The Adoption Act 1984 gave people who were adopted in Victoria the right to obtain information about their adoption. More than 32,000 people have now registered with the Adoption and Family Records Service (AFRS), a part of the Department of Human Services (DHS). After registering, adult adopted persons are entitled to receive information about their origins, including the names of their birth parents. This brochure outlines the information and services available through the AFRS, non-government Adoption and Family Records Services and self-help and support groups.

Birth Certificates

If you are uncertain about whether you were adopted, you may apply for a certified copy of your birth certificate in your adoptive name to:

The registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
ground floor, Transport House 
589 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Telephone: (03) 9603 5800
Fax: (03) 9603 5880

At the registry there is a section specifically concerned with Adoption. The people who work there are aware of and sensitive to your particlar needs.

If your full birth certificate (not the extract) is a 'SIXTH SCHEDULE', it will mean you are legally adopted. If it is a 'FORM 2' and you have reason to believe you are adopted you should contact the AFRS.

How to Apply for Information

The AFRS is the best place to start if you are not sure whether there was an agency involved, or the agency has since closed down.
If you know the name of the non-government adoption agency you believe arranged the adoption, you may apply there for information. Addresses for the AFRS and existing adoption agencies are listed below.

The Interview

During the interview you will receive the information for which you have applied. You will also be informed whether the AFRS has received any enquiries concerning you (from a birth parent or relative). The AFRS offers a choice of an individual or a group interview. An individual interview offers an opportunity to discuss privately with a counsellor the adoption information you receive, your wishes regarding searching and contact and any other issues important to you with regard to adoption.

A group interview offers an opportunity to discuss with other people issues of adoption, searching and contact in a group setting. Group discussion can be a very supportive experience at this stage of obtaining information. The interview is not a personal assessment. It is a discussion and information session explaining the services available to you through the AFRS and support and self-help groups in the community.

Tracing Your Birth Parents

After the interview you may want to trace your birth parents. You may have important questions that only your birth mother or birth father can answer. You may wish to let a birth parent know how your life has been. Perhaps you wish to meet someone who is related to you and establish ongoing contact. Many, although not all, birth parents agree to exchange information or meet the child they placed for adoption.
If you are not sure how you feel, counsellors can assist you with your decision and tell you about the experiences of others who have traced their birth parents. A number of resources are available if you decide to go ahead:

• A search-guide booklet, given to you at the interview.
• The Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH), a free service which provides support and search advice.
• A telephone search advice service at VANISH with a toll-free (1800) number.
• Adoption: Myth and Reality, a DHS booklet about the experiences of people who have traced birth parents.

Passports

Adopted persons do not need their original birth certificate to obtain a passport. If you intend applying for a passport, simply apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and ask for your place of birth to be added to your adoptive birth certificate, if it is not already recorded. There is no charge for this.

Further Information

Counsellors are available at the AFRS to provide more information or talk over some of the issues with you. Adoptive parents are also welcome to discuss concerns they may have about birth parent contact. Telephone (03) 8608 5700 or 1300 769 926 during office hours. There is also a network of adoption support groups throughout Victoria where you can meet other people and share adoption experiences. The AFRS can give you contact numbers for these groups. The AFRS also provides speakers for community groups and schools to raise community awareness and understanding of the needs and experiences of people affected by adoption. Information on local and country adoption support groups can be obtained from the AFRS on (03) 8608 5700 or 1300 769 926.