So you want to make a baby seminar was a great success

So you want to make a baby seminar was a great success


 (L to R) Michael Condon, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, me and  David Cleary from the LGBTI Legal Service
A seminar on how to make a baby, for those not doing so the old fashioned way, was a resounding success. Nearly 70 attendees made this the largest seminar of this type in Brisbane. 
The seminar, run for the LGBTI Legal Service, featured three speakers: fertility counsellor Michael Condon, fertility specialist and one of the founders of Qld Fertility Group, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, and me.
The speakers described the complex legal landscape involving egg and sperm donation and surrogacy, as well as the practical issues with becoming a parent through those processes, and the associated medical issues.

A seminar on how to make a baby, for those not doing so the old fashioned way, was a resounding success. Nearly 70 attendees made this the largest seminar of this type in Brisbane. 
The seminar, run for the LGBTI Legal Service, featured three speakers: fertility counsellor Michael Condon, fertility specialist and one of the founders of Qld Fertility Group, Dr Warren DeAmbrosis, and me.
The speakers described the complex legal landscape involving egg and sperm donation and surrogacy, as well as the practical issues with becoming a parent through those processes, and the associated medical issues.
Several intended parents raised the difficulties of proceeding with surrogacy in Queensland. Attendees were told that commercial surrogacy is illegal in Queensland, and still an offence for those in Queensland who go overseas.
By contrast, those who go to Canada for altruistic surrogacy can do so legally in Queensland. I said the cost of undertaking surrogacy in Qld (including IVF costs) could be done for as low as $25,000, or up to $60,000, largely depending on the number of IVF cycles. 
Michael Condon mentioned to take care with known sperm donation, and that in his view sperm donors to lesbian couples were not dads. I said that to undertake known sperm donation was extremely risky- because donor agreements were not binding, and that if the donor has a change of mind then a trip to the Family Court might be the outcome that happens that no one anticipated. 
Dr DeAmbrosis mentioned ways to cut IVF costs when contemplating surrogacy, and that 1 in 10,000 childbirths resulting in the death of the birth mother, which demonstrated that there was a risk to being a surrogate. He also said that older couples were often spending money on IVF using their own eggs and sperm when because of age or because either was a smoker that the chances of getting pregnant were very low. 
Several intended parents raised the difficulties of proceeding with surrogacy in Queensland. Attendees were told that commercial surrogacy is illegal in Queensland, and still an offence for those in Queensland who go overseas.
By contrast, those who go to Canada for altruistic surrogacy can do so legally in Queensland. I said the cost of undertaking surrogacy in Qld (including IVF costs) could be done for as low as $25,000, or up to $60,000, largely depending on the number of IVF cycles.
Michael Condon mentioned to take care with known sperm donation, and that in his view sperm donors to lesbian couples were not dads. I said that to undertake known sperm donation was extremely risky- because donor agreements were not binding, and that if the donor has a change of mind then a trip to the Family Court might be the outcome that happens that no one anticipated. 
Dr DeAmbrosis mentioned ways to cut IVF costs when contemplating surrogacy, and that 1 in 10,000 childbirths resulting in the death of the birth mother, which demonstrated that there was a risk to being a surrogate. He also said that older couples were often spending money on IVF using their own eggs and sperm when because of age or because either was a smoker that the chances of getting pregnant were very low. 
Thank you to Toby Longhurst and Qnews for the pics. 
Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART