General News
24 April, 2025
Surrogacy unites generations
SOUTH West Healthcare is experiencing a baby-boom of sorts, with multiple families currently attending the service undergoing pregnancy via surrogate.
Last Sunday week fathers Joshua and Dean welcomed a baby girl, Riley Eloise, with the help of Joshua’s parents Todd and Louis Davis (who was their surrogate and a midwife at South West Healthcare’s women’s health service).
“The boys wanted to start a family and I was under the age threshold and able to help,” Louis said.
“We just wanted them to experience how amazing it is to be a parent. They will do a great job and if this is what they need, then we are happy to do it.
“Being a midwife, an impending grandmother and a surrogate has given me a really unique insight into the process.
“It’s been amazing, we really just want to get the word out there about surrogacy as we know there is a lot of interest from couples locally.”
Louise and Todd are on several forums and are aware that people are keen to know more and to understand how surrogacy works.
“We just want people to know that our experience birthing here, and having the pregnancy go through South West Healthcare, has been really positive,” Louise said.
“But there is also a lot that we’ve learned and the rules vary from state-to-state,” Todd added.
“We want to shine a light on surrogacy so that other families can benefit.”
Currently all surrogacy arrangements in Australia must be altruistic (where the surrogate does not get paid for acting as a surrogate, other than being reimbursed for medical and other reasonable expenses).
Currently in Victoria, the intended parents must be either infertile, have a medical condition which poses a risk to the mother or baby, or must be unable to carry a baby in order to explore surrogacy.
The surrogate must be at least 25 years old, must have previously been pregnant and given birth to a live child, and must not use her eggs in the surrogacy arrangement.
It is preferred that the surrogate has already completed her family, but this is not a legal requirement.
All parties must also have received counselling and legal advice.
“I am grateful to my partner Todd because I wouldn’t have been able to do this without his help,” Louis said.
Riley Eloise was born at 36 weeks – her middle name a nod to her egg donor ‘Emily’ and her grandmother and surrogate Louise, with who she will have a special bond.
“We are really grateful to mum for being our surrogate,” Joshua said.
“Surrogates need to come forward, because intended parents such as ourselves can’t legally approach anyone to ask about surrogacy.”
Joshua and Dean, who both live in Melbourne, travelled to Warrnambool to attend ante-natal appointments and the birth.
“Everyone we have encountered throughout our journey has been really great to help us,” Dean said.
“They were willing to review their policies and procedures to accommodate surrogacy, which can be incredibly individualised to each family.”
South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser extended his congratulations to Joshua and Dean and said he was pleased the South West team could be involved in such an important part of their lives.
“We recognise that the path to becoming a parent is different for everyone, and there are so many more avenues available to parents and same-sex couples than what we have worked with historically,” Mr Fraser said.
“We want the community to know that we are here to support all people and to help them fulfill their dream of becoming parents, which isn’t always easy.”
