Surrogacy Australia Conversations

This question is relevant for both IPs (Intended Parents) and surrogates.  For IPs - basically you need to not have a uterus (be a same sex male couple, or a single man, or were born without a uterus, or have had a hysterectomy), or have confirmation from a specialist that carrying a pregnancy is too great a risk to yourself or the baby.  For surrogates - basically you need to be fit and healthy e...

Michelle and her husband Jono have 2 sons through surrogacy, born 5 weeks apart. Michelle's mum, Jasmina, at the age of 52, birthed Hugo in December 2022, and Jono's sister, Sophie, mother of 3 herself, birthed Spencer in January 2023. Michelle needed a surrogate due to being born with a unicornuate uterus (half a uterus) and had unfortunately birthed angel baby, Ralph, at 18 weeks which n...

Deb and her husband, from Canberra, became parents to their daughter (Hannah) in December 2019. Hannah was carried by Rachel, who is the wife of Deb's brother, and they live in QLD. They have two older boys through fostering but it was a very long journey to parenthood with 3 stillbirths, miscarriages and a previous surrogate. You can hear from Deb’s surrogate, Rachel, in the previous next epi...

Rachel birthed as a surrogate in Cairns in December 2019. She carried for her husband's sister and brother in law who lived in Canberra at the time, and they had a little girl, Hannah. Rachel has been an active member of the surrogacy community and you can hear from the mum she carried for, Deb, in the next episode. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surroga...

When Cheyne and Chris, from QLD, decided to start their family, friend and former neighbour Laura stepped up with an incredible offer to carry their child. While she originally offered to be a traditional surrogate, a close friend joined the journey as an egg donor, allowing the couple to create embryos using both of their DNA. ​In late 2025, their son was welcomed into the world by their "vi...

Laura birthed as a surrogate on the Sunshine Coast in August 2025 for a couple who were previously her neighbours 10 years ago. They had a little boy, and his dads are Cheyne and Chris who also live in QLD. Laura is a member of the Surrogacy Australia Board, has hosted our Zoom monthly catch ups and advocates for surrogacy at every chance she gets! These podcasts were recorded as part of the free...

This episode is a recording from a presentation that I (Anna McKie) gave at the annual Growing Families conference in June 2021, in Brisbane. How do I find a surrogate in Australia? The answer is  TIME 🕰 An investment of time 🗣 into talking about surrogacy among your friends and family. And An investment of time ❤️ into the surrogacy village and into building friendships. For more ideas like what...

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...

Anna and husband, Sam, live in Brisbane with their 2 young daughters and she birthed little girl, Amelia, as a surrogate in February 2025. She met her IPs (Intended Parents) Hannah and Toby through a QLD facebook group and offered to be their traditional surrogate - meaning it was her egg. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like...

Hannah and her husband Toby became parents to their daughter, Amelia, in February 2025. Their surrogate, Anna, previously a stranger was their traditional surrogate (meaning it was also her egg). Hannah needed an egg donor due to having Mosaic Turner Syndrome and then also a surrogate due to her endometrial lining not thickening. They pursued a surrogacy journey in Canada so it has been a long roa...

Will and David became parents through Australian altruistic surrogacy when Megan (David's cousin) carried and birthed their little boy, Harrison, in December 2021. It took 3 previous embryo transfers for this 4th one to stick, with the egg coming from their generous friend Karla. Will is passionate about discussing his journey as an LGBTQ parent through surrogacy and to bring hope to others to...

Megan was a surrogate for Will and David and they previously knew each other with Megan and David being cousins. Throw in a lot of love and time, a supportive husband of Megan's, and this team has a recipe for success. It took 3 previous embryo transfers for this 4th one to stick, with the egg coming from their generous friend Karla. After a long labour that didn't go completely to plan, s...

⚠️ This episode is different and is very important to me 💜 This episode was written as a blog post and then recorded in May 2021, which was about 7 months after the birth of my surrobub Baker, and I wrote it as reflection on my postnatal depression. By speaking my truth, it was as though I shone a light into that corner, and it wasn’t dark anymore. I felt lighter, not ruled by my past from when I...

Joel is a trail blazer as the first man to become a single dad through surrogacy in Tasmania. His son, Mason, was born in February 2025. His surrogate, Jess, lives in Launceston with her husband Ryan and their blended family of 8 children. They were previously strangers but connected thanks to a Facebook post he did explaining his situation, which got shared widely. His egg donor, Vanessa, is a fr...

Jess and husband Ryan live with their blended family of 8 children in Launceston, Tasmania. She birthed a little boy, Mason, as a surrogate in February 2025. Jess met dad, Joel, through a facebook post and reached out to offer to be his surrogate. Joel is a single dad and has moved from WA back to Tasmania to navigate surrogacy. Jess has also been an egg donor, having donated to two families with...

Kelsey and her husband Aaron, became parents to their daughter, Charlotte, in March 2024. Charlotte was carried by their surrogate whom they had jointly known for 20 years. It worked first embryo transfer after 14 attempts in Kelsey. Charlotte was first to be born under the NT Surrogacy Act 2022. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you wou...

We hear from 3 dads through surrogacy today - all who are part of a same sex male couple. Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-130-how-do-you-decide-which-sperm-to-use Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar . Looking to chat wi...

Beth, a mum of 2 boys, has birthed two children as a surrogate for dads Tyson and Dan - they were initially strangers and all live in Melbourne. She birthed their daughter London in December 2021 and son River in November 2024. They have been a SASS supported, self matched team for their 2 journeys and Beth and Dan have been Mentors with SASS helping many other who are at the beginning of their jo...

Beth birthed as a surrogate in Melbourne, VIC in December 2021 for a couple who were initially strangers and are now life long friends. They had a little girl, London, and her two dads are Tyson and Daniel who also live in Melbourne. Beth has been a Surrogate Mentor within SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service) and is one of the first surrogates to have been through SASS as a team, to have b...

Monica Blizzard leads the KHQ Lawyers’ Family & Relationship Law team, and is an Accredited Family Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria. With nearly 30 years of experience and 10 of that in surrogacy. Her work in this field aligns with her own family creation, due to needing IVF. This lived experience means she understands what it’s like to have limited options and a challenge to...

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...

Dwayne and Shane became Dads to their daughter (Zara) in August 2018. Zara was carried by their surrogate (previously a stranger) Amelia who was also a Traditional surrogate for them, meaning it was her egg. Dwayne was also one of the original Mentors with SASS and has supported many new gay Intended Dads who are at the beginning of their journey. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free w...

Alex and Carlo became dads to their daughter, Elodie in December 2024. Their surrogate, Em, previously a stranger was initially their egg donor, but became their traditional surrogate (meaning it was also her egg). They all live near each other on the Sunshine Coast and are planning a sibling journey. They are also long term attendees of this webinar series, with a total of 30 and once co-hosting...

Em and husband, Kurt, live in Brisbane with their 2 children and she has birthed 2 children as a surrogate, with plans for a 3rd! The first girl, Alice, was born in March 2022 in Perth for a couple who were friends of Em's mum. She then offered to be an egg donor for Alex and Carlo, but moved to being their traditional surrogate. They had a little girl, Elodie, in December 2024 with plans for...

One of the 'main' facebook groups in Australia for surrogacy is called Australian Surrogacy and Donation (ASD). It is open to Intended Parents (IPs) and surrogates who live in Australia, and who are navigating either domestic or overseas surrogacy. It is a growing group with 600+ members.  If you're looking for a one-on-one connection, SASS has a buddy system that we call the Mentor Pr...