Mitchell and James are ready to start a family. Until now, one state wouldn't let them
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9 News
18 hours ago
- 9 News
More Aussies are becoming solo mums by choice. Claire had no other option
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Single mothers now they make up more than 12 per cent of the nation's families. A growing number are solo mums by choice, like Claire Steinke, who decided to have children on her own after being diagnosed with cancer at 29. But 20 years after welcoming her first, there's still a lack of transparency around assisted reproductive technology (ART) options and the lived experience of solo motherhood. Claire Steinke decided to have children on her own after being diagnosed with cancer at 29. (Supplied/Claire Steinke) "I always found it so secretive," Steinke told "There are so many options, so many different treatments ... different procedures, different tests, all those sorts of things, but I feel like it's not openly shared." And she's concern it could be holding some women back. There were were almost 1 million single mother families in Australia in June 2024 according to the ABS, up from 864,000 in 2021. It's unclear how many are solo mums by choice. ART has become more accessible to single women and they're one of the largest groups of recipient parents at clinics across the country. More than 700 single women underwent IVF in Victoria in 2022 alone. Australians are also marrying less and later – the marriage rate is down and the average age of an Aussie bride has risen from 21 in 1975 to 30 in 2023 – prompting some women to embark on motherhood before marriage. Being a single mum has become more socially acceptable, making space for women who want to have kids without any intention of ever 'settling down'. And some women, like Stienke, find that solo motherhood may be their only choice. Steinke was diagnosed with endometrial cancer when she was 29 and single. She'd gone to her GP suspecting ovarian cysts but a laparoscopy revealed cancer in her uterus. "My biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to have children," Steinke said. "Having that diagnosis in particular, right the place where you have your babies, it was my biggest fear coming true." Initially, doctors suggested a hysterectomy but Steinke opted for nine months of hormone therapy instead, hoping to preserve her fertility. At 29, Steinke was told she had endometrial cancer and her fertility was at risk. (Supplied/Claire Steinke) Giving up her dream of being a mum was not an option so during cancer treatment, she researched her options to have a child solo. Unwilling to date solely to find a father for potential children, she pursued intrauterine insemination (IUI), a procedure in which donor sperm is placed directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation in the hopes of a pregnancy. Doctors warned she had less than 20 per cent chance of getting pregnant but she started trying as soon as treatment ended. Steinke fell pregnant on her third round of IUI and welcomed her son prematurely just 26 weeks later. He spent the first weeks of his life in the NICU and Steinke broke down a few weeks into it. Steinke admits her pregnancy was often lonely and it was hard not having someone to share it with, especially when her son was in NICU. "All of that emotion had caught up with me after 18 months of stress from a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, fertility treatment, horrible pregnancy, and a premature baby," Steinke said. "I'd been holding all this emotion in and just putting one foot in front of the other to keep going, and it just hit me." Steinke admits her pregnancy was often lonely, especially when her son was in NICU. (Supplied/Claire Steinke) But she wouldn't change her decision to have a child solo. In fact, she did it again five years later and welcomed a daughter through IUI. Her children have brought her so much joy and she can't imagine her life without them. But solo motherhood is not without its challenges, though data on their specific experiences are limited. A Council of Single Mothers and their Children (CSMC) survey found that 87 per cent of single mothers are concerned about their long-term financial circumstances. Housing prices and insecurity are significant challenges and respondents experienced homelessness and marginal housing at almost four times the national average. The latest annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia ( HILDA ) survey also revealed that poor mental health among single mothers has risen from 22 per cent in 2011 to 38 per cent in 2022, compared to 18 per cent for partnered mothers in 2022. "Sometimes it would be really good to sit down and talk to someone who's got the same level of vested interest as you do and make a joint [parenting] decision, but I had to do those things on my own," she said. Five years after having her son via IUI, Steinke welcomed a baby girl using the same donor sperm. (Supplied/Claire Steinke) Becoming a solo mum has changed a lot since Steinke had her kids, who are now 20 and 15. ART is more accessible for single women, society has become more accepting of solo motherhood, and online communities have helped solo mums connect. And Steinke herself shares her story with other women through her maternity and breastfeeding business, Soul Mothers . Becoming a solo mum has changed a lot since Steinke had her kids, who are now 20 and 15. (Supplied/Claire Steinke) But there are still barriers she said need addressing. Single women deserve more comprehensive information about ART, including IUI, as well as opportunities to speak honestly about their lived experiences without fear of backlash or discrimination. "It's not someone else's decision to make, some pen pusher in an office saying, 'no, just because you're a single you can't have it,' or some religious person going, 'it's not what god wanted,'" she said. "I would have been gutted to not be able to have children." national parenting family mums fertility CONTACT US
9 News
6 days ago
- 9 News
Mitchell and James are ready to start a family. Until now, one state wouldn't let them
