Updated Link for Senate Inquiry Submissions Page

Please click here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/comm_contrib_former_forced_adoption/submissions.htm

Original Birth Certificates of babies who were later to be adopted.

ALAS Australia Inc asked for the following information.

ALAS is writing to you to obtain conformation on the adoption Act of 1964 in regards to Original Birth Certificates of babies who were later adopted.

We understand that with issuing a second birth certificate, and with the secrecy placed around adoption, that once consent forms were signed and adoption orders made, the privacy law came into place.

However, when our babies were born to us, there was no consent form signed or adoption order in place.
The original Birth Certificate should have been given to the mother as; both mother and baby were free from any form of adoption at that time, (at their birth.)

There was no identifying information about adoptive parents on the original Birth Certificate; in fact there was no involvement at all, as there was no court order in place.

Therefore, we would like to know the reason why a new mother was denied her original Birth certificate for her new born baby. We know the entry of birth happened the next day after the birth while mother was still the legal guardian of her baby.

Where in the law does it state that we were not entitled to have our baby’s legal Birth Certificate from the time of their birth to when the court order came into place? They were OUR BABIES!

Our answer from Brisbane Births, Deaths and Marriages;
Up until the time B/D/M received a copy of the adoption order,THERE WAS NO REASON MOTHERS COULD NOT HAVE THEIR BABIES BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
The reason we did not get them?
WE HAD TO APPLY FOR IT!
ANOTHER THING WE WERTE NOT TOLD!

35,766 Queensland adoptions from 1945 to1980.

With the National Principals for overseas adoptions listed on our previous post, we ask,"were there any National Principals in place to protect Australian mothers?"
"Did Australian Mothers not matter?"

1945-1946 Number of adoptions; 852
1946-1947 Number of adoptions; 766
1947-1948 Number of adoptions; 768
1948-1949 Number of adoptions; 879
1949-1950 Number of adoptions; 786
1950-1951 Number of adoptions; 851
1951-1952 Number of adoptions; 860
1952-1953 Number of adoptions; 819
1953-1954 Number of adoptions; 756
1954-1955 Number of adoptions; 662
1955-1956 Number of adoptions; 783
1956-1957 Number of adoptions; 765
1957-1958 Number of adoptions; 771
1958-1959 Number of adoptions; 852
1959-1960 Number of adoptions; 865
1960-1961 Number of adoptions; 814
1961-1962 Number of adoptions; 872
1962-1963 Number of adoptions; 927
1963-1964 Number of adoptions; 1084
1964-1965 Number of adoptions; 1266
1965-1966 Number of adoptions; 1398
1966-1967 Number of adoptions; 1386
1967-1968 Number of adoptions; 1371
1968-1969 Number of adoptions; 1448
1969-1970 Number of adoptions; 1500
1970-1971 Number of adoptions; 1562
1971-1972 Number of adoptions; 1774
1972-1973 Number of adoptions; 1678
1973-1974 Number of adoptions; 1458
1974-1975 Number of adoptions; 1394
1975-1976 Number of adoptions; 1112
1976-1977 Number of adoptions; 1014
1977-1978 Number of adoptions; 660
1978-1979 Number of adoptions; 563
1979-1980 Number of adoptions; 450
Total adoptions;35,766

This research is from Annual report of the Director Dept of Children's Services by J Clarke who has make every effort to provide quality information.

ALAS asks, "Why has the number of adoptions been shown in a financial year?"

Closing date for inquiry 29th February 2012

Submissions Received for the Senate Inquiry into Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices.
There are now 410 submissions on line.
If you would like to read the submissions and answers to the Senators questions for the Senate Inquiry, please click here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/comm_contrib_former_forced_adoption/submissions.htm

National Principals in Adoption

NATIONAL PRINCIPLES IN ADOPTION

[Amended to incorporate obligations that arise out of Australia s compliance with the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Hague Convention on the Protection of. Children and Cooperation
in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.]

1
GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1
The interest of the child is the paramount consideration and the child’s fundamental rights are to be
safeguarded.

2.
The age appropriate views or consent of the child are to be sought and freely given to the adoption
arrangement.
3.
Adoption is a service for children not for adults wishing to acquire the care of a child.
4.
Counselling and support services should be available to children and their family.
5.
Adoption is only one of a range of substitute care services available to families.
6.
Within legal parameters as set down in legislation and international treaties, a flexible approach
should be taken regarding any negotiated arrangements supporting an adoption.
7
Adoption arrangements should be subject to a consistent criterion.

