Health Consumers’ Council has been asked to nominate two consumer representatives with lived experience of assisted reproductive technology (ART) for appointment to a new Ministerial Advisory and Review Board.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Advisory and Review Board is being established under the Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Act 2025. The Board will provide advice to government on the regulation of ART and consider the complex medical, ethical, legal, and social issues associated with these technologies in Western Australia.
They are seeking people who have:
- Personal experience of ART (including people who have accessed ART services or were born via ART), and
- An interest in contributing to health policy, decision-making, and consumer perspectives
Board members will participate in monthly meetings (approximately two hours), with additional time required to review documents and prepare for discussions. As the Board is new, the structure of Board meetings will be formalised once the Board is established. It is anticipated that preparation for meetings will likely involve reviewing applications and correspondence and preparing advice in response, which may be lengthy at times.
See below for the relevant section of the Act that outlines the Board’s functions.
The Board functions are outlined in section 237 of the Act and include:
- Providing the Minister or the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), on its own initiative or on request, information about the regulation of ART procedures and advice about the medical, social, scientific, legal and ethical issues associated with ART procedures.
- Providing guidance to licensees, if requested, on matters relating to potential surrogacy arrangements, the provision of ART services or concerns raised by an employee of a licensee.
- Providing to the CEO recommendations about genetic conditions, diseases or abnormalities that can be added to the approved list (as per section 65 of the Act).
- Consideration and decision of applications made to the Board under the Act regarding:
o Posthumous use of reproductive material or embryos, where posthumous collection occurred or consent for use is not clear (section 78 and section 83);
o Exceptions to the five-family limit (section 27(3));
o Pre-implantation genetic testing (section 63) where the condition is not on the approved conditions list, and for other testing that is not a prescribed type of testing;
o Export or import of donor material where requirements cannot be met (section 89). - Performing any other function given to the Board under the Act.
For more information about the new legislation, visit the WA Health article:
https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/New-assisted-reproductive-technology-and-surrogacy-legislation-for-WA
This is an opportunity to contribute lived experience to a high-level Board that will help shape how ART is regulated and practiced in Western Australia.
How to apply
To submit an Expression of Interest to HCCWA, please complete the online form and upload a current CV (maximum two pages).
Key information
- Applications close: 8am, 15th July 2026
- Time commitment: Monthly meetings (~2 hours) plus preparation