Infertility Treatment Authority

Full description

The Authority was established under the Infertility Treatment Act 1995 and its functions include
- licensing of places for treatment and for approved research;
- approval of practitioners, including doctors, counsellors and clinical and research scientists;
- maintenance of statutory time limits in relation to the storage of sperm, eggs and embryos for use in treatment procedures;
- approval of the bringing into Victoria or the taking out of Victoria of sperm, eggs or embryos;
- maintenance of registers related to donor treatment procedures;
- monitoring and reporting of information about assisted reproductive technology within this State, through the Annual Report to the Minister for Health;
- approval of research as required under the Act.

The Authority produces Conditions and Guidelines for licensed places and people involved with assisted reproduction. These Conditions and Guidelines are reviewed and revised on a regular basis.

The Authority reports to the Parliament under the terms of the Act.

The Authority seeks to:
- promote community understanding of the complex issues involved in the treatment of infertility;
- ensure that appropriate information and counselling are available to those who seek treatment;
- assist in the smooth provision of healthcare by the treatment institutions;
- gather and store information relevant to the proper regulation and broad oversight of the provisions of reproductive assistance and to release that information, where necessary.