Attachment H: Adoption Information Provided by State State Legislation Access conditions Information available Contact and information vetoes NSW Adoptive Adoptees and natural If adoption took place before 1 Natural parents and adult Act 2000 parents can apply for Jan 2010, adoptees and natural adoptees are able to lodge a information if adoptee parents can access identifying contact veto if adoption took is aged 18 or over information place before 26 Oct 1990 If adoptee is under 18 Identifying information includes Contact veto provisions do not years, permission from name, date of birth, address, apply to adoptions made after the adoptive parent or original birth certificate, amended 26 Oct 1990 guardian is required birth certificate, and birth record and adoption order The Adoption Information Unit in the Department of Family and Community Services facilitates access. Vic. Adoption All parties to an Adoptees can access identifying No contact veto system in Act 1984 adoption can apply for information in adoption records, Victoria information including natural parents’ names Restrictions on the release of and origins Vic. Government’s identifying information can be Family Information Permission from natural parent is placed by adoptees via the Networks and required if information concerning Adoption Information Register Discovery (FIND) their current whereabouts is service facilitates sought access Other parties, including natural parents, can access information initially, including placement and adoptive family history Other parties can access identifying information with written consent of adoptees aged over 18 years, or of adoptive parents if adoptee is under 18 Qld Adoption Qld government-funded Adoptee, natural parents and Contact veto in place for Act 2009 Post Adoption Support eligible relatives if adoptee is adoptions that took place Queensland (PASQ) aged 18 or over can access before June 1991 service facilitates identifying information Objections to contact were access Specific criteria are in place replaced by “contact Adoptees, natural regarding information to and from statements” in Feb 2010 parents and eligible natural fathers Contact vetoes are impacted relatives can apply for by the Adoption Act 2009. The information if adoptee Act allows information provision is aged 18 or over if the seeker signs an Restrictions apply if a acknowledgement indicating Children’s Court order they are aware a contact prevents information’s statement is in place and that it release, where that would be an offence to contact release would pose an the other person. (Offence unacceptable risk of provisions with a maximum harm penalty of imprisonment for two years apply.)
Attachment H: Adoption Information Provided by State State Legislation Access conditions Information available Contact and information vetoes NSW Adoptive Act 2000 Adoptees and natural parents can apply for information if adoptee is aged 18 or over If adoptee is under 18 years, permission from the adoptive parent or guardian is required The Adoption Information Unit in the Department of Family and Community Services facilitates access. If adoption took place before 1 Jan 2010, adoptees and natural parents can access identifying information Identifying information includes name, date of birth, address, original birth certificate, amended birth certificate, and birth record and adoption order Natural parents and adult adoptees are able to lodge a contact veto if adoption took place before 26 Oct 1990 Contact veto provisions do not apply to adoptions made after 26 Oct 1990 Vic. Adoption Act 1984 All parties to an adoption can apply for information Vic. Government’s Family Information Networks and Discovery (FIND) service facilitates access Adoptees can access identifying information in adoption records, including natural parents’ names and origins Permission from natural parent is required if information concerning their current whereabouts is sought Other parties, including natural parents, can access information initially, including placement and adoptive family history Other parties can access identifying information with written consent of adoptees aged over 18 years, or of adoptive parents if adoptee is under 18 No contact veto system in Victoria Restrictions on the release of identifying information can be placed by adoptees via the Adoption Information Register Qld Adoption Act 2009 Qld government-funded Post Adoption Support Queensland (PASQ) service facilitates access Adoptees, natural parents and eligible relatives can apply for information if adoptee is aged 18 or over Restrictions apply if a Children’s Court order prevents information’s release, where that release would pose an unacceptable risk of harm Adoptee, natural parents and eligible relatives if adoptee is aged 18 or over can access identifying information Specific criteria are in place regarding information to and from natural fathers Contact veto in place for adoptions that took place before June 1991 Objections to contact were replaced by “contact statements” in Feb 2010 Contact vetoes are impacted by the Adoption Act 2009. The Act allows information provision if the seeker signs an acknowledgement indicating they are aware a contact statement is in place and that it would be an offence to contact the other person. (Offence provisions with a maximum penalty of imprisonment for two years apply.)