Frequently Asked Questions

What is the WA Twin Register?
The WA “Twin” Register was established in 1997 and comprises all volunteering multiples - that is, twins, triplets, quadruplets and quintuplets - born in WA. Multiples who have already joined the Register have taken part in a number of research projects looking at asthma and allergies, behavioural problems, early language development and the impact of loss and grief on multiple birth families. The WA Twin Register is the only population-based register of twins and other multiples in Australia, and one of only a few twin-family registers anywhere in the world. The WATR was initially set up in 1997 as part of the WA Twin Child Health (WATCH) study, to look at children (born during 1980-1992), specifically focusing on studies into asthma and ADHD. Follow-up studies enabled further investigation into asthma as well as studies looking into language development.
The Register is now being extended to include multiples of all ages born in Western Australia.
Why study multiples?
Multiples can help research in ways that other people cannot. By studying both the similarities and differences between multiples, this type of research can help provide convincing evidence for causes into various diseases. For example, twin pairs where one was a long term smoker and the other a non-smoker have provided evidence of a harmful effect of tobacco smoking on bone density. Research on multiples can help researchers draw conclusions about the roles that genetic and environmental factors have in health and behaviour. They can also learn more about what it means to be a multiple. This information is not only useful to multiples but also to their families and the rest of the community. It may help in the development of new treatments or prevention strategies for a variety of conditions which can be used to improve the health of the community.
What is the purpose of the WA Twin Register?
Although most multiples are fit and well, as a group they are still at increased risk of some medical conditions and developmental problems. By studying multiples in WA, the WA Twin Register will provide clear information about the health of multiples and their families. It will also help researchers across Australia develop research programmes in the future.
Who is running the WA Twin Register?
The research team is a partnership between public health and medical scientists in Western Australia, all of whom have an interest in the special needs of multiples. Two major research centres in WA – the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR) and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) – are involved in running the Register.

The Register has the support of the WA Branch of the Australian Multiple Birth Association and the Perth & Districts Multiple Birth Association, and is a node of the Australian Twins Registry.
Is participation compulsory?
No, your participation is entirely voluntary. You may also withdraw from the Register at any time, but to make sure that any future studies are as useful as possible, we would like to enrol as many multiples as we can.
Is the WA Twin Register the same as the ATR?
The WA Twin Register receives funding from the Australian Twin Registry (ATR) based at the University of Melbourne. The Director of the ATR, Professor John Hopper, is one of the senior scientists involved with the WA Twin Register. The WA Register complements the ATR (which registers between 10% and 20% of multiples nationwide), while to date we have enrolled almost 60% of multiples in WA. The ATR has made a major contribution to health research in Australia and we believe that the WATR will do the same. You may already be a member of the ATR, but we would still like you to join the WA Register.
Where did you get my name from?
For the expansion to include adult multiples born since 1974, names were identified from records of women who have given birth in WA since 1974. This information is held as a legal requirement by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Using it, we are able to identify people born as twins, triplets, quadruplets or quintuplets. In releasing this information to us, the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages has agreed that the Register will be of great benefit to the community. In addition, the study has approval from the relevant Ethics and Confidentiality of Health Information Committees.
What does belonging to the WA Twin Register involve?
You will be asked to fill in a short registration form about yourself and to return it to us. Should you allow us to do so, you may be invited at a later date to participate in research studies looking at areas of particular importance to multiple birth individuals and their families. You are under no obligation to take part in any future studies even if you agree to join the WA Twin Register.
What is in it for me?
The longer-term goal will be to provide tailored services for multiples and their families in WA.
How will confidentiality be assured?
All information that you give us will be treated confidentially. All original material will be stored in secure facilities at WAIMR. The data collected will be stored in password-protected computer files on a high-security computer system at WAIMR, and may be accessed only by approval from an Ethics Committee. Results of any study will be published in a form that does not allow identification of any individual or family. Your privacy will be protected at all times during the study.
What do I do now?
If you would like to join the WA Twin Register, click here to see how to register. If you have any further questions, please feel free to cont act us.