Welcome to ANZICA

The Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) Inc. was formed in Canberra in 1989 by a group of 10 infertility counsellors, social workers and psychologists attending the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA) annual meeting.

Since then, ANZICA membership has expanded to include almost 100 members from all States and Territories of Australia and across New Zealand and is the largest professional association for infertility counsellors .

ANZICA fulfills an important role in representing the views of infertility counselors both to the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC), The Fertility Society of Australia and the New Zealand Infertility Society. It is important that counsellors have a voice in the field of Reproductive Technology both as advocates for the clients and for the potential unborn child.

ANZICA is incorporated with its own Constitution. The Association is administered by an elected Executive Committee and is financed through annual membership subscriptions, professional development events and sponsorship.

Mission Statement

ANZICA strives to promote a high standard of counselling for individuals affected by infertility issues. In doing so ANZICA counsellors strive to support and benefit those individuals with whom they work, including the welfare and best interests of any potential unborn child.

Our Objectives

ANZICA has several primary roles:

• Provide a structure to promote the particular interests of infertility counsellors;
• Promote the recognition and understanding of counselling and the counseling process in the context of infertility;
• Promote education and training of counsellors in the area of infertility;
• Undertake research leading to an understanding of the counselling needs of infertile people and improve the effectiveness of counselling services for members;
• Provide ethical guidance to its members;
• Maintain a regular newsletter;
• Be a consultative group on issues pertaining to infertility; and
• Actively cooperate with organizations with allied aims and objectives.

Relationship Between ANZICA and FSA

ANZICA is an independent body that in line with its constitution has formed a close link with the FSA. Since the foundation of the FSA there has been a counsellor representative on Council and ANZICA has worked closely with that person.

Nevertheless our independence ensures that:

• ANZICA is open to all infertility counsellors and not just those who are members of the FSA; and
• ANZICA will have an independent voice in public debate, acting as a consulting body on the issues pertaining to infertility and infertility counselling.