The Victorian Government has released a discussion paper, ‘A Right to Know Your Identity’, which outlines how the proposed changes will work in practice.

It details how donor-conceived people will be able to apply for information, how contact preferences will apply, and how donors and donor-conceived people will be supported through this process.

2014 amendments

Pre 1988 donor-conceived people can now apply for information about their donors following the implementation the 2014 amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 on 29th June.

The changes to the laws mean that all donor-conceived people, regardless of when they were conceived, can apply to the donor registers for information about their donor. Information will be provided if records can be located and the donor consents to the release of their identifying information.

Videos of presentations and of the experience of panellists from the recent Donor conception: towards openness Twilight seminar on donor linking and changes in the laws concerning donor conception  are now available for people who were unable to attend the event.

Donor sperm has been used for many decades to help couples where the male partner is infertile to have children. In more recent times, same-sex couples and single women increasingly have also used donor sperm to have children.

Until now little has been known about the health and development of children conceived with donor sperm as they get older, but a recent study conducted in Australia show’s that they are as healthy as other children.