Stephen Page Delivers Guest Lecture on Surrogacy to UTS Health Law Students
Page Provan director and award-winning fertility lawyer Stephen Page recently had the honour of delivering a guest lecture to Health Law students at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on the topic of surrogacy.
The lecture formed part of the students’ Health Law studies — a discipline that sits at the intersection of medicine, ethics, and the law — and gave the next generation of legal practitioners a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of Australia’s most experienced surrogacy lawyers.
Engaging the Next Generation of Legal Minds
Stephen described the experience as a genuine privilege.
“There were many insightful questions by students about surrogacy. They were highly engaged with the topic,” Stephen said.
The students’ enthusiasm reflects the growing importance of surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology (ART) as subjects within health law. As surrogacy arrangements — both domestic and international — continue to increase in frequency, understanding the legal framework that governs them is becoming an essential skill for practitioners across family law, health law, and related disciplines.
Why Surrogacy in a Health Law Context?
Surrogacy occupies a unique place within health law because it raises questions that go well beyond clinical practice. For Health Law students, the topic offers a rich lens through which to examine:
- Consent and autonomy — how informed consent operates for surrogates, intended parents, and donors in the context of assisted reproduction
- Regulatory frameworks — how Australian states and territories regulate surrogacy and IVF, and where inconsistencies exist
- Ethical considerations — the bioethical debates surrounding altruistic versus commercial surrogacy, and the rights and wellbeing of all parties, including the child
- Cross-border complexity — the legal challenges that arise when Australian intended parents pursue surrogacy overseas, including parentage recognition under Australian law
With surrogacy law evolving rapidly across Australia — including landmark reforms in Queensland with the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024 and ongoing law reform processes in other jurisdictions — these questions are as timely as they are complex.
About UTS and Health Law
The University of Technology Sydney is one of Australia’s leading universities and is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world (QS 2025). UTS is home to one of the top eight law faculties in Australia (QS 2025), and its Faculty of Law is recognised for its forward-looking curriculum that integrates technology, ethics, and practical skills.
Health Law is an important stream within legal education — equipping students with the knowledge to navigate the increasingly complex regulatory landscape governing healthcare, biotechnology, and reproductive medicine in Australia and internationally.
Stephen Page: A Respected Voice in Legal Education
Stephen’s guest lecture at UTS adds to his already impressive record as a legal educator. He has lectured in Ethics and the Law in Reproductive Medicine in the Masters of Reproductive Medicine course at the University of New South Wales, and has delivered guest lectures at Monash University, Hong Kong University, the University of the Western Cape, and Arizona State University, among others.
With over 35 years of experience as a solicitor, more than 2,000 surrogacy journeys advised upon across Australia and nearly 40 countries, and a body of published work spanning books, journal articles, and international conference papers, Stephen brings unmatched depth of expertise to any educational setting.
His book, When Not If: Surrogacy for Australians, remains a definitive resource for anyone navigating the surrogacy process in Australia.
Learn More About Surrogacy Law
Whether you are an intended parent, a surrogate, a healthcare professional, or a student seeking to understand the legal landscape of surrogacy in Australia, Page Provan offers Australia’s leading surrogacy legal expertise.
Explore our surrogacy resources or contact our team to speak with one of our specialist lawyers.
