DCP Hub supports donor conceived people (DCP) as they come to understand what being a DCP means to them.

Are we the experts in what DCPs need?
No, we are not. But we’re good at organising events to bring people and learning together.

We want to make sure that the experiences of older generations of DCPs aren’t lost to the next generations of families created via donor conception. We constantly seek input from DCP adults as well as psychologists and others with valuable insight, and we don’t claim to speak on behalf of DCPs.

Every parent wants their child to have the best life possible, and RPs are no different regardless of the era of their fertility treatment. The fertility industry prioritises its patients - the recipient parents undergoing medical treatment - with little regard to the outcomes for the child born as a result. The ghastly way so many DCP adults have been and continue to be treated and disrespected by professionals and bureaucrats as they seek knowledge and understanding of their genetic heritage beggars belief. Despite changes within the industry and the law to increase transparency, services in Australia and NZ are still lacking when it comes to the emotional outcomes of this fertility treatment. 

We hope that one day, every child conceived with the use of a donor will have the opportunity to navigate the development of their identity and sense of belonging with confidence and access to all the information they need.

DCP Hub plans to start filling that gap by creating educational events and support services that hold the wellbeing of the DCP at the centre. We want what’s best for our own kids and all other people conceived with a donor.

Our Values

Honesty

We advocate for and act with honesty in everything we do.

The fertility industry has come a long way since its early days of secrecy when infertility was considered a personal failing and treatment was taboo. We believe honesty is always the best policy and DCPs should know their conception story and genetic heritage as early as possible. And it’s never too late to tell.

Kindness and Respect

The lived experienced for many DCPs has not been an easy one, and we respect their bravery and resilience in dealing with the unintended consequences of decisions made by others.

We also know that the decision to proceed with fertility treatment using donor gametes is made with love, and while some recipient parents may have made a different decision about this if they’d had different information, we respect your journey and treat you with kindness.

Inclusion

Our services are for all DCPs and their families, regardless of the method and location of conception. We know that some laws and elements of the community can isolate families if conception was not via an Australian or New Zealand fertility clinic and this saddens us.

It is impossible to explicitly represent and showcase every family type because there are so many variations, but we aim to be as inclusive as possible. We thank the stories so generously shared during our events by DCPs, recipient parents, donors and siblings.

Where we stand

• We want what is best for DCPs.

• DCPs have the right to know their conception story and genetic history as soon as is possible. Connecting with donors and donor siblings is ideal to facilitate this.

• We recognise that some decisions made in the past might have been made differently if what is known today was known then. We don’t judge or blame.

• Love makes a family. DNA makes relatives. Both are important.

• Backed by evidence and research.

Read our 2024 submission regarding the proposed changes to the ART Act and VARTA