Regulating Reproduction

Law | Health | Justice researchers are global leaders in the regulation of reproduction.

Photo of a pregnant person.

Advances abortion care and assisted reproductive technologies have expanded the options available to individuals and couples navigate reproduction. Law | Health | Justice researchers are at the forefront of reproductive regulation, with work that focus on both domestic and international regulation of abortion care and the experiences of Australians who travel to access assisted reproductive services. This research aims to inform responsive and equitable regulatory frameworks that address the evolving needs of those seeking to manage reproductive choice. 

Researchers

Isabel Karpin

Jenni Millbank

Michael Thomson

Recent Work

Regulating Relations

This research project, led by Distinguished Professors Isabel Karpin and Jenni Millbank, explores the experiences of Australians seeking fertility treatments, along with insights from industry regulators, fertility clinics, and facilitators, to shape a more equitable and adaptable legal framework. By documenting the journeys of reproductive travel and the pathways of reproductive materials, such as sperm, eggs, and embryos, used by Australians, the study seeks to develop legal and ethical models that reflect the real-world needs of fertility treatment users and their families. Funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant (2015–2018), this project aims to foster laws that accommodate diverse family formation pathways with flexibility and fairness.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.