Support Webpage
29th June 2018
We have a new Support space on our website! We are excited to be able to share the stories and insights on this page and would like to thank VARTA for their generous support with content, and Toyota for their community grant that made it happen!
Embryo Donation On The ABC
18th May 2018
The ABC recently ran a story on embryo donation, which happened to feature some people from Embryo Donation Network! You can read the story here
Victorian Support Group For Single Mums Through Donor Conception
30th January 2018
Are you single and thinking about having a baby via embryo donation? Or maybe you already have a baby via embryo donation? There's a new support group in Melbourne, facilitated by VARTA. The first group has already run, but don't let that keep you from accessing this great source of support!
National Donor Database
13th December 2017
We are currently working on some advocacy around the need for a National Donor Database. A National Donor Database records would ensure standard record keeping practices and prevent individual fertility clinics destroying records, which we know has happened in the past. Such a Database would also ensure that all those affected by donor conception, including donors, have appropriate access to information on their genetic relatives, no matter where they were born, or when they were born.
The Australian Senate released a report way back in 2011 which recommended the establishment of a National Donor Database, or at the very least, a donor database in each state. We continue to discuss this with governments and ask them to act on behalf of their constituents who are donor conceived. We need to learn from the past and not delay this important and necessary service any longer.
See https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/donorconception/report/index for this report
60 Minutes Story This Sunday
24th November 2017
60 Minutes are screening a story on Embryo Donation this Sunday. Some from our Network have been involved with telling their stories and we are grateful for their guts and honesty. Embryo donation is still not well understood in Australia and it is important that people hear real stories to help dispel the myths.
Novembryo!
7th November 2017
Q: How do we help the Australian community? A: We have around 10,000 people use our website every year. We help hundreds of people on their journey to becoming a family, through our free Classifieds. As the only organisation dedicated to embryo donation in Australia, we also answer hundreds of general enquiries every year about embryo donation. We are currently helping Australian universities and corporations with 3 research projects. And we are regularly approached by media outlets for comment on issues around embryo donation
Please give generously this Novembryo to help us to help others!
Direct deposit:
Embryo Donation Network
BSB: 032087
Account number: 329218
Embryo Donation in the news
17th October 2017
Read Megan's story of donating her unused embryos here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/ivf-parents-find-joy-in-embryo-donation/news-story/392654e0ad1ce3a4ed93981a6f0a444b
Call Out For Research Volunteers
31st May 2017
We're excited to be supporting a few research projects at the moment. One of the reasons research into embryo donation is valuable is because it provides info to people trying to make decisions about unsused embryos. If you've been in this position and would like to help, go to our Facebook page for more info. Embryo Donation Network -Australia.
Novembryo!
22nd November 2016
We have a PayPal link on our home page. We hope this makes it easy for people to donate $5 or $10 to us this Novembryo. We need your support to keep afloat!
AGM this week
12th November 2016
Our AGM this week promises to be a great discussion of what we've acheived this year and future ideas and directions. Please contact admin@embyrodonation.org.au if you are interested in joining us by Skype or in person
NOVEMBRYO
2nd November 2016
November 2016 is now Novembryo! We are raising awareness about embryo donation. We are also raising funds so that our crucial work can continue. We need your help! Please give generously. Direct deposit details on our homepage.
Our 4th Birthday!
20th July 2016
Embryo Donation Network recently turned 4! When we started out, our major aim was that more Australians would know about and consider embryo donation as a valid choice for their unused embryos. We wanted people to make an informed choice about their unused embryos, as it was clear that many did not have all the options presented to them. Ultimately we wanted clinics to offer embryo donation as an option for those dealing with the difficult decision of what to do with these embryos.
4 years later, we are gratified to see that this has been the case.
We get constant feedback from clients that they have really needed the info that we provide. Our advocacy has changed ART policy, and has raised the profile of embryo donation in countless ways. Many more clinics now offer embryo donation as an option, and clinics that already offered embryo donation have introduced better services to cater for the needs of donors and recipients.
We are still the peak body for embryo donation in Australia and actively consult with clinics about their embryo donation programs.
We field a continual stream of media enquiry. Thanks to the generosity of the donors and recipients in our Network who are willing to share their stories with the media, embryo donation has featured regularly in all types of media.
And in the midst of all this, babies have been born!
We'd like to acknowledge the generosity and open-heartedness of the donors and recipients we know - it's a privilege to work with you!
Embryo Donation Network is a charity that runs on occasional small donations and the administration fees we charge. We manage to scrape by, but our very restricted income limits what we can do! If you are interested in helping us continue to do our work, please email us at admin@embryodonation.org.au
Thanks!
Angela and Marieke, Embryo Donation Network
Donor Story Now Available
10th July 2016
One of the donors in our Network has very generously written an account of her donation decision-making process for us. It's now available here.
Are You Donor Conceived?
