Australian Capital Territory

Department Responsible

Family Information Service, ACT Adoptions and Permanent Care Unit, Community Services Directorate

Phone:: 6207 1335
Fax:: 02 6207 8888
Email:: adoptions@act.gov.au
Website:: http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/adoptions

Open Close Identifying Information

Who is entitled?

Where the adopted person is over the age of 18 years, the adopted person, parents, some birth relatives and adoptive parents may access identifying information about the other party to the adoption. Adopted persons under the age of 18 may sometimes obtain identifying information where the parents and adoptive parents agree to it in writing.

What is the process?

Upon application, the Family Information Service will supply identifying information from the Adoption File and an authorisation for the applicant to obtain the original or amended birth certificate. This may be taken to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to receive the relevant birth certificate.

What records or information may be received?

Original and amended birth certificates
Background information from the adoption file, e.g. full names, ages, physical characteristics, education, occupation, relevant medical history
Open Close Non-identifying Information

Who is entitled?

An adopted person under the age of 18, parents and adoptive parents may access non-identifying information.

What is the process?

Upon application, the Family Information Service will supply non-identifying information from the adoption file.

What records or information may be received?

Given names only, ages, medical information , racial background, education, profession, physical characteristics, personality, specific talents/hobbies
Open Close Mandatory Interviews

Applicants for identifying information who have a contact veto against them must attend a compulsory counselling session prior to receiving information. A contact veto that is placed after identifying information has been released to another party is not legally valid. Family Information Service will offer counselling to any party to an adoption.
Open Close Contact Vetoes

Contact vetoes are available to any party to an adoption which took place prior to 2010. There are no contact veto provisions for adoptions since 2010. Contact vetoes may be placed for either a specified or indefinite period of time against other parties to the adoption. Identifying information may still be obtained where a contact veto is in place, provided that the applicant attends a compulsory counselling session and signs an undertaking not to make contact
Open Close Reunion and Information Register

Adopted persons, parents, adoptive parents, adoptive relatives and birth relatives may add their names to the register to be reunited. Permission of the adoptive parents is required where the adopted person is under the age of 18.
Open Close Fees

No fees apply to services from the Family Information Service.
Open Close Legislation regarding access to records
Adoption Act 1993

Australian Capital Territory

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Department Responsible

Who is entitled?

What is the process?

What records or information may be received?

Who is entitled?

What is the process?

What records or information may be received?