Australians cannot simply arrange a private adoption directly from another country. The adoption must be lawful in the country the child comes from and lawful within Australia. Adoption is a state responsibility and therefore the local state governments are responsible for approving intercountry adoptions for Australian citizens. The following provides a starting point for contacting authorities in each state/territory in Australia.
Australian Capital Territory
Adoptions Unit
PO Box 1584
Tuggeranong ACT 2901
Tel: 02 6207 1080
Fax: 02 6207 8888
Email: adoptions@act.gov.au
Web: www.decs.act.gov.au/services/adoptions.htm
Northern Territory
Department of Health and Community Services
Family and Children’s Services Adoption Unit
PO Box 40596
Casurina NT 0811
Tel: 08 8922 7077
Fax: 08 8922 7480
New South Wales
DoCS Adoption and Permanent Care Services
Tel: 02 8855 4900
Email: adoption@community.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/adoption
Queensland
Local and Post Adoption Services Unit
Department of Communities
GPO Box 806
Brisbane QLD 4000
Tel: 07 3224 7415
Fax: 07 3210 0350
Web: www.families.qld.gov.au/family/adoption
South Australia
Adoption and Family Information Service
PO Box 287
Rundle Mall
Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: 08 8207 0060
Fax: 08 8207 0066
Email: adoptions@saugov.sa.gov.au
Web: www.adoptions.sa.gov.au
Tasmania
Adoption & Information Service
Dept of Health & Human Services
GPO Box 538
Hobart TAS 7001
Tel: 03 6222 7373
Fax: 03 6223 1343
Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/adoption/
Victoria
Intercountry Adoption
Community Care Division
Department of Human Services
20/555 Collins Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel: 03 9616 7137
Fax: 03 9616 7974
Email: Susette.Guttmann@dhs.vic.gov.au
Web: www.dhs.vic.gov.au
Western Australia
Department for Community Development
189 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004
Tel: 08 9222 2870
Fax: 08 9222 2581
Web: www.community.wa.gov.au
More information on Services:
The General Secretariat - International Resource Centre
Intercountry Adoptions Contacts
More information on Tracing a Family Member: