I’m overseas on my much-anticipated Churchill Fellowship, and this week was in Cape Town for the International Surrogacy Forum. My first week of travel has been exciting, inspiring, a lot of fun and full of learning.
The International Surrogacy Forum brought together lawyers, academics, law makers and advocates to discuss all aspects of surrogacy across the globe. I was excited to be speaking about surrogate compensation at the forum, and for the chance to meet colleagues from around the world that I had only met online.
I had the pleasure of presenting at the International Surrogacy Forum on the issue of surrogacy and financial compensation. You can read my abridged Speaking Notes and the presentation slides can be downloaded here.
I think it’s time for a nuanced conversation about compensating surrogates in Australia, for gestational services – the work of pregnancy and birth. Compensating surrogates does not need to threaten their autonomy, or undermine the best interests of a child, if it is properly regulated. I am interested in how we can increase the accessibility of surrogacy in Australia, and whether compensating surrogates might be one way to do that.
During my presentation at the International Surrogacy Forum, I made reference to the UN Special Rapporteur Report on the sale and sexual exploitation of children that was published in 2018. I also referenced the Verona Principles for the protection of the rights of the child born through surrogacy, which was published in 2021.
I mentioned a 2024 study of American surrogates conducted by Martinez-Lopez and Gomez that found that commercially-paid surrogates are motivated by altruism and empathy, and a 2023 study by VB Calder that noted surrogates were motivated by a desire to help people and that surrogates very rarely expressed regret for their decision to be a surrogate.
While in Cape Town, we had a delightful tour of wineries via the Franschhoek Wine Tram. I also went on a walking tour of Bo-Kaap, and a food tour where we tried crocodile, springbok and caterpillar.
I’m now heading to Dublin, Ireland, to meet with surrogacy campaigners, lawyers and advocates to find out more about the law reform and efforts to make surrogacy more accessible in Ireland and to recognise the parentage of children born via international surrogacy.
There are only 130-150 surrogacy births in Australia each year, and over 300 babies born via international surrogacy for Australian intended parents. Many children born overseas are born in countries where surrogacy is unregulated, and there are risks for the babies and surrogates, and frequent allegations of human trafficking and exploitation. My Churchill Fellowship seeks to find ways to make surrogacy more accessible within Australia, to reduce the need for intended parents to travel overseas for surrogacy.
Read more about my vision for Australian surrogacy reform.
While I’m away, you can read about how to find a surrogate, or how to become a surrogate yourself. You can also download the free Surrogacy Handbook which explains the processes and options.
Sarah has published a book, More Than Just a Baby: A Guide to Surrogacy for Intended Parents and Surrogates, the only guide to surrogacy in Australia.
You can find more information by reading articles in the Blog, listening to more episodes of the Surrogacy Podcast. You can also book in for a consult with me below, and check out the legal services I provide. I’m back in the office in late May 2025.
Hi! I’m Sarah Jefford (she/her). I’m a family creation lawyer, practising in surrogacy and donor conception arrangements. I’m an IVF mum, an egg donor and a traditional surrogate, and I delivered a baby for two dads in 2018
I advocate for positive, best practice surrogacy arrangements within Australia, and provide support and education to help intended parents make informed decisions when pursuing overseas surrogacy.
