Page 5 - FSANZ AUTUMN -2023

‘future proof’ the RTAC Code of Practice
FSANZ supports calls by the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) to establish a central national donor register to track sperm donations and resulting conceptions across all States and Territories.
ANZICA is writing to the Federal Health Minister urging a parliamentary inquiry into the lack of regulation of on-line sperm donations and suggesting the creation of the national sperm donation register that would record both formal and informal sperm donations.
Currently, informal donations are not recorded at all with no adequate system of tracking donations and conceptions that occur outside of accredited fertility clinics.
A proper national register would monitor the number of families created from the same donor, guide and inform potential recipients of sperm donations, and support donor conceived offspring with knowledge of their biological heritage.
ANZICA Chair, Rebecca Kerner, points out that apart from potential medical and legal ramifications there was also potential psychological harm for children born as a result of unregulated, informal donations.
ANZICA supports a central register that ensures a singular family limit for all donors, and that it applies across all jurisdictions.
It is seeking a legal requirement for recipients who have accessed a donor using an informal arrangement to register identifying information about their donor, similar to the legal requirement to register a birth.
Research Grant Recipients
The Society is partnering with leading pharmaceutical firms to support FSANZ members in their research efforts.
The latest round of research grants was announced at the FSANZ Annual General Meeting in November, and on behalf of all members I congratulate the worthy recipients who are profiled in this edition.
Grant applications overall have been of outstanding quality and while Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Organon generously provided grant funding, the selection of recipients was determined by the Society.
Outcomes of research being supported through the grants will be reported at future FSANZ annual conferences. This augers well for our Society in its commitment to research excellence that will deliver best outcomes for those experiencing infertility.
FSANZ 2033 on the Gold Coast
The sunny Queensland Gold Coast will soon be beckoning members for our 2023 conference from 3 to 6 June.
Maeve Hood and her mother Sarah
FSANZ 2023 Gold Coast meeting will advance knowledge across each of the medical, scientific, nursing and psychosocial disciplines in our Society
Attendees will enjoy a “great escape” from winter in the southern States and an excellent program that will advance knowledge across each of the medical, scientific, nursing and psychosocial disciplines in our Society.
Importantly, it will also be an opportunity to have some fun in a spectacular seaside destination with exciting social activities associated with the engaging mainstream program.
The record attendance at the Society’s 2022 conference in Sydney reflected our eagerness to come together again after the COVID-19 lockdowns, and we are aiming for a huge collegial turn-out at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in June.
Luk Rombauts President
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