Assisted reproductive technology regulation
Licensing ART providers gives Queensland Health regulatory oversight of the delivery of ART services. We monitor compliance with the ART law, and take regulatory action, where necessary, to minimise risks of harm to people who use ART services and to those born as a result of ART.
Only ART providers must be licensed. Individual medical practitioners or other personnel working within an ART provider do not require a licence.
Regulatory approach
Our approach to regulation is guided by the following principles:
- Authoritative advice to support ART providers to comply with and meet the aims of the legislation
- Person-centred and trauma-informed engagement so the welfare and interests of people, especially those born through ART, is always of paramount importance
- Collaborative dialogue with stakeholders through education, engagement, and guidance
- Responsive to stakeholder feedback and continual improvement
- Intelligence-led and evidence based, including routine monitoring and investigations
- Proportionate to the level of risk and potential harm
- Transparent about reasons for actions taken and decisions made, including publication of data available to the community
Compliance and enforcement framework
We focus on an education-first approach with ART providers. The aim is to help providers understand and comply with the legislation without the need for enforcement. Our 5-step compliance strategy is:
- Prescribe requirements
- Inform and educate
- Monitor and review
- Promote proactive compliance
- Proportionate enforcement
We may use a suite of enforcement powers to take proportionate regulatory action when required. Serious situations may require steps to occur in a different order to protect the safety of people using ART and those born from ART.