People affected by past adoption can request records and information about an adoption.
Adoption-related information includes:
- Information about the adopted person, their natural parents or relatives; and
- Records of adoptions.
Adoption-related information can be very sensitive and personal.
For this reason, if you’re seeking adoption information you must:
- Apply to the Adoption Information Service (External link), and
- Have an interview with a counsellor.
The Adoption Information Service will provide this interview.
What happens next
We will work with the Adoption Information Service to help you access information.
About the Adoption Information Service
The Adoption Information Service helps people affected by adoption. It may:
- Seek copies of adoption-related information
- Help find and contact (where possible) family members
- Provide referrals to support and counselling services.
Support for people affected by adoption
Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH (External link)
VANISH provides free support for people affected by adoption. This may include helping people search for family.
Who BDM can help and how
A natural parent can apply to BDM for their adopted child’s original birth certificate. (This means the pre-adoption certificate.)
The natural parent must be:
- Listed on the original birth certificate; or
- Within the definition of natural parent in the Adoption Act 1984.