Assisted Reproductive Technology Standards
We are helping to reform assisted reproductive technology (ART) services to strengthen the quality, consistency and transparency of care across Australia.
New ART standards and accreditation scheme
We have been asked to develop an independent national accreditation scheme for ART services against updated National Safety and Quality Standards.
This project began in April 2026 and indicative timeframes are:
- draft standards available for public consultation from 10 August – 6 September 2026
- draft standards available for piloting from January 2027
- draft accreditation scheme and assessment framework available for public consultation from July 2027
- all ART providers transitioned to the new scheme by December 2028
The development of the standards will involve extensive consultation with ART users, clinicians, service providers, professional bodies and regulators.
Consultation open for draft ART Standards
Public consultation is currently open on the initial draft of the ART Standards.
We invite all interested stakeholders to review the draft standards and provide feedback during the consultation period from 10 August to 6 September 2026.
Your input will help shape the final standards and support the delivery of high-quality care for all Australians.
Reform in the ART sector
ART services, including fertility services and egg freezing, are important and life-changing procedures. ART services have grown in complexity and evolved over time, prompting greater consideration for the safety and quality of these services.
In June 2025 a rapid review of ART regulation and accreditation was commissioned following concerns in the sector. In September 2025 Health Ministers announced reform for the ART sector with an aim to:
- improve patient safety and quality of care
- strengthen regulation and oversight
- support informed consent and transparency
- provide clearer and more consistent services
Find out more about the implementation of ART sector reforms from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Industry Advisory Group
The Commission has established an Assisted Reproductive Technology Industry Advisory Group in July 2026. The Advisory Group consists of experts within the ART sector and those with lived experience. Each member was appointed for their individual skills, knowledge and expertise of the ART sector and not their representation of an organisation. Members were invited following guidance from the Commission’s clinical advisors, participation in key informant interviews, and engagement with the sector survey.
Industry Advisory Group members
| Name | Position/Expertise or Perspective |
|---|---|
| Professor Robert Norman | Chair |
| Honorary Professor Liz Marles | Commission Clinical Advisor, General Practitioner |
| Dr Lynne Coulson Barr | Complaints Commissioner |
| Professor Georgina Chambers | Epidemiologist |
| Dr Clare Boothroyd | Fertility specialist (Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility [CREI]) |
| Dr Fleur Cattrall | Fertility specialist (CREI) |
| Dr Roger Hart | Fertility specialist (CREI) |
| Dr Petra Wale | Embryologist |
| Adjunct Associate Professor Cecilia Sjoblom | Embryologist |
| Dr Adrianne Pope | Quality management in ART |
| Professor Robert McLachlan | Endocrinologist |
| Nicole Heffernan | Fertility nurse |
| Rebecca Kerner | Infertility counsellor |
| Dr Giselle Newton | Donor conceived person, researcher |
| Catherine Vallence | Lived consumer experience |
| Kathryn Berry | Lived consumer experience |
| Heather Corkhill | Lived consumer experience |
| Alisha Burns | Lived consumer experience |
| Rachel Henry | ART reform advice (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) |
Contact
For questions and feedback, email our team.
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