The NSW Adoption Act (2000) allows both adopted persons and birth parents access to identifying information about each other.
Adopted people also have the right to specific information from records in hospitals, adoption service providers and the NSW Department of Community Services. Legislation regarding searches differs throughout the Australian states and territories, and internationally.
PARC provides an intermediary service to help you with search, reunion, and ongoing contact.
Questions to ask yourself before searching
- Have you thought about your situation carefully - who makes contact, how will contact be made, what can you offer the person you are searching for?
- Are you able to understand the feelings of the other party?
- Are you able to give the person as much time as they need to make a decision about contact?
- Have you thought about your situation carefully - who makes contact, how will contact be made, what can you offer the person you are searching for?
Information about searching and reunion
Follow the links below if you are affected by adoption in NSW:
Advance Notice
Advance Notice provides adoptive parents, an adopted person, or a birth parent time to prepare themselves before the release of identifying information and possible contact by a searcher. See below for more information
Responding to a contact from a birth relative
Read below about about how to prepare yourself to respond to contact from a birth relative.
Searching in other Australian states
Please see the link "Australian Adoption Information" below to download information about searching in other states of Australia or if you are affected by adoption in a state other than NSW.
Transracial adoption
Check this link for information specific to transracial adoption experiences and see the relevant Information sheets below.
Advice from others who have searched
- Be patient
- Proceed cautiously at your own pace
- Don't expect too much too soon
- Be clear about your expectations of contact
- Prepare yourself for rejection
- Respect people's confidentiality
- Deal with your own unresolved issues prior to making contact
- Never forget that although you may have been searching for some time, the other person may only just be beginning to think of you as a real person.
If you have difficulties with your search or would like to discuss any aspect of your adoption experience, contact PARC.