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.
If you’re seeking adoption information you must apply to the Adoption Information Service (External link).
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.
An adopted person can also apply to BDM for their original birth certificate if they were adopted:
- By a relative, or spouse or domestic partner of the natural parent; or
- As an adult.
Integrated birth certificates
An integrated birth certificate is a certificate that includes information about:
- an adopted person, at birth and after adoption
- their natural parents (where records are available), and
- their adoptive parents.
We will draw this information from the adopted person's:
- standard (post-adoptive) legal birth certificate, and
- their original (pre-adoptive) birth certificate.
An adopted person may apply for an integrated birth certificate if they:
- Are aged 18 years or over, and
- Were born in and had their adoption registered in Victoria.
An integrated birth certificate is free the first time we issue it. For subsequent applications you must pay the certificate fee.
Learn more about how to apply for an integrated birth certificate.
Integrated birth certificates were a recommendation of the Inquiry into responses to historical forced adoption in Victoria (External link).
Learn more about the implementation of the Victorian Government's response to historical forced adoption (External link).