Australian Family and Fertility Law

Stephen Page
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Join Award-Winning Family & Surrogacy Lawyers, Bruce Provan and Stephen Page who interviews lawyers, doctors, counsellors, parents, surrogates, scientists, donors and others who are the moving parts bringing together the ability to form families through surrogacy, and when families fall apart. Interviewees talk about their personal journeys through life, leading to their passion in their respective fields.

  1. 2d ago

    Overseas surrogacy births now recognised in Australia

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page explores a monumental legal update for families formed through international surrogacy. Stephen breaks down the practical impact of the Family Law Regulations 2024, which commenced on 1 April 2025 and breathed much-needed life into Section 69R of the Family Law Act. He explains how this crucial update finally allows for the automatic presumption of parentage for children born in prescribed overseas jurisdictions. Examining the recent Federal Circuit and Family Court case of Allbring & Barsotti, Stephen highlights a major victory for a gay couple who successfully had their United States surrogacy journey legally recognised. He also reflects on the profound words of Judge Harland, who emphasised the necessity of ending discrimination against children born via surrogacy and upholding their fundamental right to identity. In This Episode: The commencement and impact of the Family Law Regulations 2024Understanding Section 69R of the Family Law ActThe landmark Allbring & Barsotti parentage caseWhich international surrogacy destinations are legally prescribedThe historic discrimination against children born via surrogacyProtecting a child's right to identity and legal parentageTo seek expert advice for your family law, surrogacy, or fertility law matters, contact our experienced team today: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  2. 3d ago

    Do Children Have a Say in Family Court? Australian Parenting Cases Explained

    Send us Fan Mail In this highly informative episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Bruce Provan, Managing Director of Page Provan, tackles one of the most critical questions in family law: Do children have a say in parenting cases in court? Navigating the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia can be daunting for separated parents, especially when considering how their children's wishes will be factored into parenting orders. Bruce explains that while children do have a voice, the impact of their wishes depends largely on their age, level of maturity, and intelligence. He guides listeners through the practical ways the court assesses these wishes without exposing children to the courtroom floor. This includes the preparation of Child Impact Reports and Family Reports, as well as the crucial application of Section 60CC of the Family Law Act. Bruce also highlights recent 2025 legislative changes that mandate Independent Children's Lawyers (ICLs) to meet directly with children, ensuring their perspectives are formally and safely represented. In This Episode: How the Family Court assesses a child's age, maturity, and wishesThe crucial role of Child Impact Reports and Family ReportsHow Section 60CC of the Family Law Act protects children's voicesThe 2025 legal requirement for Independent Children's Lawyers to meet with childrenWhy judges rarely speak directly with children in parenting casesHow a child's perspective is formally submitted as evidenceTo seek expert advice for your family law, property settlement, or parenting matters, contact our experienced team today: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  3. 5d ago

    A Historic Victory for Same-Sex Surrogacy in Western Australia

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page unpacks the landmark Western Australian legal case, Dunn v Reproductive Technology Council. For years, the Surrogacy Act 2008 (WA) openly discriminated against same-sex male couples and single men, completely barring them from accessing altruistic surrogacy. Stephen provides the historical context behind this legislation and details his own past advocacy efforts to have the discrimination removed. He then shares the heroic story of Mr. and Mr. Dunn, a couple who refused to wait for slow parliamentary reform and instead launched a successful legal challenge. Stephen highlights the incredible work of WA barrister Rachel Oakley in securing this 2-1 judgement, which ultimately allowed the Dunns to seek approval from the Reproductive Technology Council and proceed with their surrogacy journey. This episode is a powerful look at the realities of test cases and the heavy burden carried by those who fight for equality. In This Episode: The discriminatory history of the Surrogacy Act 2008 (WA)Advocacy efforts and delayed legislative reform in Western AustraliaThe landmark legal challenge brought by Mr. and Mr. DunnBarrister Rachel Oakley's pivotal role in the victoryThe expiration of the High Court appeal period and what it meansThe heavy emotional and financial toll of running a legal test caseHow this ruling impacts LGBTQIA+ families seeking surrogacy in WATo seek expert advice for your family law, surrogacy, or fertility law matters, contact our experienced team today: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  4. Jul 6

    International Surrogacy Insights: Join Me at the Growing Families Conference

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page invites listeners to join him at the upcoming Growing Families Conference in Sydney on 24 and 25 July 2026. Stephen previews his upcoming speaking engagement and highlights the incredible international legal talent attending the event. With pioneering lawyers flying in from Colombia and Mexico, attendees will have the rare opportunity to hear directly from the experts shaping the legal landscape in these significant surrogacy destinations. Stephen emphasises the crucial importance of receiving factual, on-the-ground legal advice directly from lawyers who represent clients in these jurisdictions, rather than relying exclusively on surrogacy agencies. In This Episode: A preview of the Growing Families Conference in SydneyInsights into significant international surrogacy destinationsThe vital importance of direct legal advice in surrogacy journeysConnecting with pioneering fertility lawyers from Colombia and MexicoUnderstanding the legal realities of surrogacy versus agency representationTo seek expert advice for your family law, surrogacy, or international fertility law matters, contact our experienced team today: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  5. Jul 4