8.
Adoption placements are valued as an important resource in providing permanent family care for
(some) children.
9.
Children who cannot be brought up within their birth family, are entitled to grow up in a permanent,
secure and loving, family environment.
10.
A child has the right to be brought up within their birth family, wherever possible.
11.
A child has the right to be considered for placement within the extended family prior to placement
outside its family.
12.
A birth Family has the right to community and government support to allow the child to be
maintained within the family.
13.
The adopted person/birth family, regardless of age, has the right to independent representation
throughout the adoption process.
14.
The child should preferably be placed in a culturally/ethnically appropriate placement. Adoption is
a process regulated by Australian, State or Territory legislation and International treaties.
15.
Adoption is a process regulated by Australian, State or Territory legislation and international
treaties.

16.
The adopted person’s legal status must be enshrined in legislation.
17.
Persons involved in the adoption process should not be discriminated against or disadvantaged by
Australian, State or Territory legislative differences.
18.
The meaning, effect and recognition of adoption orders should be the same regardless of
State/Territory boundaries.
19.
Authorities should provide equitable and accessible services to all parties of adoption on an
individual basis.
20
State/Territory) Central Authorities (or accredited bodies) have responsibility for the matching of
children with adoptive parents

21
Processing of applications reflect and notification of allocations and the 'forwarding of confidential
information will be undertaken by State/Territory Central Authorities (or accredited bodies).

22.
Adoption arrangements by consenting parties, presented to "courts" should be consistent with the
adoption principles.
23.
Birth parents have the right to express their wishes and be involved in the planning for the
placement of their child.
24.
Birth parents have the right to be kept informed of the progress of their child following placement
with adoptive parents. and to have a right of access to the child if this has been agreed to.
25.
Adoptive parents must be assessed and approved through an approved process according to a
consistent criteria as being suitable to adopt.
26. Adoptive parents and children have a right to legal security.
27 Accredited bodies have a role in supporting and educating adoptive applicants.

WHEN IS ADOPTION APPROPRIATE?

1.
Adoption is one of a range of alternatives of legally securing a child's place in the family. An
adoption order should therefore, only be granted if it is considered to be the best option in the
interests of each particular child.
2.
Adoption should not be considered for children in step-families or living with relatives, unless it
can be demonstrated that a lesser order would not serve the needs of the child.
3.
The availability of orders providing permanent alternative care through the Family Court is
recognised and should be subject to the same principles as apply to adoption orders. Both orders
involve the transfer of care and responsibility of children to a third party.
3.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
1.
All persons who are adopted have a right to know they are adopted.
2.
Adult adopted people have a right to identifying information about their biological parents.
3.
A birth parent as a right to information about his or her child.
4.
A birth parent has a right to identifying information on his or her child once the child has reached
legal adulthood under Adoption legislation.
5.
Adopted people and birth parents have the right to state that they do not wish contact and for that
wish to be conveyed to the other party.
6.
Appropriate information and counselling should be available to all parties to an adoption.
4.
OPEN ADOPTION
Open adoption is an adoption arrangement where ongoing contact between the birth parent(s) and their
child occurs following adoption proceedings and is acknowledged in the adoption order.

1.
Openness and honesty in family relationships should be encouraged in all adoptions.
2.
Openness in adoption arrangements should be achieved as far as is possible with a minimum of
welfare or state intervention and should not undermine the parental authority of adoptive parents.
Notwithstanding this, professional support and advice should be readily available to families
involved in open adoption arrangements.
3.
Birth parents if expressing a desire to do so should be involved in the selection of approved
adoptive parents for their child (ren) having regard to the paramount consideration of the needs of
the child(ren).

