The Voluntary Register for Donors, Offspring and their Families
What is the Voluntary Register?
The Voluntary Register provides a service for donor offspring who wish to find out about their genetic origins and donors who want to know if a child has been born as a result of their donations. The Director General of the Department of Health established the Voluntary Register for people in Western Australia.
Joining this Register is voluntary. Identifying information about a person is only entered on the register if the person completes a properly signed and witnessed registration form.
Donors are encouraged to place their names on this Voluntary Register to facilitate offspring obtaining information about their origins.
Who can Join the Voluntary Register?
The Register accepts completed registration forms from any adult party to a donation. This includes:
- donor offspring 18 years and over;
- donors of human reproductive material; and
- parents of donor offspring under the age of 18 years.
How to Join the Voluntary Register
A donor party wishing to join the Voluntary Register must complete a registration form that can be obtained from the Registrar, Voluntary Register.
A completed registration form provides the registrant's personal details and details of the donation, if known. It may also provide updated information about the registrant, request information about another party, and state wishes about information sharing between parties.
A statutory declaration stating that the information provided is true and correct and that verifies the person's identity must be signed and witnessed.
Keeping registrations up to date is helpful, for example by notifying the Registrar of any changes of name or address.
Sharing information from the Register
Once a 'match' is made, relevant non-identifying information is given to the registrant.
Identifying information about a person will only be released from the Register with the written consent of that person.
Registrants may also state their wishes about contact when joining the Register. If they do not want to be contacted by another party, they can make this known in writing.
A person’s name is only entered on the Voluntary Register when that person completes a registration form. Identifying information is only exchanged with the written permission of the person to whom the information relates.
Services are conducted in a sensitive and discreet manner. The personal wishes and the privacy of each person are respected. Feedback from donor parties who have sought information from the Register is always welcome.