South Australia

Department Responsible

Adoption and Family Information Service (AFIS), Department for Education and Child Development

Level 7, 108 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000

Phone:: 08 8207 0060
Fax:: 08 8207 2366
Email:: adoptions@sa.gov.au
Website:: http://www.families.sa.gov.au/pages/adoption/ContactAFIS/

Open Close Identifying Information

Who is entitled?

Parents and adopted persons may access identifying information about the other party when the adopted person is over 18 years of age. Adoptive parents may access identifying information with the written consent of the adopted person and proof of relationship. Certain relatives of these parties may apply to access identifying information in prescribed circumstances.

What is the process?

Upon receiving an application form, Adoption and Family Information Service will provide an Authorisation. The person can present the Authorisation to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages to receive a copy of the original or amended birth certificate as well as conducting further searches for the other party.

What records or information may be received?

Copy of the amended or original birth certificate Identifying social and medical information from the adoption file e.g. names and dates of birth, occupations, physical characteristics
Open Close Support

Who is entitled?

Parties to an adoption who are prevented from receiving identifying information because of a contact veto may apply to receive non-identifying information.

What is the process?

Persons should apply to Adoption and Family Information Service. If you choose to only receive non-identifying information (rather than being subject to a contact veto), you may indicate this on the application form

What records or information may be received?

Social and medical information from the adoption file with any identifying information removed e.g. occupations, physical characteristics
Open Close Mandatory Interviews

There are no mandatory interviews for applicants for adoption information in South Australia.
Open Close Contact Vetoes

Information vetoes could be placed by adopted persons, parents and adoptive parents where the adoption took place prior to 17 August 1989. Information vetoes prevent access to identifying information, but a person with a veto against them may still receive non-identifying information. Vetoes are valid for 5 years unless cancelled, and may be extended at the end of this period. The person lodging the veto may choose whether they wish to be notified about requests made for their identifying information or if they would like to receive messages left for them by other parties.
Open Close Passive Contact Register

The register allows for parties to an adoption to indicate whether they would like a desire for contact to be maintained on file. The desire for contact would be activated in the eventuality of an approach from the other party to the adoption.
Open Close Fees

An administrative fee of $59.00 applies, but may be waived in certain circumstances. The fee is indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and may change.
Open Close Legislation regarding access to records
The Adoption Act 1988 and Regulations; Family and Community Services Act

South Australia

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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?