Post Adoption & Former Wards
POST ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, FORMER WARDS & INSTITUTIONAL CARE
If you were adopted or have relinquished a child for adoption, in NSW or other Australian states, then it may be possible to reconnect you with your biological family members.
If you were a Ward or your child was made a Ward of the State
* If you were a ward, click here to see the information on WARDS of NSW or phone (02) 9716 3000.
* Click here to see our Special Search Service Brochure for guidelines
If you were adopted or the birth family of an adopted person
Adopted people usually have two birth certificates. At birth, the original birth certificate, then after a legal adoption, the "amended" birth certificate becomes the "legal" identification.
In Australian states, the adoption information laws have changed so that those named on the original birth certificate are able to apply for identifying information about their birth family, usually those listed on the original birth certificate.
If NSW, what is the process?
If the adoption took place in NSW, then your first step is to make contact with NSW Community Services ADOPTION INFORMATION UNIT. They will provide you with information to get you underway (phone 1300 799 023 or 02 9716 3002).
Other state/country process?
Every state / country has their own criteria for adoptions and care searches and available information. In NSW, the first contact is Community Services, Adoption Information Unit (as above). In Australia, each state has a Community Services equivalent such as Family Services, etc. Other countries usually have similar services also. These local agencies should be contacted to discuss their criteria and conditions.
How to go about searching for the person.
What to do if you find the person yourself.
Hints on Searching.
Once we have found them, what happens?
Contact links:
Community Services (formerly DoCS)
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/DOCS/STANDARD/PC_101070.html
In NSW, Community Services hold the records for adoptions and NSW wards.
Ph: (02) 9716 3002
1300 799 023
The Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages
The Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages is the next step after you have identifying information. If the person you are looking for remained in NSW, then you will probably be able to gather some more current information on them at BDM.
Be aware that each Australian state has their own Registry of BDM and if the person you are looking for has moved interstate, you will need to apply for information from that state’s BDM office if you are eligible to have the details.
Link Up
Provides reunion services to adult Indiginous Australians separated from their families and cultures by government intervention policies such as adoption, fostering or institutionalisation.
Inter-Country Adoptee Support Network
ICASN has been set up to provide support to Adoptees who have been adopted cross-culturally.
The term Inter-Country Adoptee (ICA) generally refers to those who are raised in a country of origin different to their country of birth. ICASN acts to facilitate the interconnections between ICAs.
International Social Services
Helps trace family members separated by adoption or other legal intervention, international child abduction and voluntary or forced migration.
ISS works across borders with those in vulnerable situations, with a special emphasis on children. "We work to ensure entitlement and protection under international human rights frameworks, through the professional delivery of casework and advocacy services."
Self Search
At this point, you should have enough information to begin searching. On our 'What can I do myself?' page you will find a list of publicly accessible resources such as the Electoral Roll, Internet, etc. If you are unable to find the person you are looking for by yourself but you wish to continue the search, you can contact us to help you with the search.
Our Special Search Services
The Special Search Service provides a confidential and professional service, including:
* Information and referral
* Search and mediation
* Assistance in making contact
* Short term telephone counselling for clients
The full resources and search networks of The Salvation Army will be used in your search. The Special Search Service complies with the National Privacy Act and Privacy Principles.
Download the brochure here. Special_Search_Brochure 08.pdf
PARC - Post Adoption Resource Centre (NSW)
The Post Adoption Resource Centre is a service operated by the Benevolent Society.
Vanish (Victoria)
Forgotten Australians, people affected by adoption and people affected by donor conception.
Assistance in searching for birth relatives
SERVICES specifically for people affected by adoption.
Access to information about adoption issues.
Advocacy on behalf of people affected by adoption.
Guidance to adopted people in obtaining adoption records.
Guidance to birth parents wanting to contact children they have relinquished and to adults wanting to contact siblings who were adopted.
SERVICES specifically for people affected by donor conception.
Support with issues arising from donor conception and referral to the Infertility Treatment Authority (ITA)
South Australian Adoption Information
Other adoption services and resources.
http://www.dfc.sa.gov.au/pub/tabid/199/itemid/850/default.aspx
While primarily South Australian, this page offers adoption information and resources for all Australian states and New Zealand.
Recommended Reading:
Some of these publications may be out of print but available in libraries or through support services and groups
STORIES BY WARDS, ex-residents of CHILDRENS’ HOMES, FOSTER CARE
Barbalet, Margaret. (1983), Far From a Low Gutter Girl, Oxford University Press, London.
Biggs, Barbara. (2003), In Moral Danger – True Story, Floradale productions Pty Ltd, Australia.
Davidson, Ron, Ellemant , Connie (1987), The Divided Kingdom, Freemantle Art Centre Press, Western Australia.
Doyle, Evelyn (2002), Evelyn – A True Story, Orion Media, Great Britain.
