How to access information about an adoption

All persons seeking information who are residents of Tasmania are required to attend an interview with a counsellor before receiving information of any kind.  

The purpose of counselling is to:

• explain your rights
• make sure you fully understand the rights of others, and to
• help you consider some of the matters that may arise in search and reunion.

There is no fee for counselling.

As an adopted person on reaching the age of 18 years you are entitled to a:

• Certificate allowing access to your original birth record. This is referred to as your Section 80 Certificate.
• The name of your birth mother and possibly the name of your birth father if recorded.
• If a Contact Veto has been registered, you will be required to sign, before being given the information, an Undertaking not to contact the person.
• You may register your wishes about:
  • Exchange of non-identifying information
  • Exchange of identifying information
  • Contact with your birth parents or relatives
  • Veto on contact.

If you are not yet 18 years old, the written agreement of your adoptive parents is needed before any information can be given to you.

Information which could identify your birth parents, and access to your original birth record cannot be given to you unless we can obtain the written agreement of the birth parent or parents who consented to your adoption. You may ask for the Adoption Information Service to seek this written agreement.

As an adoptive parent you can register your wishes about:

• Exchange of non-identifying information
• Exchange of identifying information
• Contact with the birth parents of your adopted child (if he or she is under 18 years old)
• Your adopted child’s contact with his or her birth parents (if he or she is under 18 years old)
• You may register your wish not to be contacted.

Birth parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings, or lineal descendants may register.

You are entitled to:

• Information held on the adoption record about yourself and the adopted person. This will include the adoptive name of your relative. If a contact veto is in place, you will be required to sign a undertaking not to contact the person.
• If your relative is not yet 18 years old, the written agreement of all parents is needed before any identifying information can be given to you. You may ask for the Adoption Information Service to seek this written agreement.

All parties may register a veto on contact.

Your identifying information will only be given out if the person requesting the information signs a legally binding undertaking not to contact you in any way.

You may like to leave a message with the veto. For example – family medical history, if you are happy, married, have children and so on.

You must include your address with a request to register a Contact Veto. A veto will not be recorded unless your name, date of birth and address are provided. Your address will remain confidential.

Fees are usually increased on an annual basis. Please contact the Adoption Information Service for current fees.

Registration only

• The Registration Only Fee places you on the Adoption Information Register
• This means your wishes are known and can be followed if someone registers to seek information about you
• This includes a Contact Veto

Registration only cost – $37.40

Request for information

• You must be registered already to apply for information
• The fee is payable when the service is requested.

Request for information cost – $93.50

The Registration and request for information fee

• The Registration and Information Fee applies to all requests for information
• This includes requests for access to the original birth record.
• The fee is payable at the time of registration.

Registration and request for information cost – $130.90

Fees may be reduced in some circumstances where payment in full would cause hardship. There is no charge for counselling.

All fees will be waived for adoptions that occurred prior to 1988 in recognition of forced adoption practices.

If you would like a registration form sent to you please post the following details to the Adoption Information Service:

• Name
• Address
• Postcode
• Whether a plain envelope is required

Post the details to:

Adoption Information Service
GPO Box 538
HOBART TAS 7001

All enquiries are confidential. NO information will be given to unauthorised persons.

The Register is a list of names and addresses of people affected by adoption, with details of their wishes about exchange or disclosure of information and contact. Entries may be altered or cancelled whenever you wish.

Yes. Your wish can then be passed on to any relative who applies for information. A contact veto is legally binding.

Yes, when requested and subject to any wishes recorded by another person. You may carry out your own search if you wish.

With discretion and regard for your rights to privacy. Normally this will be by a letter to you at the most recent address on the Electoral Roll.

Evidence of that person’s death, for example, a copy of the death certificate, will be needed to allow the release of information.

Priority will be given to requests from adopted persons aged over 45 years, birth parents over 60 years and in circumstances where medical conditions justify urgency.