Surrogacy Australia Conversations

Melissa, from Brisbane, has birthed as a surrogate twice, each time for IPs who were previously unknown to her. In 2022, she birthed a little girl for two Intended Fathers after 6 embryo transfers. She had a VBA2C and expressed milk for 3 months. As well as surrogacy, she has donated her eggs 7 times so she's clearly a giving woman!

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-164-melissa-surrogate/

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

This series of episodes springs from my work with SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service). When Intended Parents (IPs) have completed their profile and are in the pool of IPs waiting to connect with a surrogate, I do monthly check-ins to make sure they’re still active and waiting. I like to give some guidance and support along the way because the waiting game can be hard.

This series of episodes is designed as though they are a letter to the waiting IPs.

Links as mentioned in the episode:
Facebook page Surrogacy Australia
Relationships with surrogates
Surrogates at the start of their journey
Surrogate panel
Parent panel
Surrogacy Counseling
Churchill Fellowship Investigation.

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-163-ideas-for-ips-intended-parents-in-waiting

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Laura and her husband who live in Canberra, but were in Sydney for the surrogacy journey, became parents to their daughter (Harriet) in October 2023. Harriet was carried by surrogate Joh, Laura's sister, and is fondly referred to as Aunty Joey. They moved to be near Joh in Bundaberg a month before the birth and Laura was able to induce lactation and exclusively breastfeed Harriet for 15 months!

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-162-laura-mum

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Rachel birthed a little girl, Daisy, as a surrogate in Adelaide in May 2022 for Kelli and Ben. Rachel and Ben had known each other since childhood but it was actually Kelli's introduction post in the South Australian Surrogacy facebook group in late 2020 that sparked Rachel's attention when she was looking to be a surrogate. Kelli has MRKH, meaning she was born without a uterus, which is the same condition that Rachel’s sister has, so she felt an extra connection due to that.   

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-161-rachel-surrogate/

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

3 Counsellors guide us through what to expect for Intended Parents and Surrogates when planning for birth as a surrogacy team.

If you’d like to arrange your own session with Narelle, Ellie or Elise, you can find them on their website, Lotus Health and Psychology in Brisbane.

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-160-preparing-for-birth-3-counsellors/

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

These steps assume you have found a surrogate. If you haven’t found a surrogate, and want to hear more about that, join me in a regular, free, Wednesday night webinar. Your options are finding a known surrogate, by telling family and friends about your need for one, or finding an unknown surrogate which would mean joining online groups or SASS, which stands for Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service.

Eligible for surrogacy
Spend time forming your Surroship
IVF clinic
Counselling and Legals
Pregnancy and Birth
Transfer of parentage
Support the child to understand their story

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-159-order-of-steps-for-surrogacy

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Surrogacy Legal issues with lawyer Kate Cherry.

Kate has a passion for family law, having worked almost exclusively in the area since entering the legal profession in 2000 and thereafter to the High Court of Australia.

If you’d like to arrange your own session with Kate, you can find her on her firm’s website,  cherrylaw.com.au

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-158-kate-cherry-lawyer

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Sarah and her partner Matthew, from Canberra, became parents to their daughter (Summer) in November 2022. Summer was carried by Kathryn, who was a friend of a friend, and was also created using the eggs from Sarah's sister. It was a very long journey to parenthood with 22 failed embryo transfers all up and 3 years trying to get pregnant with their surrogate Kathryn over 8 transfers.

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-157-sarah-mum

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Jess and husband, Scott, live in South West Sydney with their 2 daughters and she has birthed 2 girls as a surrogate, Firth in April 2022 and Logan in September 2025. The two dads, Ryan and Adam, who live in the Blue Mountains, used eggs from Ryan's sister Rhiannon. It is through Rhiannon that this connection was made, as she and Jess went to school together. In terms of being a surrogate, Jess says "It didn't feel like an obligation, it felt like a calling, like I was made to do this."

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-156-jess-surrogate/

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Alannah and husband Jayden from regional Victoria, became parents to their daughter (Phoenix) in December 2022. Phoenix was carried by surrogate Tara, Alannah's best friend, and was also created using donor eggs from Alannah's sister, Angela. It was a very long journey to parenthood due to a rare form of non-HVP cervical cancer. Tara had both hyperemesis gravidarum and pelvic instability in the pregnancy which left her very immobile, in pain and unable to work for 18 months. On a more positive note, Alannah was able to induce lactation and comfort feed Phoenix, allowing her to feel very much like a mum at long last.

These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-154-alannah-mum

Watch this episode on youtube

Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS.

Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar.

Looking to chat with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