Surrogacy Australia Conversations

Surrogacy in Australia is Altruistic (as opposed to Commercial), which means surrogates have their surrogacy and pregnancy related costs covered by the IPs (Intended Parents) but they do not receive any payment to be a surrogate. Surrogates are ultimately doing it to see their friends/family become parents, and that in itself is very rewarding.  You can find a List of Expenses on our website. Chec...

​Fiona birthed as a surrogate in NSW in April 2021 for a couple who were initially strangers and are now life long friends. They had a little girl, Ari, and her two dads are Josh and Jack who were in Sydney and are now in Canberra. You can hear from one of the dads she carried for, Josh, in the previous episode 93.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy A...

Josh and Jack, originally in Sydney and now in the ACT, became Dads to their daughter (Ari) in April 2021. Ari was carried by their surrogate (previously a stranger) Fee who lives in Newcastle, NSW. Josh has been a Mentor with SASS and has supported many new gay Intended Dads who are at the beginning of their journey.  You can hear from his surrogate, Fiona, in the next episode number 94. These po...

Julie is heading for retirement as a surrogate - again! She has been in the community for 10 years, had 11 embryo transfers for 3 different IPs, 100s of blood tests and ultrasounds, 1000s of hours invested resulting in 2 beautiful girls and life long friends with surrogates and parents. Julie birthed Ottilie in May 2019 creating a sibling for that family (Leah, James and Alyza) and then retired as...

Melissa and her husband Harry lived in Adelaide when they became parents to their son Harvey in August 2024. Harvey was carried by surrogate Rachael, who was previously a stranger, and who lives in Goolwa, regional South Australia. Melissa has MRKH (being born without a uterus) and it was a long journey to motherhood - initially being part of uterus transplant trials, a move from Sydney and then a...

This series of episodes springs from my work with SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service). When Intended Parents (IPs) have completed their profile and are in the pool of IPs waiting to connect with a surrogate, I do monthly check-ins to make sure they’re still active and waiting. I like to give some guidance and support along the way because the waiting game can be hard. This series of episo...

Mitchell and Stephen from Brisbane expanded their family when their close friend carried and birthed their little girl, Elizabeth, in July 2019. Mitchell is a passionate advocate for surrogacy and the promotion of same-sex parents. He has written three children’s books to date ‘Lizzy’s Day at the Zoo’, ‘Lizzy’s Day at the Beach’ and ‘Lizzy’s Christmas Day’. You can find him on instagram @gaybrisba...

Michelle and husband, Glenn, live in Wollongong with their 2 children and she has birthed 2 children as a surrogate, Alice in March 2019 and Isaac in November 2020. Michelle works as a nurse at IVF Australia and that is where we met one of the dads - Dr Shadi Khashaba. She has also donated her eggs 10 times to help 5 families, as well as supporting many people through surrogacy - both through her...

Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers are experts in surrogacy, having assisted many Australian and international intended parents and surrogates. Sarah led the team responsible for the landmark NSW decision for the first same-sex couple to be registered as parents on their child’s birth certificate, after that child was born through a surrogacy arrangement. If you’d like to arrange your own session with Sar...

No. A surrogate does not want your baby. In fact, many surrogates fear that the IPs (Intended Parents) will not take the baby once she gives birth and she will be left holding the baby …. literally! Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-86-will-the-surrogate-want-to-keep-the-baby Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . L...

James and his husband JimBob from Brisbane, became dads to their son, Rupert, in March 2023. Their surrogate, Jemma from north QLD, was previously a stranger whom they met at a Growing Families conference in June 2021. Jemma's waters broke early at 30 weeks resulting in quick action from all families. Jemma birthed Rupert at 32 weeks via an emergency C-section but he has been strong and healthy si...

Trudy and Tom became parents to their daughter (Bonnie) in August 2020. Bonnie was carried by their surrogate Sarah who is Tom's sister. Sarah lives with her husband and their two children in New York, meaning this was one complex surrogacy journey. Trudy is also a SASS Parent Mentor and has helped many IPs at the beginning of their journey. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar...