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Mitchell Marianoff and James Walker have been together for five years, but have been unable to start a family until now. The university lecturer and aspiring doctor met in Queensland, where they built a full and vibrant life together before packing their bags and moving to Western Australia last year. "We both kind of restarted away from our own networks and really hit our stride," Marianoff told Mitchell Marianoff and James Walker have been together for five years. (Supplied) Marianoff and Walker knew early on that they wanted to have children and, after their big move, felt that they were finally ready to start a family. The pair began researching surrogacy options available to them. That's when they discovered the state laws were against them. Western Australia defines an eligible couple for surrogacy as "two people of the opposite sex who are married to, or in a de facto relationship with, each other" who are unable to conceive a child because of medical or genetic health reasons. It is the only state in the country to block gay couples, transgender, intersex and single people from accessing surrogacy. The restrictive laws also prevent them from using assisted reproductive technology, like artificial insemination or fertilisation. "We were very shocked and I guess a little bit heartbroken to see just what the current legislation was because moving over here was meant to be an exciting new chapter for us," Marianoff said. "His Doctor of Medicine program, my lecturing position. We just thought everything looks amazing. We've got the beaches, we've got hikes and yet, socially, quite an outdated view that's quite limiting on our next chapter. "We're ready. When is Western Australia going to be ready?" Mitchell and James are now waiting for a willing surrogate to start the process of creating a family. (Supplied) The red tape has left queer and single people across the state seeking other options interstate or overseas, leaving their support systems and often spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to have a child. "We've sort of been told, this isn't for us yet, or this isn't for us, given who we are," Marianoff said. "We're just the same as any other couple. "As long as it's coming from a loving home that has understanding and empathy and support and patience and compassion, why can't we do just as good a job?" This week, the Western Australian government announced a landmark reform that will allow gay couples, single, transgender and intersex people to access surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology. Marianoff said the news was like a "breath of fresh air". He and his partner are now waiting for a willing surrogate to start the process of creating a family. They estimate the total process could take a minimum of three years and cost them upwards of $100,000. "We've said that we would start it as soon as somebody says to us that they would love to support in that way," Marianoff said. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the changes have been a "long time coming". (LinkedIn) Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the changes have been a "long time coming". "For same-sex couples who aren't yet both recognised as the legal parent of their own children, this reform is for you," she said. Hammat tabled the bill in parliament yesterday, prompting peak national and local LGBTIQ+ groups to urge the opposition to support the reforms. "WA has some of the most outdated and discriminatory laws in the country," Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said. "There is more work to do, but this bill is a good first step, and it's high time WA's laws were brought into line with the rest of Australia." "This is a monumental day in Western Australia's history," Gay Dads WA's Paul Hadfield-Jia said. "We call on every member of parliament to stand up, support these changes and vote to pass this family-creating legislation into law." The bill is expected to go to the Liberal Party room next week for discussion. Western Australia Australia national law Surrogacy health LGBTIQ CONTACT US
West Australian
08-08-2025
- West Australian
Broome Aboriginal short stay operator, MercyCare, calls for more investment in regional homelessness services
MercyCare, which operates Aboriginal short stay accommodation facilities in Broome and Derby, is calling for increased investment in homelessness services as homelessness rates continue to rise. MercyCare general manager of youth and homelessness services Suzanne Caren said regional WA was being left behind. 'While Perth's homelessness challenges receive significant attention and resources, regional Western Australia is facing a crisis that's proportionally more than double the metropolitan rate,' she said. 'For every homeless person you see in Perth, there are two more struggling in regional WA and most people don't even know they exist.' According to statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 49 per cent of homeless people in WA were from regional areas despite representing only 21 per cent of the population. Some 26 per cent were from remote or very remote areas with 50 per cent identifying as Aboriginal. 'These aren't just statistics, they represent thousands of Western Australians, many of them families with children, who are struggling to find safe, appropriate accommodation,' said Ms Caren. 'The disparity between regional and metropolitan service provision is stark and unsustainable. We need urgent action to expand services in regional areas, particularly culturally safe options for Aboriginal communities. 'Every Western Australian deserves access to safe, appropriate housing, regardless of where they live.' In WA the median length of support is 31 days, compared with 58 days nationally while the median number of nights accommodated was eight, compared with 33 nationally. However, overall 45 per cent of WA clients received accommodation, compared with 29 per cent nationally. MercyCare facilities in Broome, Derby and Kalgoorlie provide accommodation for rough sleepers for up to 28 days helping people travelling to the regional centres for medical appointments, training, cultural events, or family gatherings. Without the facilities such journeys often result in people sleeping on the street or in overcrowded homes. 'Our facilities aren't just about providing a bed for the night,' said Ms Caren. 'We're addressing the root causes by connecting guests with Aboriginal support workers who help them access essential services like health care, employment support and family services.' Rates run from $30 per night or $195 per week for adults and $15 per night or $83 per week for children, with discounts for Health Care Card holders and reduced rates for larger families. WA now has the highest proportion in Australia of people sleeping rough, with the number of people sleeping rough doubling over the past five years, while overall homelessness has risen 8 per cent since 2016. The calls come as the country observes Homelessness Week which runs from August 4 to 10.