Evans, Win, O.A.M. (2001), A Rejected Childhood, Parker Pattinson Publishing, Hurstville, Australia.
Gill Alan, (1997), Orphans Of the Empire, Millennium Books, Alexandria NSW Australia.
Hill, David, (2007), The Forgotten Children: Fairbridge Farm School and Its Betrayal of Australia’s Child Migrants. Random House Australia, North Sydney.
Penglase, J.L. (2005) Orphans of the living. Fremantle Arts centre Press. Australia.
Shayler, Kate 1999, The Long Way Home, Random House, Australia.
Vincent, Erin (2007), Grief Girl, Pan Macmillan, Australia.
RESOURCES
Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission & Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (1999), A Piece of the Story – National Directory of Records of Catholic Organisations Caring for Children Separated from Families,St Pauls Publications, Homebush.
Community affairs references committee, (2004), the Senate Committee report - Forgotten Australians – A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children, Government printer, Australia.
Foster Care
Christian, John, (1982), Once Upon A Time, Planet press pty Ltd.
Miller, Beth, (1986), Room for One More – Surviving as a Foster Mum, John Murray Publishers, Ltd, London.
Christine, R. Anthony, M & Jane, A. (1989), Adolescents in Foster families – Child care policy and Practice, B T Batsford Ltd, London.
For people who were part of an Adoption
Birth Mothers
Adoption & Fostering Volume 17, 1993, Post traumatic stress disorder in birthmothers.
MacIsaac, Nancy, (1998), Healing the Hole in A heart – One Birth Mothers Journey into the Adoption Triangle, Nan Mac Isaac Enterprises, U.S.A.
Nan Mac Isaac writes that her passionate wish is that the reader will “experience” the book as they read it.
Midford, Suzanne, 1992 Newsletter, Telling your Spouse, Children and other family that you have relinquished a child, Adoption Research Counselling Inc.
Slaytor P. & McSkimming J., the Secret and Telling, Post Adoption Resource Centre
Goulding, June, 1998, The Light In the Window, Duffy and Snellgrove, Sydney.
Berman, Irene and Jordaan, Eileen, 1996, A Road called Adoption, Angel publishers South Africa.
The characters are fictitious but the stories are based on true situations based on actual cases the authors dealt with over many years of adoption practice in South Africa.
Brown P. Linda & Gediman S. Judith, 1991, Birth Bond – reunions Between Birthparents & Adoptees – What Happens After …, New Horizon Press, New Jersey.
Frame, Tom., Binding Ties: an experience of adoption and reunion in Australia (1999), Hale & Iremonger, Australia.
The is the story of a man who was ambivalent about his adoption and had no burning desire to contact hs birth family. He eventually did meet his birth mother once, but decided not to have further contact.
McCutcheon, Sandy, 2005, The Magician’s Son: the story of a boy who was taken from his family and told they’d never existed. Penguin Books Australia.
Robinson, B. Evelyn, 2000, Adoption and Loss the Hidden Grief, Clova publications, Penglase, J.L. (PHD) 1999, ‘Orphans of the living’: The Home Children NSW 1939-1965, Macquarie University, South Australia.
Evelyn tells her story of an unplanned, teenage pregnancy and its aftermath and then describes the insights that she gained as a social worker into all aspects of adoption and how it affects those who are adopted, those who adopt, and those whose children are adopted by others.
Jones, Brian. (Fr), (1988), Searching for Tony – Profile of a missing person, Spectrum Publications Pty Ltd, Victoria.
The NSW Committee on Adoption and Permanent Care, Inc. 1990,
Further down the track - A collection of Personal experiences of Adoption Reunions.
Adoption the Common Thread - Short Personal Stories of Adoption.
Personal Stories of adoption written by a group of members of Parramatta/ Holroyd family Support Inc, 2000,
The quarterly journal of British Association for Adoption and fostering: Volume 28, 2004, Adoption and Fostering.
Carlson J. E. & Association, 2000, thoughts to consider for newly searching adoptees, CUB. Inc
Committee on Adoption & Permanent Care Inc.,
Birth Fathers:
Articles
Department of Community services, 2001, father whose child was adopted.
Brown, Rob, 2002, My Three sons, branching out: Newsletter of the Post Adoption Resource Centre.
Coles, Gary, 2002, The No Curiosity Shock, Branching out: Newsletter of the Post Adoption Resource Centre.
Gadd, Jeremy, 2003, the truth about my fathers: a memoir, Branching out: Newsletter of the Post Adoption Resource Centre (Volume 10).
Coles, Gary, 2003, Parallel searches, branching out: Newsletter of the Post Adoption Resource Centre (Volume 10).
Contact the NSW Post Adoption Resource Centre or the Salvation Army Special Search Service for other suggestions for further reading.
Contact Us
familytracingservicensw@aue.salvationarmy.org
(02) 9211 0277
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