​Sarah and Ben from Adelaide became parents to baby girl Evie in Feb 2021 when their surrogate, and now life long friend, Danni, birthed as a Traditional Surrogate after a long journey first as their Gestational surrogate. Sarah is also a SASS Parent Mentor and has helped many IPs at the beginning of their journey.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy A...

Tyson and Daniel from Melbourne became Dads to their daughter (London) in December 2021. London was carried by their surrogate Beth who was previously a stranger. Tyson has supported many Intended Parents who are at the beginning of their journey. He is also the author of the Surrogacy Process Chart and video interviewing 3 surrogates in the style of 'you can't ask that' - he’s clearly a contribut...

Mel birthed as a surrogate in Wollongong in January 2022 for a couple whom she knew through the brother of one of her friends. They had a little boy, Jetson, through a home birth. The two dads, Warwick and Jason, live in Sydney. Mel went on to be a surrogate again for this couple, and she once again birthed at home in May 2024 - a little boy Jasper.  Mel’s journey with expressing breast milk is qu...

Warwick and Jason, from Sydney, became parents to their son (Jetson) in January 2022. Jetson was carried by their surrogate Mel who already had a connection before surrogacy, as a friend of Warwick's sister. They navigated a journey with some distance (Sydney to Wollongong) and were able to stay near and with Mel in the weeks before and after birth. And since then, they have gone on to have anothe...

Marian is a mum through surrogacy three times! Marian and David, from Adelaide, became parents to a boy, Hugo, in September 2016 and a girl, Matilda, in June 2018. Those children were carried by surrogate Rachel, who lives in QLD, and was previously a stranger. Their second daughter, Sophia, was born in March 2021 by a different surrogate who lives in Adelaide and was also initially a stranger and...

This is a really common question that Intended Parents (we abbreviate that to IPs) have at the beginning of their journey.  Yes is the answer - let me unpack that for you.  Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-81-were-you-at-the-birth/ Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us...

Bec from Bacchus Marsh is a single mum to 5 and has been a surrogate twice. She birthed a girl in 2016 and a boy in 2024 - for 2 different sets of IPs, each who were previously strangers. She is an admin for the national facebook group and organises catch ups locally in Melbourne. Hear from Bec about her observations from her nearly 10 years in the surrogacy community - what it promises and what i...

Shane and his partner Clinton near Newcastle, NSW became parents to their son Easton in February 2024. Their surrogate, Jennie, who lives nearby, is a friend of Shane's sister. Their egg donor, Teneale, is Clint's sister so there's a whole village involved! They started their surrogacy journey in late 2021 with a previous surrogate that Shane met through the gym. They went down the traditional sur...

This series of episodes springs from my work with SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service). When Intended Parents (IPs) have completed their profile and are in the pool of IPs waiting to connect with a surrogate, I do monthly check-ins to make sure they’re still active and waiting. I like to give some guidance and support along the way because the waiting game can be hard. This series of episo...

Samm birthed as a surrogate in Port Hedland, WA in May 2022 for a couple who were initially strangers and are now life long friends. She had a little boy, Joshua, for his parents Lisa and Jared in Adelaide, SA. Samm and her family are now in Perth, however it was a long journey with COVID restrictions limiting in person catch ups during the pregnancy.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the f...

This episode was done in partnership with Australian Surrogacy and Donor Week. It was the inaugural year of that event, and the plan is to continue that partnership into the future. Keep an eye on their website at asdw.au and join us in their national facebook group for ongoing support, named Australian Surrogacy and Donation You can find Katrina Hale at katrinahalepsychology.com.au if you’d like...

Matt, from Adelaide, and his husband, Aldo, met their surrogate, Rachel from Melbourne, in October 2020. Following their first embryo transfer in January 2022, they welcomed their son, Ari, in September of that year.  You can hear from his surrogate, Rachel, in episode 48 . ASC - Australian Surrogacy Community   EDA - Egg Donation Australia These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar...

Lindsay's SASS team is one that we have supported from their introduction through to birth and now beyond for a year. Lindsay and her husband, Antony, from Brisbane became parents to their son in February 2024. He was carried by surrogate Kim, who lives in Perth, WA. A journey of over a decade to parenthood due to Lindsay's complex health issues including multiple surgeries and liver transplant. T...