As a Donor Conception Register (DCR) participant or user, get helpful tips and find resources on how to navigate the changed South Australian donor conception laws and South Australia’s DCR, and get access to support and counselling.
- DCR administrators: Authorised staff in SA Health, South Australian ART clinics and the Donor Conception Register Support Service (DCRSS) who maintain the DCR.
- DCR participants: People who can register to be a DCR user, but who have not yet done so.
- DCR users: DCR participants who have registered to access information held in the DCR about other DCR participants and DCR users linked to themselves (i.e. their connections).
- Parent’s donor(s): The donor (or two donors) linked to a parent’s donor conception treatment. This includes egg and sperm (i.e. gametes) donors.
- Retrospective or historical information: Information from donor conception treatments during or before September 2004.
- Your connections: DCR participants and DCR users who are either linked to the same donor (e.g. donor-conceived siblings) or are linked to the same donor conception treatment (e.g. a parent, donor and donor-conceived person).
DCR Support Service (DCRSS)
If you donated or were conceived by donor conception prior to September 2004, there may be aspects of the law changes and using the DCR which leave you feeling like you need some support, either due to information you have found, missing historic information that you had hoped to find, or your information being disclosed to your connections.
The DCR Support Service provides advice and support to people who:
- have general enquiries about the DCR
- are seeking counselling services
- request further detailed searches for donor-conception treatment information.
Counselling may be helpful for your health and wellbeing if you:
- have recently discovered you are donor-conceived
- are disappointed that records are incomplete because of the previous guarantee of donor anonymity and earlier record-keeping practice
- are concerned about having your identity information made available
- wish to explore and discuss any expectations around connecting with others
- wish to prepare and build your confidence prior to connecting with others
- are a donor and want to know what donor linking will mean for any people born as the result of your donation
- are a donor and have not told your family and/or friends about your donation.
For support contact
To access support, please email health.donorconceptionregister@sa.gov.au.
Additional help and resources
This DCR resource library also provides a range of other information to support you on your journey:
- helplines to access urgent support
- specialised private counsellors
- national and international support groups
- ART clinic counselling and support
- cultural supports.
To learn more visit Helpful links and resources.