Egg Donor / Surrogacy Event - Brisbane 17 March


SECURE YOUR PLACE
Purchase Tickets


VIEW OUR EXPERTS
Speakers


EXPLORE THE EVENT
Agenda

Growing Families Brisbane seminar navigates the surrogacy landscape, discussing newer countries such as Argentina. Also looking at regulated destinations such as the USA and Canada. Learn about potential risks and challenges, as well as how service providers are addressing these!

Fulfilling Your Family Building Dream!
Sunday 17 March
11.00am to 6.00pm

Rydges Hotel, Fortitude Valley

What You Will Learn!

A global program of experts, doctors, surrogates, donors, and parents will openly discuss Donor IVF, Surrogacy and Egg Donor Options in Australia and abroad. 

Our events are curated to provide the most up-to date information for those starting or on a family building surrogacy / donor journey.

The interactive seminar format provides advice, introductions and answers to questions, no matter where you are in your journey.  We cover steps from first engagement with professional service providers to taking your baby home.

This event will guide you on:

  • Surrogacy & Egg Donor Options by Country
  • Medical & Donor Considerations
  • Legal Issues
  • Parent & Surrogate Panels

One-on-One Consultations:

SPEAKERS

Leaders in their Fields Providing Information on Assisted Reproduction, Surrogacy,
Egg Donation and Legal Issues

Dr Buchanan is passionate about women’s health and wellbeing. As a fertility specialist with a personalised approach, she offers patients support throughout their entire fertility journey – from preconception advice and fertility treatment through to pregnancy and delivery. She places emphasis on communicating clearly and compassionately so that women feel confident with her advice, and ensures she explores all fertility treatment options.

Dr Julie BuchananQueensland Fertility Group

Jemma and her husband share four children aged 14,13,10 and 7 and live a coastal life in North Qld. She met gay IPs (James and JimBob) at a Growing Families conference in 2021 when speaking as an egg donor. They developed an amazing friendship. After a lot of conversations, she agreed to be their surrogate.  Their first transfer was successful!

Jemma Doig, Qld surrogate & donor

 


Dr Lane understands the significant cost of Donor IVF. For this reason, Lane Fertility Institute has asked us to share that they will gift a frozen donor cycle with the egg donation expenses fully covered (valued US$24,000). There will be one gift offered at the Brisbane Event. Visit the Lane Fertility Institute Exhibition Table at the Brisbane Event to find out more and for full terms and conditions.

Dr. Danielle Lane, Lane Fertility Institute, USA

Dr Rahi is fully licenced in both Canada and the U.S. and welcomes patients from all backgrounds to there state-of-the-art clinic. His passion for promoting reproductive health is reflected by his deep commitment to educating and helping patients engaging in Surrogacy or Egg Donation.

Dr Rahi Victory, Victory Reproductive Care

Sarah-Jane wanted to be a surrogate to enrich her own life whilst giving her own family the chance to experience what it is like to watch their Mum grow a life for someone else. She met her Intended Parents through the Australian Surrogacy Community Facebook page .

SJ Clacher, Brisbane Surrogate

Fulfilling Your Family Building Dream

Date: Sunday 17 March 2024
Time:  11am to 6pm
Location:  Rydges Hotel, Fortitude Valley
Tickets: $20 – $80 + gst

Ticket price includes – One-on-one consultation with expert providers, lunch, afternoon tea, and complimentary networking drinks. The networking drinks provide an opportunity to freely talk and connect with the community.

Growing Families have 11 years of experience supporting over 3000 singles and couples engaging in international donor and surrogacy arrangements.

Who should attend this Event?

Heterosexual Couples:

  • Understand how age affects IVF success rates, when you should be considering a donor & what options are available at home and abroad
  • Understand why the Ukraine is now a dangerous option for surrogacy
  • Learn about embryo shipping options, costs and risks

Same Sex Couples:

  • Understand the destinations that allow gay couples and singles to engage in surrogacy
  • Learn about egg donor selection and what you should consider before making your decision
  • Understand the legal & practical issues around travel, birth certificates and parentage

Singles:

  • Understand the process of using donor eggs or sperm
  • Understand which jurisdictions allow a single person to engage in surrogacy
  • Connect with single parents who have been on this journey

Healthcare Professionals:

  • With an interest in infertility or family building options
  • Understand how you can support your patients

Agenda & Speakers 2024

11.10 – 11.30am

Considerations in selecting where to engage

Australian Rules & Regulations; Real vs quoted costs; hidden costs; pros and cons of going overseas? surrogate match times; Fixed cost programs; hybrid programs. What factor does age, cultural origins & marital status play in my decision-making?, Donor & surrogate availability, Friends and family as donors or surrogates, meeting online vs via agencies

Heather Anderson, Growing Families

11.30 – 12.00pm

IVF Experts Medical Screening of Donors & Surrogates

Why is medical screening so important? What is best practice in regard to surrogate medical screening? What are the typical issues that are red flags/ rule out a surrogate or donor? Are ‘mock’ cycles recommended prior to surrogacy embryo transfers? Can I predict live birth rates for each embryo transfer?

Moderator: Olivia Santa Growing Families
Panelists: Dr Danielle Lane, USA, Dr Clifford Librach, Canada, Dr Rahi Victory, Canada

12.00 – 12.15pm

How US Surrogacy Agencies support Surrogates and IPs.