26th April 2016
Are You Donor Conceived? An awareness campaign for Donor Conception -they run support groups too in Melbourne and Sydney
Follow-up Article on Natalie's Story
10th April 2016
The Sun Herald today has a follow-on article from last week's story. As a society we need to catch up with the reality of embryo donation and support those who are donating, receiving and being born of these embryos. http://m.smh.com.au/nsw/the-secret-son-nsw-health-investigates-donor-embryo-case-20160408-go1xy1.html
Response To 'Embryo donor mum upset by claims of lost pregnancy' (3/4/16)
4th April 2016
The article in the Sydney Morning Herald ‘Embryo donor mum upset by claims of lost pregnancy’ (April 3, 2016) highlights one of the gaps in embryo donation law.
As mentioned in the article, while the case as told appears to be the first incident of its kind, it does raise the issue that the current system in NSW relies on the goodwill of embryo recipients reporting the outcome of embryo donations. The NSW system is reliant on embryo recipients providing birth information to clinics, which in turn provide these details to the NSW Central Register. In the current system, a donor’s details are only recorded on the Central Register if a child is known to have been born from the donation. It is the position of Embryo Donation Network that legislation should provide a system that is not dependant on goodwill or individual reporting.
Our hope is that this case might prompt the NSW State Government to act on the recommendations of the Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Law and Safety Report on Managing Donor Conception Information (2013). We agree that there is an urgent need for a national agency responsible for managing information on every donor conception. This agency would also fulfil important functions in providing specialised counselling, public education and support.
In addition, we agree with comments by Assoc Prof Sonia Allan in the Sydney Morning Herald article, and suggest that the register of donations recorded by such an agency should include all donations, not just those that are known to have resulted in a live births.
There is an urgent need for a national system that facilitates accurate and consistent handling of information regarding donor conception.
Embryo Donation On Australian Story
29th September 2015
Australian Story this week: 'Lexie's Village' follows the story of Natalie, and her embryo donation. Natalie and her recipient Fiona found each other through our site!
#talkaboutit
14th September 2015
Check out our recent appearance on the ABC's #talkaboutit!
Embryo Donation on Facebook
19th August 2015
Check out our Facebook page for recent chat about media coverage of embryo donation
A Donor's Thoughts On Her Donation, Two Years Later
5th May 2015
On MamaMia recently, there's a story about embryo donation that includes some thoughts from an embryo donor, 2 years after her donation
Embryo Donation tonight!
21st April 2015
Watch 'The Project' Network 10 6:30-7:30pm tonight Tues 21st to see a story on Aussie embryo donation.
'The Project' and embryo donation
21st April 2015
See the journey of some Aussie donors and recipients this Tuesday night 21/4/15 on Channel 10's 'The Project'!
Embryo Connect In The News
28th March 2015
Essential Baby published this article last year about our Embryo Connect service, and one of our donors. It's a good read!
Embryo Connect
12th March 2015
Our Embryo Connect service has helped many donors and recipients on their journey. Embryo Connect is a private members-only area for donors and recipients to meet. You can read about Embryo Connect here.
New Classifieds
16th February 2015
We have new potential embryo donors and recipients who have posted Classifieds. See them here.
New donors!
18th December 2014
New donors have registered with Embryo Connect. Contact us now to join!
Embryo Donation Mums Australia
2nd October 2014
Join this new Facebook group to meet other Aussie mums with children born from embryo donation!
Embryo Connect
8th September 2014
We are excited to announce the launch of our new service, Embryo Connect. See our Embryo Connect page for more details!
New Classifieds Posted
1st September 2014
Three people looking to receive embryos have posted on our classifieds page this week. They would love to hear from potential donors. Please visit our Classifieds section for more details
New Recipient Story On Our Site
9th December 2013
Embryo Donation Network founder Marieke has had her story published by That's Life magazine! It's available to read under 'Recipient' in our Stories section
Fertility Society of Australia Conference Next Week!
27th August 2013
We're presenting at the Fertility Society of Australia annual conference next week. We'll be talking to fertility clinic professionals about embryo donation and the work of Embryo Donation Network. This is a great chance to work with fertility clinic staff to improve the amount of information and support around embryo donation!
What To Do With Unused Embryos?
28th June 2013
There is a good resource called 'What to do with your unused embryos' on the VARTA website, which is a good starting point if you have unused embryos and are trying to get your head around the options.
One Embryo To Donate?
12th June 2013
We've had a few people asking recently about whether it's possible to donate a single embryo. It is! Some clinics have a policy that you can only donate 2 or more, but there are other clinics that are happy to facilitate a donation of one embryo. Email us for more info!
Snowflakes
12th May 2013
Snowflakes is a well-established US-based embryo 'adoption' program and it now links Australians with American or Australian donors or recipients. To explore what they have to offer, have a look at their site.
'Webinars'
20th April 2013
Snowflakes in the USA have a couple of webinars on their site where people share their stories. Have a look at http://www.nightlight.org/snowflake-embryo-adoption/embryo-adoption-webinars/
Telling your child about their origins
7th March 2013
Victoria's ART Authority (VARTA) is holding its 'Time to Tell' seminar again this May. We went last year and found it really helpful to hear of the experiences of families with children born of embryo donation. There was also useful guidance from those with professional experience of donor conception. Here's their site if you are interested.