Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow is a lived experience advocate, the president of Jigsaw Queensland and host of the podcast the Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast reaching 60,000+ listeners in 45 countries. Jigsaw Queensland is an organisation that provides information, emotional support, referrals, advocacy and awareness for those that have been impacted by adoption The organisation is also turning 50 this year and over the years have seen the rise of enquiries from donor conceived people who are seeking information.

Resources mentioned in the episode

Jigsaw Queensland:https://www.jigsawqueensland.com/

Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5V91CyLisYy557xsxwykQj

Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@AdoptPerspectivePodcast

Donor Conceived Australia:

https://dca-au-v2.squarespace.com/

Australian Facebook group - follow banner instructions to get to the secret group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191138000899264

Donor conception registers: Origin Archives Help Page:

https://www.evielucas.com/originarchiveshelp

Dr Giselle Newton is a donor conceived person, digital health sociologist and researcher at the University of Queensland. She’s someone who has accumulated a great deal of knowledge of donor conceived community and the community at large in the online space, as well as past and evolving legislative reform in Australia across multiple states.

Dr Giselle Newtons work & Links:

Links:

University of Queensland Bio:

https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/39049

Research: QLD agrees to allow DCP the right to know:

https://stories.uq.edu.au/research/2023/queensland-agrees-to-allow-donor-conceived-people-right-to-know/index.html

Embodied Sociotechnical imaginaries: How DCP Imagine Identity, Family & Reprodigital Futures Beyond Regulation:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38283654/

UNSW Research Article: DCP discovering They're DC via DNA testing:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2020/07/australians-are-discovering-they-are-donor-conceived-via-direct-

4 Things to think about when looking for a sperm donor:

https://theconversation.com/looking-for-a-sperm-donor-online-4-things-to-think-about-first-246888

People Have a Right to Know:

https://stories.uq.edu.au/contact-magazine/contact-magazine/donor-conception/index.html

Origin Archives Research Page:

https://www.evielucas.com/originarchivesresearch

Links to all information mentioned in this Episode:ABC and Four Corners Featuring the Gunn Family 2024:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-24/ivf-clinic-qfg-used-wrong-sperm-fertility-industry-four-corners/104007234ABC: Gunns asking Health Minister to intervenehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-17/queensland-minister-asked-to-intervene-dispute-ferility-group/105422484Four Corners Episode 2024 featuring the Gunn family:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-24/when-ivf-goes-wrong/104016232Four Corners News Bulletin including Anastasia Gunn:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjT4pcTLqZACalls for a national register ABC featuring the Gunn Family:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-12/calls-for-ivf-regulation-after-monash-embryo-mix-up/105404146Seven News Bulletin including Anastasia Gunn:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAydF0dc8YYThe Project episode including Anastasia Gunn:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqTGKPZWopAMonash IVF launches internal investigation after wrong embryo transferred to patient in Melbourne ABC articlehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-10/monash-ivf-incorrect-embryo-transfer-clayton-asx-announceme/105397894Queensland health officials monitoring Monash IVF after embryo transfer bunglehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/queensland-health-watching-monash-ivf-after-embryo-bungle/105169614ABC Article on Virtus Audit 2020 of 99.8% high risk for misidentification:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-02/99-percent-donor-sperm-high-risk-queensland-fertility-group/105720904The Guardian and misidentification risk:https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/03/mass-purge-of-frozen-sperm-donations-ordered-as-queensland-audit-exposes-misidentification-riskEthical questions and IVF Industry Reckoning:https://www.abc.net.au/religion/people-not-products-ethical-questions-ivf-scandals/105439014Multiple Bungles, independent review ABC article:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-20/monash-ivf-embryo-bungle-review-brisbane-melbourne/105675124Sarah Lensen’s research in ABC article:https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2026-06-24/ivf-australia-add-on-treatment/106818036Sarah Lensen’s evidence-based IVF information website:https://www.unimelb.edu.au/ivfNSQHS Survey open until 6th September 2026 (still feel free to reach out to them after this time):https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/news-and-media/consultations/draft-national-safety-and-quality-standards-for-assisted-reproductive-technology-services-consultation-paperQueensland Government Statement on Donor Conception 2023:https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/97266REPORT NO. 33, 57TH PARLIAMENT - INQUIRY INTO MATTERS RELATING TO DONOR CONCEPTION INFORMATION 2022:https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=0&id=4150REPORT NO. 14, 57TH PARLIAMENT - ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY BILL 2024:https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=250&id=44192025 Rapid review findings into the ART and IVF industry in Australia including RTAC:https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/rapid-review-of-assisted-reproductive-technology-and-in-vitro-fertilisation-regulation-and-accreditation-in-australia?language=en2010 Senate Inquiry Findings into Donor Conception Practices in Australia:https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/donorconception/report/indexMake a complaint to the office at the Health Ombudsman in QLD (google your state based Health Ombudsman if not in Queensland):https://www.oho.qld.gov.au/make-a-complaintOrigin Archives Website for all donor conception registers within Australia & All other resources available at Origin Archives:https://www.evielucas.com/originarchives

Current information about the NSQHS Standards regulatory body that will be taking over fertility clinic accreditation in Australia

Have your say on what standards clinics should have to abide by in Australia:

https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/national-standards/assisted-reproductive-technology-standards

Rapid Review in 2025 by Australian Health Ministers:

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/rapid-review-of-assisted-reproductive-technology-and-in-vitro-fertilisation-regulation-and-accreditation-in-australia?language=en

Victorian Donor Conception Register:

Link has both the Voluntary register (to connect with any other siblings that are also on the register) and the Central Register (to receive identifying information about the donor)

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/patient-care/donor-conception-register-services

Register email to reach out to them with your application forms and let them know if you've previously applied and already paid the fee! (you should not have to pay this again)

dcr@health.vic.gov.au

Origin Archives social media:

https://www.instagram.com/origin.archives/

Origin Archives Website for all other resources mentioned:

https://www.evielucas.com/originarchives

Damian Adams is a highly respected donor conceived advocate, someone who has been working for decades to improve the legislation in South Australia. Damian is also a father, medical researcher who has published research on donor conceived health outcomes, as well as a busy martial arts teacher. Damian has been part of numerous media over this time advocating for donor conceived rights, as well as speaking in Geneva in 2019 at the 30th anniversary on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This was alongside a group of donor conceived and surrogate born people from all over the world. Despite having known he was donor conceived growing up, this did not mean he wouldn’t take part in advocacy or find his own surprises along the way.

