Leslie Massey
If you are an adoptee in Australia who is interested in finding your birth parents, there are several resources and services available to help you. It is important to note that adoption legislation varies across states in Australia, so the records you can access and how you access them will depend on the state in which you were adopted. You may also want to consider discussing your decision with your adoptive parents and ensuring that you have a good support network in place, as the process can be emotionally challenging.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Search for | "Adoptions" and filter results |
| Organisations | Anglicare Adoption Services, Find & Connect Support Service, Post Adoption Resource Centre, Jigsaw, Family Information Service, Adoption and Permanent Care Services, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages |
| Contact details | Postal address: 19A Gibbons St, Telopea NSW 2117, Phone: (02) 9890 6800, Website: https://www.anglicare.org.au/locations/telopea/anglicare-telopea-office/, Phone: 02 9504 6788, Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or international +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC), Postal address: Adoptions Section NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages GPO Box 30 Sydney NSW 2001 |
| Documents | Birth certificates, pre-adoption birth certificates, Integrated Birth Certificate, Adoption Information Certificate (AIC), post-adoption information, pre-adoption information, legal identity document, post-adoption birth certificate |
| Requirements | At least 3 forms of current identity, one of each from Categories 1, 2 and 3, proof of ID documents, authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services, application form |
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What You'll Learn
Accessing adoption records
Adoption records are closed to public access for 99 years from their creation to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Records of adoptions that occurred before 1929 are often not very detailed, and in some cases, no records are held at all. Adoptions were not formally regulated by the State of Victoria until the Adoption of Children Act 1928 became law in July 1929.
If you are seeking access to your own adoption records or someone else's when the records are less than 99 years old, you can visit the Guide to accessing Victorian Child Welfare and Adoption Records. The amount of information recorded varies depending on when the adoption occurred. More recent adoption records generally contain more information than earlier ones.
Organisations that can help
- The Post Adoption Resource Centre offers help to people looking for relatives and support to those who have decided to get in touch with family members.
- Jigsaw offers help, support and information for people who are adopted.
- Jigsaw Queensland provides services to those affected by adoption.
- Jigsaw Western Australia provides services to those affected by adoption.
- ARCS - Adoption Research and Counselling Service provides counselling, support and information for those affected by adoption.
- The Family Information Service can be contacted for information about ACT adoptions.
- The Benevolent Society Post Adoption Resource Centre provides information, counselling and a range of other services to anyone affected by adoption in NSW and the ACT.
- Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adoption Unit incorporates a Family Information Service.
- International Social Service Australia provides social work services to families, children and single adults across international borders. Their intercountry services include family tracing and reunification, international family mediation, kinship care and other child welfare matters, and support for families experiencing international parental child abduction.
Applying for adoption records
To apply for adoption records, you will need to complete an application form with Adoption and Permanent Care Services (or from the interstate or overseas agency where the adoption was processed). If information is available, Adoption and Permanent Care Services will send you a package of information and documentation. It will include an authorisation allowing you to purchase information from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
You can also visit the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane, with the completed application form, your original authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services and original proof of ID documents.
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Contacting birth parents
If you are an adopted person or an eligible relative trying to contact your birth parents, you can apply for pre-adoption information. This will come in the form of a certificate that cannot be used for identification purposes and will be stamped 'Not to be used for official purposes'.
To apply for this information, you must first obtain authorisation from Adoption and Permanent Care Services (or from the interstate or overseas agency where the adoption was processed). You will then need to fill in an application form, which you can submit by post or in person. You will also need to provide proof of ID documents and the authorisation, which must be certified by a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person.
The total cost of applying for this information will be calculated when you fill in the application form online. You will be able to pay via EFTPOS or credit card, or in cash at the customer service centre.
Once you have received the adoption records, you can start to search official records for information about your birth parent(s). You can search births, deaths and marriages records and electoral rolls. This process can take a long time—many months or even longer.
In Victoria, you can contact VANISH (Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help) on 1300 826 474 for support. The Victorian State Government Department of Justice and Community Safety also provides Adoption Information Services (AIS) to help people separated by adoption. You can call them on 1800 21 03 13 or email [email protected]
In New South Wales, you can contact Anglicare Adoption Services by post at 19A Gibbons St, Telopea NSW 2117, or by phone on (02) 9890 6800. The Find & Connect Support Service can help people who lived in orphanages and children's institutions look for their records.
It is important to respect the privacy of all people involved when trying to contact birth parents. Victoria’s Adoption Act prohibits the publication of any identifying information about people involved in an adoption without their consent.
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Support services
Barnardos Australia is an organisation that facilitates open adoption from foster care in NSW and ACT. They hold free information events and education sessions about the foster-to-adopt process. They welcome prospective parents of all backgrounds and cultures, including single people, couples, and members of the LGBTQIA community.
The Australian Government funds the Intercountry Adoptee and Family Support Service (ICAFSS), which provides free post-adoption support to adoptees and adoptive families. ICAFSS offers counselling and case management services to help individuals and families manage the challenges that intercountry adoption may pose.
The Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC) provides information, counselling, intermediary services, therapeutic groups, and support to people affected by adoption in NSW.
Jigsaw offers help, support, and information for people who are adopted.
