Donor Conception Advocacy
When I first became a donor, I started Egg Donation Australia with one goal: to help people who were struggling with infertility achieve their dream of parenthood. I saw firsthand the deep longing, the heartbreak, and the hope that came with every step of the journey. But as I continued donating and supporting families through these complex processes, something changed.
I watched the children born from donations grow. I listened to the voices of donor conceived people—people who had spent years searching for answers about their origins, their identity, and their biological history. And I began to see things differently.
Maya Angelou once said, "Do the best with what you know. Then when you know better, do better."
And that’s exactly what we need to do.
Donor conception isn’t just about intended parents or donors—it’s a lifelong reality for the people born from it. Their needs should be at the centre of every conversation. It’s our responsibility to make choices that minimise harm, to ensure transparency, and to advocate for ethical treatment of everyone involved.
What Needs to Change?
Right now, Australia’s donor conception system is a patchwork of inconsistent laws and outdated practices. Parents are still not legally required to tell their children the truth about their conception. There’s no national register, meaning donor conceived people often struggle to find information about their biological origins. And donor compensation models remain unclear, creating unnecessary barriers to ethical donation.
We can—and must—do better.
We need:
✔️ A national donor register so donor conceived people have access to their origins.
✔️ Consistent laws and ethical standards across all states and territories.
✔️ A review of donor compensation models to ensure fairness and accessibility.
✔️ Stronger rights and support for donor conceived individuals.
Donor conception doesn’t just affect us—it affects future generations. It’s time to get this right.