    30 Years a Specialist & 21 Years Together: The Page Provan Story

    Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page takes a moment to reflect on two major career milestones occurring at the end of June and the beginning of July 2026. Stephen looks back on his 30-year anniversary as an accredited family law specialist, a journey that began on 30 June 1996 in Queensland's very first cohort of specialists. He shares his insights into the rigorous accreditation process at the time and how the landscape of family law specialisation has evolved. Furthermore, Stephen celebrates an enduring 21-year working relationship with his law partner, Bruce Provan, which officially commenced on 1 July 2005. Listen in to hear Stephen's candid reflections on longevity, professional partnerships, and decades of providing expert legal guidance to families. In This Episode: Stephen Page's 30th anniversary as an accredited family law specialistA look back at the 1996 Queensland family law specialisation cohortThe historical and current pass rates for legal specialisationCelebrating a 21-year legal partnership between Stephen Page and Bruce ProvanThe history and enduring foundation of Page Provan Family & Fertility LawyersReflections on career longevity and dedicated legal practiceTo seek expert advice for your family law, surrogacy, or fertility law matters, contact our experienced team today: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  6. Jul 3

    Australian Surrogacy Law: A Gay Father's Journey from Prejudice to Pride

    Send us Fan Mail Happy Pride Month! In this deeply personal episode, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page opens up about his own family's surrogacy journey and the realities of navigating the legal system as a gay father in Queensland. As a legal professional who dedicates his life to helping others build their families, Pride Month holds a special resonance for Stephen. Stephen discusses the uncertainty surrounding parentage orders at the time of his daughter's birth and the intense media spotlight his family received after being featured in The Australian. He shares the painful experience of facing homophobic trolling from a prominent public figure and, more importantly, how his family chose to respond to that hate with love. Listeners will hear a heartwarming reflection on the incredibly joyous experience of marching in Sydney World Pride. Stephen explains how his personal journey fuels his professional dedication to helping LGBTQIA+ people build their families and his ongoing work to reform the law to make it fairer for all Australians. In This Episode: Stephen's personal path to fatherhood and securing parentage orders in QueenslandNavigating media attention and the impact of public prejudiceThe resilience of LGBTQIA+ families in the face of homophobic trollingThe healing and joyous experience of Sydney World PrideHow personal experience shapes legal advocacy for LGBTQIA+ parents The ongoing push to reform Australian surrogacy and fertility laws If you need guidance on your own path to parenthood, seek expert legal advice to ensure your family is protected. Visit https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  7. Jun 8

    Can I Move Away With My Child? Relocation Law in Australia

    Send us Fan Mail Parental relocation—the act of moving a child to a new location that significantly impacts their contact with the other parent—is a high-stakes area of family law. In this episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Bruce Provan, Managing Director of Page Provan, dives into the complexities of relocation disputes and how the court determines the "best interests of the child" in these life-changing scenarios. Bruce clarifies that while relocation is not a separate category under the Family Law Act, it requires a unique holistic assessment. He explains the dangers of unilateral relocation and the role of interim hearings where evidence is limited to affidavits. Listeners will gain insight into the evidentiary requirements for a successful relocation proposal, including schooling, travel logistics, and the preservation of the child's relationship with the non-relocating parent. Bruce also discusses the landmark High Court decision of MRR v GR, highlighting why a parent’s mental health and the reality of their living conditions are critical factors that the court must not ignore. In This Episode: Defining relocation: From moving across the city to moving across the globe.The consequences of moving without consent or a court order.How domestic violence allegations impact relocation applications.The procedural differences between interim and final hearings.The 8 key factors a judge considers when weighing a relocation proposal.Why there is no requirement for "compelling reasons," but reasons still matter.Understanding the role of the Family Report and Independent Children's Lawyer.A deep dive into the MRR v GR High Court case.For expert assistance with relocation and parenting matters, visit our website: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

  8. Jun 6

    Surrogacy in the USA: Storm Clouds and Legal Risks in 2026

    Send us Fan Mail While the United States remains a highly desirable destination for surrogacy due to its established legal frameworks, 2026 has brought a series of "storm clouds" that intended parents can no longer ignore. In this episode of the Australian Family & Fertility Law Podcast, Multi-Award Winning Surrogacy & Fertility Lawyer Stephen Page provides a comprehensive update on the ethical, political, and legislative challenges currently facing the US surrogacy industry. Stephen breaks down the disturbing "Mark Surrogacy" case in California and its impact on regulatory scrutiny. He also explores the profound implications of the Trump v. Barbara Supreme Court case, which challenges 130 years of birthright citizenship precedent through Executive Order 14160. Furthermore, the episode examines restrictive new bills in Florida and Kentucky that aim to curb commercial and foreign-led surrogacy. For Australians, the challenge is twofold: managing the massive financial investment (often exceeding $300,000 to $1,000,000 AUD) and ensuring compliance with extraterritorial Australian laws that criminalise commercial surrogacy and certain adoption-based arrangements. In This Episode: The "Mark Surrogacy" scandal: How a California "baby farm" triggered state and federal investigations.Trump v. Barbara: Analyzing the 2026 Supreme Court oral arguments on birthright citizenship.The potential end of jus soli citizenship for children of foreign intended parents.Florida’s legislative move to restrict surrogacy to US citizens and residents.Kentucky’s HB 697 and the shifting sentiment against commercial surrogacy contracts.Federal moves to ban "unfriendly" foreign nationals from US surrogacy programs.The "Adoption vs. Parentage" trap: Why the legal process in certain US states is a crime in Australia.Cost vs. Certainty: Is the US still worth the million-dollar price tag?For expert assistance with international surrogacy and US legal compliance, visit our website: https://pageprovan.com.au/ Made by Law Firm Marketing Experts, Practice Proof

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Join Award-Winning Family & Surrogacy Lawyers, Bruce Provan and Stephen Page who interviews lawyers, doctors, counsellors, parents, surrogates, scientists, donors and others who are the moving parts bringing together the ability to form families through surrogacy, and when families fall apart. Interviewees talk about their personal journeys through life, leading to their passion in their respective fields.

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