Media Featuring Dr Damian Adams and Media Mentioned in this episode:

Donor conceived and surrogate born people heard for the first time at the UN during the 30th Anniversary Convention on the Rights of the Child - Damian Adams’ Statement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwJEX1UWtxE&list=PL3PTiHF4egBHsiTHkUz9V2gdpvHk5e411&index=6

Man conceived with donated sperm seeks birth certificate change to reflect ‘truth' - ABC Article 2014

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-04/man-from-anonymous-donor-wants-birth-certificate-changed/5720126

Birth certificate should be honest to aid genealogy, donor-conceived SA man Damien Adams says - ABC Article 2015

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-20/sperm-donor-not-reflected-on-birth-certificate-damien-adams/6634734

Damian’s Research study and Flinders University article about the study:

https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/caring-futures-institute/2020/09/17/first-study-into-health-outcomes-of-donor-sperm-conceived-adults/

Dr Damian Adams’ Study:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32870140/

The Donor conceived people’s network FB group for Australian Donor conceived people:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ADCPN/

Culmination of decades of advocacy - Donor parents to be disclosed to their biological children on new SA register ABC Article:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-26/donor-parents-disclosure-sa-register/104982926

The day the South Australian Register was active 26 February 2026: 7 News

https://7news.com.au/news/sa/sperm-donors-identification-to-be-revealed-as-their-offspring-deserve-to-know-where-they-come-from-c-17854039

These resources and more available at Origin Archives:

https://www.evielucas.com/originarchives

It’s unknown to this day but with estimates of upwards of 60,000 - 90,000 donor conceived Australians being created since the 1940s it seems that the majority of us still don’t even know that we're donor conceived.

(60,000-90,000 donor conceived Australians statistics from the 2010 senate inquiry into donor conception - there would likely be many more now)

Origin Archives are resources for donor conceived Australians and a record of donor conceived people searching for their genetic identity, truth and transparency in an ever expanding for profit industry.

(*1940s records noting donor conception as per VARTAs history of donor conception, Victoria, Australia)

In this episode of Origin Archives, I speak to Ross HunterRoss had facilitated meetings as part of that support system but also been part of talks for the donor conception organisation and as part of a documentary called

Sperm Donors Anonymous:

Trailer and scenes of Sperm Donors Anonymous:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acpRXjn1NRA&list=PLU0qzrKexYK0ceCVCwVDnzn-0lTskA483

We're currently communicating with Producers Lisa and Lucy to see how you can watch the Sperm Donors Anonymous Documentary in full. Please follow on social media to be updated on this as we will share this info as soon as we can.

Peer Groups Mentioned:

Australian donor conceived people's network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191138000899264

Donor Concieved Australia: https://dca-au-v2.squarespace.com/

Books Mentioned:

Inconceivable by Sarah Dingle:

https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/brave-new-humans-by-sarah-dingle/9781743796382

Triple Helix by Lauren Burns:

https://www.uqp.com.au/books/triple-helix-my-donor-conceived-story

Adoption Deception by Penny Mackieson book:

https://www.spinifexpress.com.au/shop/p/9781742199740

Origin Archives help section:

https://www.evielucas.com/originarchiveshelp

Lyndal Bubke is a donor conceived person from Queensland who has made some significant discoveries through DNA testing. This has then led her to advocacy and the recent legislation changes that will see Queensland become another Australian State to retrospectively remove donor anonymity and only now in 2026 put legal family limits in place, making this a ten family limit per donor.

Lyndal has been part of news media around this when the legislation was passing but has also been part of A Current Affair in 2025 when news broke of Monash IVF embryo mix ups. It’s possible that you have or may see more from Lyndal as the Queensland donor conception register becomes established.

Resources that Lyndal Mentions in the Episode:
Book: Brave New Humans by Sarah Dingle - https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/brave-new-humans-by-sarah-dingle/9781743796382

Donor Conceived Australia - Peak body for donor conceived people in Australia - https://dca-au-v2.squarespace.com/

Lyndal’s Media

Newspaper Article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/07/donor-59-sperm-donation-children-find-father

The Project: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1351879482553327

A Current Affair: https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/woman-who-discovered-she-has-77-siblings-calls-for-sperm-donor-regulations/02963c47-b0ef-44e0-89ca-e432b11eed5d

Queensland Donor Conception Register:
https://www.qld.gov.au/family/births/donor-conception-information-register
On this page above there is a link to register your interest for the Donor conception register: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IqY-WF2X70uh0NH5wTn4s2fBxgK9xHZPuj-5er4aUvpUOVQ2UkZVR1FVM0JMTVFWV0tONk1XOUwxQS4u&route=shorturl

You can also email: dciregister@justice.qld.gov.au or art@health.ald.gov.au or email both addresses and also complete the registration! (That’s what I would do so they know I’m serious and they can’t ignore my requests!)

These and more resources are available at: https://www.evielucas.com/originarchives