Our services are for:

• People affected by past adoptions.
• Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people affected by the removal of children because of previous Government policies and legislation.
• People considering being involved in adoption in the future, either through placing their child for adoption or applying to adopt a locally or overseas born child.
• Past customers of the Department wishing to access their records.
• Other Departments or agencies seeking information and advice about adoption or access to information for past customers.
• The Minister for Families and Communities and the South Australian Government regarding policy advice.

Our purpose

We provide information, advice, advocacy, counselling, mediation and assessment about adoption and past separations of children from their families.  Our service is governed primarily by the following:

• The Adoption Act 1988 and Regulations - South Australia.
• The Freedom of Information Act 1991 - South Australia.
• The Family and Community Services Act - South Australia.
• Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 - Commonwealth.
• The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption - International.
• The Family Law (Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption) Regulations 1998 - Australia.
• National Principles in Adoption - Australia.

Our vision

• We are committed to serving the public with kindness, respect and honesty.
• We strive for excellence in the performance of our duties.
• We always do our best.

DFC's role in adoption

Our Department is responsible for the placement of children with prospective adoptive parents once their parents have consented to their adoption. The Adoption Act 1988 and the Adoption Regulations 2004 set out the criteria for assessing people as prospective adoptive parents.

It is not lawful for people to arrange their own adoption.

See our section on Adoption to learn more.