The Find & Connect Support Service helps people who lived in orphanages and children's institutions look for their records.
Relationships Australia provides counselling support and information, and support services to assist with challenges related to intercountry adoption.
International Social Service (ISS) Australia offers intercountry adoption and post-adoption tracing support.
Specialised support services are also available for specific communities, including:
- Korean Adoptees in Australia Network (KAIAN Inc): A resource for adult Korean adoptees in Australia, providing information, raising awareness, and building a supportive community.
- Families with Children from China – Australia (FCC-Australia): A supportive community for adoptive families and children from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
- World Families Australia Inc: A support network for members of the adoption community.
- Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH): A community organisation based on the self-help model, offering support and information to empower individuals to make informed decisions.
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Adoption certificates
- Purpose of Adoption Certificates: Adoption certificates are essential for establishing legal parent-child relationships for adopted children and their adoptive parents. They serve as official recognition of the adoption and are used for various administrative and legal purposes.
- Obtaining Adoption Certificates: In Australia, adoption certificates are typically issued by state or territory authorities. The specific process for obtaining an adoption certificate may differ depending on the state or territory. In some cases, adoptive parents may receive the certificate as part of the adoption process, while in other cases, they may need to apply for it separately through the relevant government department.
- Types of Adoption Certificates: There are different types of adoption certificates in Australia. One type is the "post-adoption birth certificate," which is issued after the finalisation of the adoption process. This type of certificate typically includes the names of the adoptive parents and can be used as an identity document. Another type is the "integrated birth certificate," which may also be available in certain states, such as Victoria and South Australia. Integrated birth certificates include information about both the birth parents and the adoptive parents.
- Using Adoption Certificates: Adoption certificates are commonly used for official purposes, such as applying for government benefits, passports, licences, and other identity-related documents. When applying for these documents, it is often recommended to use the post-adoption birth certificate to avoid potential confusion or delays in the application process.
- Accessing Adoption Records: Adopted individuals who wish to access their adoption records or connect with their birth relatives can seek assistance from specialised services. Organisations such as the Post Adoption Resource Centre and Jigsaw in Australia offer support and resources to help individuals navigate the process of finding birth parents and accessing adoption-related information.
- Emotional Support: The decision to find adoptive parents and access adoption records can be emotionally complex. It is important to consider your emotional well-being throughout the process. Support services, counselling, and resources are available to help individuals work through their feelings and address any concerns they may have. Open communication with adoptive parents and a strong support network can also provide valuable assistance during this journey.
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Adoption legislation
Australia's adoption legislation has undergone significant changes since the first laws were introduced in the 1920s. Initially, these laws fostered relatively \"open\" adoptions, but a shift occurred in the 1960s with a new wave of legislation that emphasised a \"clean break\" from birth parents. This era's principle of secrecy aimed to protect adoptive parents from stigma or interference and shield unmarried mothers from societal shame. However, the damaging effects of such secretive practices were later recognised, leading to reviews and cautious reversals of these policies in the 1970s and 1980s.
The 1970s saw a decrease in the number of adoptions, influenced by increasing social acceptance of single-parent families and de facto relationships, along with improved access to contraception and abortion. During this period, all Australian states and territories re-examined adoption laws, and National Adoption Conferences provided a platform for those affected by adoption to unite with professionals and researchers, catalysing activism for reform. By the mid-1970s, the belief emerged that children should remain with their biological parents whenever possible.
In 2005 and 2007, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services brought adoption back into the political spotlight. Australia witnessed its first legal gay adoption in 2007, but the federal government soon moved to prevent same-sex couples from adopting children from overseas and refused to recognise their adopted children. The proposed Family Law (Same-Sex Adoption) Bill aimed to amend the 1975 Family Law Act and override state laws on international adoptions, but it was removed from the agenda after the Coalition's election defeat.
Currently, adoptions in Australia are classified as local or intercountry, with local adoptions including known child adoptions by relatives, stepparents, or carers. Government agencies or approved adoption agencies handle the process, and private adoptions are unlawful. Each state and territory has central authorities that approve adoptions or adhere to immigration requirements for expatriate adoption. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, enacted in varying degrees across Australia, prioritises the placement of these children within their communities or families, ensuring cultural connection and support. Additionally, organisations like Adopt Change and National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM), founded by Deborra-lee, have been instrumental in improving adoption programs, procedures, and legislation, advocating for vulnerable children's wellbeing.
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Frequently asked questions
It is normal to want to find your birth parents. First, talk to your adoptive parents about your interest in finding your birth parents. Then, make sure you have a good support network, whether it’s your adoptive parents, a friend, counsellor or psychologist. You can then contact the relevant authority to request information about adoption and adoption records. In Queensland, for example, you can apply for information about the identity of your birth parents through the Adoption and Permanent Care Services.
The type of information you will receive depends on the state in which you were adopted. In Queensland, the certificate issued by the Adoption and Permanent Care Services cannot be used for identification purposes and will be stamped 'Not to be used for official purposes'.
You can make a Contact Veto to stop people involved in your adoption from contacting you.
A Contact Veto prevents contact between adoptees and their birth parents if either party does not approve. To make a Contact Veto, contact the Family Information Service.
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