First LGBTI family law conference held
Sunday July 17, 2016

First LGBTI family law conference held

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Last week I had the privilege to take part in the first stand alone LGBTI family law conference in Australia-with seminar sessions, questions and answers and such like. The conference was held by Television Education Network, as a bolt on event to their 10th annual family law conference held at Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast.

The conference was chaired by retired Family Court judge, the Hon. David Collier.

The LGBTI conference was so successful that it is likely that it will become an annual event.

The idea for the conference came about when I spoke at the Television Education Network’s conference last year about Who is a Parent. I spoke of some of the extraordinary ways that people become parents. The head of Television Education Network, Rob Clemente, was inspired. We later talked at length about the possibility of having such a conference, and VOILA!- it happened.

A good day was spent discussing the usual suspects- and the feedback from those attending was enthusiastic for more:

  • parenting
  • de factos
  • surrogacy
  • trans and intersex adolescents
  • recognition of rights and relationships
  • Family Court processes for trans adolescents to undergo medical procedures

Keynote speaker,  the inspirational Anna Brown

Hopefully this will be the beginning of many more such conferences. What a delight to take part!

And the most amazing thing for me? It was to hear paediatrician Dr Michelle Telfer say that gender is known to a person while still a toddler- and that studies reveal that 25% of trans people are on the autism spectrum. Extraordinary stuff!

Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen
International Surrogacy Statistics: Australia Hits Record

International Surrogacy Births Hit a New Record

For every child born through surrogacy in Australia, around five children born overseas through surrogacy now apply for Australian citizenship by descent. That is the picture emerging from the latest figures discussed here. It is a striking comparison, even allowing for the fact that the domestic and international figures measure different things. In the year… Read More »International Surrogacy Births Hit a New Record

Surrogacy Law Reform Australia: What's Next After ALRC?

Surrogacy law reform: what’s next after the ALRC inquiry

The Australian Law Reform Commission’s surrogacy inquiry could be an important moment for Australian families. Its report has been delivered to the Commonwealth Attorney-General and is due to be tabled in federal parliament. The question is not simply what the report recommends. It is whether Australia’s nine governments will work together to turn those recommendations… Read More »Surrogacy law reform: what’s next after the ALRC inquiry

MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

MRKH syndrome means being born without a uterus. It does not mean that parenthood is impossible. For women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, often shortened to MRKH, the journey to understanding their body can begin at a young age. Many discover in their early teenage years, commonly around 14 or 15, that they will not be able… Read More »MRKH syndrome: how surrogacy can help you become a parent

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board