Resources
A right to know your identity - Victorian Government's committment
The Victorian Labour Government is committed to giving all donor-conceived people the right to access identifying information about their donors regardless of when they were born.
Proposed measures are outlined in a discussion paper released 29 June, 2015.
ART further amendment legislative changes Q&A briefing
Victorian Parliament passes donor information amendments
New legislation giving Victorians conceived through donor sperm donated before 1988 the right to access identifying information about their donors with their donor's consent was passed on August 21, 2014, and took effect 29 June 2015.
Q&A briefing
The Q&A briefing provides more information on the amendments and their implications.
Annual Reports
VARTA prepares an annual report each year that is tabled in the Victorian Parliament.
Read past reports to find out about the Authority's aims, functions and achievements in previous years.
Downloads
Application for Registration of a Victorian ART clinic
This application provides information to meet the statutory requirements outlined in the Conditions for Registration. This application is to be completed utilising these conditions.
Application to import or export donated sperm, eggs or embryos
The Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008 (the Act) requires that a person must not bring donor gametes, or embryos produced from donor gametes, into Victoria, or take them from Victoria, except with the written approval of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA). In addition, section 36 of the Act requires that those gametes or embryos taken from Victoria be used in a manner consistent with a purpose for which they could be used in Victoria.
Assisted Reproductive Technologies - Science, Ethics, Law and Current Issues
The article discusses legal and ethical issues related to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Australia. The legislation governing ART in the country include the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002. It tackles preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), egg freezing technology and posthumous use of gametes or embryos. Surrogacy arrangements are allowed under certain circumstances in Western Australia and Victoria.
Australian Story: Louise Johnson on donor linking
Linking donor conceived people with donors is new territory with a wide variety of relationships created from those linkages.
Child Safety and Protection Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct applies to all employees, volunteers and contractors working at VARTA, and their compliance is required. It is particularly pertinent for VARTA’s counsellors, who are more likely to interact with children and young people in the course of information and support sessions.
This Code of Conduct makes reference to and incorporates the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees. VARTA is bound by that Code of Conduct and adheres to it in accordance with section 61 of the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic).
Child Safety and Protection Policy and Procedures
VARTA is committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. As an organisation, we do not tolerate any form of child abuse. VARTA recognises its commitment to children of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as children with disabilities.
All employees of VARTA are responsible for the care and protection of children and reporting information about child abuse in accordance with this policy and our Code of Conduct.
Commonwealth parliamentary inquiry into surrogacy announced
Attorney General George Brandis has announced a Commonwealth parliamentary inquiry into surrogacy, to be conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
Announcing the inquiry, the Attorney General’s media release stated that “surrogacy raises a broad range of legal and social issues, and raises questions relating to the rights, responsibilities, values and protections of Australian citizens”.