
Steve is a father through surrogacy, and he and his wife Jen welcomed baby Holly in 2016. I interviewed Steve and Jen's surrogate, Bec, earlier in the podcast. Steve reflects on his journey as an intended father, and managing the [...]
This is Part 3 of a 3-part episode with Rachel. In Part 3, we hear about Rachel's final surrogacy pregnancy, with baby Matilda, for her parents Marian and David.
The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 26 (Part 1): Renee. Renee tells us the story of her first surrogacy journey, including the ups and downs that eventually resulted in the birth of Ethan for his intended parents. This is Part 1 [...]
Jessica gave birth as a surrogate for her friend Bec, who suffered with cystic fibrosis, and Bec's partner Gareth. You might like to listen to Gareth's episode, which tells the story of how Bec sadly passed away whilst Jess was [...]
The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 45: Simone. Sometimes it takes a village to create a child, and in this case it took a cast of 10 people. Simone delivered a baby as a surrogate for intended parents in Adelaide, and [...]
This is episode 48 of the Australian Surrogacy Podcast - the Khale Series. Katrina Hale is a surrogacy counsellor, and in this episode we talked about Managing our Fears in our surrogacy journeys. Surrogates and intended parents have some predictable [...]
The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 52: Sam. Sam is a Queensland mother of 5, who found her Victorian intended parents through an article posted online about the couples' struggles with infertility. Sam, huge-hearted and generous, reached out to the couple [...]
Our Surrogacy Sisterhood Day was held on 1 June in Melbourne, running alongside the Surrogacy Conference. This is the second year the Sisterhood Day has run as it's own event, and the fourth year where we've had a gathering [...]