SERVICES TO RELINQUISHING PARENTS

1.
Prior to the adoption of a child, the informed consent of each person who is legally the parent of
that child should be sought to the adoption.
2.
Prior to taking consent to an adoption the witness should have responsibility to ensure that the birth
parent has been informed about the implications of adoption and about all the alternatives available
to him or her.
3.
Information about the implications of signing consent to an adoption and explaining the time period
and process for revolving consent should be given to relinquishing parents in writing prior to their
signing consents.
4.
No consent to an adoption should be taken prior to the birth of the child concerned nor for a
specified period after the birth.
5.
Counselling/support should be available to birth parents and consenting children throughout the
period of revocation.
6.
Birth parents should be permitted reasonable access to their children during the revocation period.
7.
Birth parents should be allowed to revoke the adoption consent without pressure at any time during
the revocation period and have the child returned to their car as soon as is possible.
8.
Children should not be placed with prospective adoptive parents until after the revocation period
has expired.
9.
Birth parents should be given as much information as possible about the prospective adoptive
parents and be allowed to participate to the greatest extent as is reasonably practical in the selection
of approved adoptive parents for their child having regard to the paramount consideration of the
needs of the child(ren).
10.
Accredited bodies should ensure that appropriate post adoption counselling and support services are
available to relinquishing parents.
6. ELIGlBlLlTY AND SUITABILITY CRITERIA
1 AGE
1 The maximum age difference between the oldest of the applicants and the first child placed in
the family should be 40 years.

2.
In subsequent placements or where there is already a child in the family the maximum age
difference between the eldest of the applicants and the child should be 45 years.
3.
The age criteria should apply to Australian born and intercountry adoptions.

2.
MARRIAGE
1.
Single applicants should be permitted to apply to adopt a child.
2.
Couples in established defacto relationships be afforded the same status by agencies as
married couples and subject to the same assessment of stability.
3.
HEALTH
1.
Applicants for adoption must meet basic health requirements which will not impede their
ability to care for the child. The life expectancy of the parents and their health should be such
that they can parent the child and provide quality care until the child attains independence.
2. The assessment of health should occur prior to any general assessment of suitability as
adoptive parents.
4.
CRIMINAL ABUSIVE HISTORY
1.
Applicants for adoption should be excluded if they have an established record of violent
offences abuse of children or have had a child removed from their care under child protection
legislation.
5.
APPEAL MECHANISMS
1. Parties in the adoption process should have appropriate review and appeal mechanisms
available to them.
6.
PREPARATION OF APPLICANTS
1.
Preparation of applicants prior to adoption by way of information giving and training is a
crucial and integral part of the adoption process, which assists in self-selection, sustaining
placements and reducing disruption of placements.
7.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN STATES AND TERRITORIES
1.
Central Authorities should co-operate in the exchange of literature on current state
programmes for the continual improvement of their adoption and permanent care
programmes.
8
POST PLACEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

1
Follow up and post placement support are a crucial and integral part of the adoption process.


7.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
1.
No child should be disadvantaged in securing a permanent family placement because of the lack of
resources to support such a placement.
2.
Children with special needs have the same right as any other child to a secure a permanent family
relationship.
8.
ADOPTION ARRANGEMENTS
1.
All adoption arrangements in Australia should be made through Central Authorities or approved
accredited bodies and in accordance with the relevant legislation.
2.
All children have a right to independent counselling/representation to ensure that they understand
the implications of an adoption that their wishes are being heard and to protect their fundamental
rights in the adoption process.
9.
TRANSFER BETWEEN STATES OF APPLICANTS AND CHILDREN
1.
Applicants for adoption should be treated in a fair and equitable manner when transferring their
application between states/territories and not be unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged by such a
transfer.
10.
DlSPENSATION OF CONSENT
1.
State and territory welfare agencies should exercise the option to dispense with parental consent
only when it has been considered along with other options and considered to be in the best interests
of the child.
11.
STEP PARENT AND RELATIVE APPLICATIONS
1.
Custody/guardianship orders through the Family Court that do not interfere with the biological
relationship to birth parents (and siblings) should generally be sought.
2.
Adoption is not considered to be in the best interests of, or appropriate for children in stepfamilies
or living with relatives unless it can be clearly demonstrated that a guardianship order would not
serve their needs.
Taken from Senate Inquiry.

OUR NEXT MEETING 11th February 2012

Our next meeting will be at Four Mile Creek Hotel Gympie Road, Strathine.

(Used to be Country Club, Opp Westfield shopping centre.)

Time; 11 30am onwards.
Please contact; Trish Mob 0417 077 159 ASAP.
We need to know numbers for Bookings.

$10 menu available.

All Welcome.

MEETING FOR 14/1/2012

Our meeting for 14/1/2012 has been cancelled.