On 1 January 2010, the Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) Act 2008 becomes operational.

This legislation affects the way the Registry will record and release information on the State's civil registers, including recognition of same-sex parents on Victorian birth and death certificates. Other changes include:

Individuals and couples may access assisted reproductive treatment regardless of their relationship status.
A mother's female partner may be registered as a parent on their child`s birth certificate.
A person or a couple, who commission a surrogacy arrangement, are recognised as parents on birth certificates after obtaining a Substitute Parentage Order from the County Court.
A registered relationship will be recognised on birth and death certificates.

Detailed information and application forms are now available at www.bdm.vic.gov.au/donorregisters

Please contact Justine Martini at justine.martini@justice.vic.gov.au if you would like to:
1. arrange for a BDM representative to visit your parenting group
2. receive the Registry's ART information brochures.