What can we learn about support processes from agencies who do this every day? What support is offered? How does surrogate screening work in the US context, What should I look for in a surrogate match? How does an agency get involved. How are surrogate expenses handles

Kathryn Kaycoff, The Fertility Agency, USA

12.15 – 12.30pm

Surrogacy in Argentina

What regulations/laws allow it? Altruistic or commercial? How are surrogates screened and supported? What medical and legal services are available? What are the limitations?

Ester Nunez, SudAmerica Surrogacy

12.30 – 1.20pm

LUNCH CONVERSATIONS

1.00 -1.20pm Concurrent Sessions ->

1.00 – 1.20pm

Concurrent Sessions

Surrogacy in USA Kathryn Kaycoff, Lauri De Brito The Fertility Agency, Dr Danielle Lane, Lane Fertility Institute

Surrogacy in Canada; Cindy Wasser, Hope Springs Fertility Dr Victory Victory Reproductive Centre

Surrogacy in Argentina: Ester Nunez, SudAmerica Surrogacy

1.20 – 1.40pm

Good ingredients – Making strong embryos.

What can IVF specialists do to assess Sperm & egg quality? What impact does age have? What other factors affect sperm or egg quality? What can I do to improve quality? Carrier screening, Pre-genetic testing for Aneuploidy, IVF Add-ons

Dr Julie Buchanan, QFG, Brisbane

1.40 – 2.30pm

Parent Panel

Hear from recent parents who engaged locally or abroad discuss their decision-making process, surrogate relationships, disclosure to family, cultural barriers, hurdles, costs and audience question time

Moderator: Steven Swanepoel: Panelists: Suzarn Pietersen (via Georgia) Louise Balfe (via Canada), Clint Priest (via US), Menaka Sabaratnam (via AU); Caroline Struthers (via AU) James Gentle (via AU)

2.30 – 3.00pm

AFTERNOON TEA & CHATTING

3.00- 3.25pm

Concurrent Drill down Sessions

Surrogacy in USA

Surrogacy in Mexico/Colombia

Surrogacy in Argentina:

3.25- 3.35pm

Legal Considerations for Surrogacy Arrangements

An overview of what legal issues need to be addressed when engaging in domestic or international surrogacy

Stephen Page

3.35 -4.20pm

Surrogate Panel

Will a surrogate pick me if I already have a child? Do I need to be in the same city as my surrogate? What support and relationships do Australian surrogates expect? What motivates them? Local surrogates tell their truths.

Moderator: Antonia Solomon Panellists: Jemma Doig, Nikita Pearson, SJ Clacher

4.20 – 4.40pm

Looking After Your surrogate, your Donor & Yourself

Mental health, coming to terms with failed transfers and miscarriages;

Antonia Solomon

4.40 – 5.00pm

The Impact on Families

Children of surrogates discuss the impact on their lives of surrogacy, relationships with half-siblings and surro-siblings

Cooper Bacon

5.00 – 6.00pm

Networking Drinks

Why You Should Attend Even If You Have Been Before:

Surrogacy & Donor options, wait times and agency capacity change regularly given the high demand. Our events focus on providing the latest information and updates. We constantly review feedback on agencies, risks and other hurdles to allow you to better plan. 

So, no matter where you are in your family building journey, these events provide essential updated information + an opportunity to talk with recent parents and older children via surrogacy.

Date:          Sunday 17 March 2024
Time:        11.00am to 6.00pm
Location:  Rydges Hotel, Fortitude Valley
Tickets:    $20 -$80 + gst

Ticket price includes; one-on-one consultation with expert providers, lunch, afternoon tea, and complimentary networking drinks and nibbles. The networking drinks provide an opportunity to freely talk with all expert speakers, donor, surrogates, recent parents and children.  

Reviews

Thank you for a great event, lots of key information

mark

Brisbane seminar 2022

I thought I was alone until I came to the event today

louise

brisbane seminar 2022 

It was great to have so many experts in one room

val

brisbane seminar 2022

I appreciate the support and education to get started

simon

brisbane seminar 2022 

Meet Our Expert Speakers

Antonia Solomon
Psychologist, The Counselling Room
View Profile

Dr Danielle Lane
Reproductive Endocrinologist, Lane Fertility Institute, USA
View Profile

Dr Julie Buchanan
Fertility Specialist, QFG, Brisbane
View Profile

Kathryn Kaycoff
The Fertility Agency, USA
View Profile

Lauri De Brito
The Fertility Agency, USA
View Profile

Olivia Santa
Manager, Growing Families
View Profile

Stephen Page
Family & Fertility Lawyer, Page Provan, Australia
View Profile

Steven Swanepoel
Territory Manager, Tammuz Family Aust & NZ
View Profile

Family Members Sharing Their Stories

Caroline Struthers
Caroline Struthers - Mum via Surrogacy Aus
View Profile

Clint Priest
Dad via US surrogacy
View Profile

Cooper Bacon
Cooper Bacon - Son of Aus Egg Donor and Surrogate
View Profile

James Gentle
Dad via AU surrogacy
View Profile

Jemma Doig
Jemma Doig - Surrogate Brisbane
View Profile

Louise Balfe
Louise Balfe - Mum via surrogacy Canada
View Profile

Menaka
Menaka - Mum via Surrogacy Aus
View Profile

Nikita Pearson
Nikita Pearson Surrogate Brisbane
View Profile

Sarah Jane Clacher
Sarah Jane C - Surrogate Aus
View Profile

Suzarn Pietersen
Mum via Georgia
View Profile

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us via email: Info@growingfamilies.org.

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors