Street address:
Level 1, 45 Wakefield Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Postal address:
GPO Box 292
Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 8207 0060
Fax: 8207 0066
Email: adoptions@dfc.sa.gov.au

Home » Families and young people » Adoption » Past adoption

The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates will be implemented soon.
You can still find departmental information using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Getting adoption information

Last Updated Nov 2008

The release or restriction of adoption information is regulated by section 27 of the Adoption Act 1988. We are responsible for managing this part of the Act.

Adopted person

If you are over 18 years of age, you can apply to receive:

The names and dates of birth of your birth parents, if known.
The names of any siblings who were also adopted and who have also reached 18 years of age.
Any information held on record that relates to your birth parents and the circumstances of your adoption.
Any message, information or item that has been left for you by another party.
The authority to obtain your original birth certificate.

Lineal descendant of an adopted person

If you are a lineal descendant (eg son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter etc) of an adopted person, you may also apply for the above information relating to your adopted relative. You will need the adopted person's consent to apply for the information unless they are deceased or cannot be located. You will need proof of their death if this is the case.

Birth parents

If you are a birth parent of a child who was adopted, once the adopted person turns 18 years of age, you can apply to receive:

The name given to the adopted person by their adoptive parents.
The names of the adoptive parents.
Other relevant information relating to the adoptive parents or the adopted person.
Any message, information or item that another party has left for you.

Certain relatives

If you are someone who would have been related to the adopted person if the adoption had not taken place, you may also apply to receive the above information once the adopted person has reached 18 years of age. You will need the consent of the birth parents to apply for this information, unless they are deceased or cannot be located. You will need proof of their death if this is the case.

Adoptive parents

If you are an adoptive parent, once the adopted person has reached 18 years of age and with their consent, you can apply to receive:

Information relating to the adopted person's birth parents.
Any message, information or item that has been left by another party for you.