Key messages
- From 1 January 2025, the regulation of Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) and the management of Victoria's donor conception registers transferred from the Victorian Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) to the Department of Health (the department) under the Health Legislation Amendment (Regulatory Reform) Act 2024.
- The department is updating the processes for managing applications and sharing information from the donor conception registers. The new processes will be introduced in stages.
- For further information on these changes or to update your contact details, email the Donor Conception Register team at dcr@health.vic.gov.au.
The Central Register and Voluntary Register status update
As of February 2026, the Voluntary Register is operating and matches are progressing.
Due to the ongoing review and re-design process, Central Register applications have not yet progressed to the disclosure stage. The Donor Conception Registrar will begin disclosing information from February 2026 and these disclosures will be actioned in stages to ensure information is accurate and consistent with legislative requirements.
Update to management of applications and information sharing
On 1 January 2025, responsibility for the Central and Voluntary Donor Conception Registers transferred from the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) to the Department of Health (the department), alongside changes to legal, privacy and governance requirements for management of the registers.
As a result, the department has since undertaken a full review and re-design of the donor conception registers, including the development of new application and disclosure processes to ensure both registers are operating in accordance with updated legislative and departmental standards.
How Central Register applications will be processed
The Donor Conception Registrar will disclose information from the Central Register in stages.
Non-identifying information will be disclosed from late February 2026.
Applications for identifying information involve more legislative requirements than applications for non-identifying information. This means a longer processing time.
It is anticipated that these disclosures will begin processing from May 2026, with:
- requests relating to post-1998 treatments processing from May 2026
- requests for pre-1998 treatments processing from July 2026
- donor conceived person information requests processing from September 2026.
Please note that these dates are estimates and may change based on the complexity of applications and information available.
Applications are processed based on the order they are received and type of information requested. If your application includes a request for more than one type of information, each type of information may be provided to you in stages.
Currently, the department is unable to provide an individual timeframe for the outcome of your application. We are working hard to process applications, and we appreciate your patience as disclosures continue.
What this means for existing applications
Applications that have already been submitted remain active and do not need to be re-submitted. All applications have received an initial review against the information held in the relevant register.
Before any information is disclosed, the Donor Conception Registrar is required to provide applicants with Explanatory Material that explains the application and disclosure process. In some cases, non-identifying information, such as donor profiles or donor family numbers, may also be available directly from assisted reproductive treatment (ART) clinics. Contact your ART clinic directly for more information.
Counselling and support
A free, independent counselling service run by the Royal Women's Hospital is available to persons requesting information throughout the donor conception information release process.
Request a referrals by emailing DCR@health.vic.gov.au.
New applications
All new applications should be made using the relevant Department of Health application form and submitted directly to the Donor Conception Registrar.
For information about how to apply, including application forms and guides, see:
Reviewed 25 February 2026