Frequently Asked Questions
What types of families do you work with?
How can I donate to ISS Australia?
Does ISS Australia provide legal advice?
Is it a crime to abduct or kidnap your child overseas?
I want to go overseas with my child but the other parent won’t agree. Can ISS Australia help?
Can ISS Australia arrange for an airport watch list order for a child?
Do you search for birth parents in Australia?
How long does it take to trace a family member overseas?
Why are some ISS Australia services free but others involve a fee?
I am in another country and I need help with a family issue in Australia. Who should I contact?
What is ISS Australia’s relationship with the global International Social Service network?
What types of families do you work with?
Assistance is provided to those who have been separated from family members as a consequence of international movement, which can include migration, divorce, asylum seeking, trafficking and parental abduction.
How can I donate to ISS Australia?
You can donate to ISS Australia by completing a Membership/Donation form and sending it to us, or by calling the National Office on 03 9614 8755.
All donations are tax deductible, and go directly to support the provision of services to clients in Australia.
Does ISS Australia provide legal advice?
ISS Australia provides social work services only . We cannot provide legal advice, however we can provide clients with a list of lawyers experienced in Hague Convention, international parental child abduction or other international matters.
Is it a crime to abduct or kidnap your child overseas?
Under Australian law, it is not a criminal offence to abduct your child overseas. However, if there are existing (or pending) court orders concerning the child and you take the child overseas without the consent of the other parent, you could face serious legal consequences.
International parental child abduction is a crime in some countries.
Even though it is not a crime in Australia, international parental child abduction can have a serious lasting impact on a child’s wellbeing.
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental Child Abduction is an international convention that Australia has signed, along with many other countries. It provides a legal framework for the return of a child to their country of ‘habitual residence.’ For more information on the Convention, please follow this link.
I want to go overseas with my child but the other parent won’t agree. Can ISS Australia help?
ISS Australia takes a mediation based approach to family issues across international borders. We can provide information and advice on the best way to negotiate an arrangement that keeps the best interests of the child in mind. We can assist the client to look at different options and provide advice on how to formalise any agreements about the child.
Can ISS Australia arrange for an airport watch list order for a child?
No, this is an order obtained through the family court. ISS Australia can explain how the order works and the process in seeking such an order.
Do you search for birth parents in Australia?
ISS Australia conducts tracing when one party is in another country. If you are in Australia, and you believe the family member you are looking for is in Australia, you can contact the Salvation Army for tracing assistance. If you believe the family member is in another country, you can contact ISS Australia for assistance.
How long does it take to trace a family member overseas?
Many factors influence how long a tracing case may take, and there is no guarantee that the sought person will be located. The amount and accuracy of information available, and the resources in the other country might influence the length of the case. Your ISS Australia social worker will keep you updated throughout the case.
Why are some ISS Australia services free but others involve a fee?
Some of ISS Australia’s services are free because they are funded by the government. Other services are not funded, therefore ISS Australia needs to charge fees in order to deliver the service.
I am in another country and I need help with a family issue in Australia. Who should I contact?
You should contact the ISS representative in your country, and they can make a referral to ISS Australia. Please click on this link for a list of ISS representatives worldwide.
I am a birth parent living in Australia, who placed a child for adoption in the UK. Can you assist me in searching for my child?
Unfortunately the UK Adoption Act 2002 only permits UK based agencies to receive birth information about adopted persons. ISS Australia can provide information about agencies in the UK that can assist you to obtain this information.
What is ISS Australia’s relationship with the global International Social Service network?
ISS Australia is an independent Australian entity (in legal terms, a not for profit company, limited by guarantee) governed by its own Board of Directors. It is a member of the International Social Service network, with the status of a Branch (independent NGO member). The global ISS network is made up of members (Branches, Affiliated Bureaus and Correspondents) in over 140 countries worldwide. Branch and Bureau representatives make up the ISS International Council (IC), the network’s supreme decision-making body which meets every two years. Between IC meetings, the network is governed by a seven-member Governing Board (GB), headed by the International President (position currently vacant). The GB is assisted in its role by the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), made up of the Executive Directors (chief executives or equivalents) of each Branch and Bureau; the PAC’s Chair (currently Mrs Julie Rosicky, Executive Director, ISS USA) sits on the Governing Board as a result of holding that office. The PAC works closely with the network’s General Secretariat, based in Geneva, Switzerland and headed by the ISS Secretary-General, Jean Ayoub, on addressing current issues in the network and identifying areas for future development.