Surrogacy Australia Conversations

Dane and his husband Wes from Sydney, became dads to their son Theo (Teddy) in January 2025. Their surrogate, Storme, who is a single mum living locally to them, connected with them in one of the national surrogacy facebook groups in January 2023 and now they're friends for life. This is a full circle webinar as Dane and Wes joined one of these webinars in June 2021, and now 4 years later they...

Charmaine has been in the surrogacy community for 12 years since 2013. Originally from New Zealand, she is 41 and lives in Brisbane. She’s a mum to 5 children herself, one who is an angel baby, and she’s also Nanna to a 5 year old. In her time in the surrogacy community she has done the whole surrogacy paperwork journey with 5 sets of IPs, had 11 embryo transfers, 4 of which resulted in losses, an...

Many surrogates often feel called to surrogacy and know that it's something they can do.  Are you interested in being a surrogate? Head to our website and follow the links to SASS - Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service . As mentioned in the episode, there is a great video to watch which can be found on YouTube “ Interview with a Surrogate Tyson Smith ” Check out the full episode show notes: https...

Jessie and Andrew became parents through surrogacy in March 2020. Their son, Arlo, was carried and birthed by Susan, who was previously a stranger and is now a lifelong friend. Jessie is 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 Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to...

Billie and husband Rob, from Western Sydney, became parents to their daughter Westyn in December 2023. Westyn was carried by her sister, Shannen, as Billie has MRKH - meaning she was born without a uterus. You may have seen their team featured on channel 9's show Big Miracles.  If you’d like to watch their story, be sure to check it out on 9Now, Big Miracles, Season 3 , episodes 4 and 5.   You...

Shannen, from the Central Coast, birthed as a surrogate in Sydney in December 2023 for her sister and brother-in-law, Billie and Rob. They had a little girl, Westyn, and she also has four children of her own. You may have seen their team featured on channel 9's show Big Miracles.  If you’d like to watch their story, be sure to check it out on 9Now, Big Miracles, Season 3 , episodes 4 and 5.   You...

Hear from 3 mothers whose daughters have been surrogates in Australia. Guests: Tammy, Karina and Patti * What were your first thoughts when she brought up the idea of being a surrogate? Were you worried, and why? * How did you explain this to your extended family and how did they react? * Did you meet the IPs? * What was your involvement in the journey/pregnancy? * What were some of the challengin...

This episode was recorded in May 2024 to celebrate me (Anna) having hosted 100 free webinars since April 2021. My friend and fellow surrogate, Danni, took the reins and interviewed me about my own journey.  I've been in the surrogacy community since August 2016, have been an egg donor 3 times, and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two dads (Brendan and Matt) who were previously stranger...

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...

Leah and James are parents through surrogacy - TWICE! Their first daughter, Alyza, was carried and birthed by Leah's cousin, Belinda. Their second daughter, Ottilie (Lottie), was carried and birthed by Julie, who was previously a stranger. They met through the online communities and are now life long friends.  You can hear from her surrogate, Julie, in episode 92 . These podcasts were recorded...

Rachel birthed as a surrogate in Brisbane in November 2024. They had a little girl, Lenny, for dads Caleb and James and she knew Caleb's brother in law from school. Their first pregnancy was ectopic and needed a fallopian tube removal and the second was a miscarriage just before 8 weeks, requiring medication and two D&Cs. Rachel expressed milk for 7 weeks before going back to work and Uni 2 mo...

James and his partner Caleb from Brisbane, became dads to their daughter, Lenny, in November 2024. Their surrogate, Rachel, who lives locally, was known to them as a school friend of Caleb's sister's partner. Their egg donor is James' sister, so the whole family was involved in this journey. Their first pregnancy was ectopic and needed a fallopian tube removal and the second was a misc...

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...