Adoptions

BDM’s role in adoptions

Under the Adoption Act 1984 BDM can:

Register adoptions
Issue birth certificates for adopted people
Provide information about adoptions to:
- The Adoption Information Service
- People affected by adoption, subject to the BDM Access Policy.

A person affected by adoption may seek information from BDM on their natural family members. This may help the person identify, search for, and contact them.

They can do this by:

applying directly to BDM, or
having the Adoption Information Service(opens in a new window) seek information on their behalf.

The BDM Registrar decides whether to grant access to information that may help a person search for their natural family. The Registrar does this on a case-by-case basis. The Registrar’s decision is guided by BDM’s Access Policy. The policy details how BDM protects privacy and enables appropriate access.

In making a decision, the BDM Registrar will take into account factors including:

Protecting the privacy of the person(s) to whom the information relates
The sensitivity of the information
Whether an applicant has an adequate reason for access
Other relevant factors.

If you have questions about adoptions, please email us at bdmadoptions@justice.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).

Get an adopted person’s legal birth certificate

The 'legal' birth certificate means the post-adoption certificate. It shows the adoptive parents as the parents of the child.

Adopted people have the same access to their legal birth certificates as non-adopted people.

Apply for your legal birth certificate

Get a free replacement of a Sixth Schedule certificate

Before 1987, the legal birth certificate of an adopted person was known as a "Sixth Schedule".

Sixth Schedules show less information than current birth certificates. If you have a Sixth Schedule certificate we can replace it with a full legal birth certificate. There is no fee for this service.

You will need to return the original Sixth Schedule certificate.

To get a free replacement:

Apply to Get a birth certificate
At the payment stage, choose BPAY. You don’t need to pay, but the system will give you a reference number
Post the following documents to us:
- Your original Sixth Schedule certificate
- Certified copies of your proof of identity documents, and
- Your reference number.

If you have questions about this process, please email us at bdmadoptions@justice.vic.gov.au.

Get an adopted person’s original birth certificate

A person’s original (pre-adoption) birth certificate is not their legal birth certificate. It can’t be used to establish their legal identity.

In some instances, you can apply directly for a person’s original birth certificate.

The adoption will be noted at the bottom of the adopted person's original birth certificate.

You must apply for your original birth certificate through Adoption Services Victoria if:
- you are over 18 years of age, and
- were adopted as a child by someone other than a relative, or your natural parent’s spouse or domestic partner.
To apply, go to the Victorian Government’s Past Adoptions page(opens in a new window).
You may apply directly to BDM if you have previously applied through Adoption Services Victoria.
A natural parent can apply to BDM for their adopted child’s original birth certificate.
The natural parent must be:
- Listed on the original birth certificate; or
- Within the definition of natural parent in the Adoption Act 1984.
Apply to get your child’s original birth certificate.

Integrated birth certificates

An integrated birth certificate is a certificate that includes information about:

an adopted person, at birth and after adoption
their natural parents (where records are available), and
their adoptive parents.

We will draw this information from the adopted person's:

standard (post-adoptive) legal birth certificate, and
their original (pre-adoptive) birth certificate.

An adopted person may apply for an integrated birth certificate if they:

Are aged 18 years or over, and
Were born in and had their adoption registered in Victoria.

An integrated birth certificate is free the first time we issue it. For subsequent applications you must pay the certificate fee.

Learn more about how to apply for an integrated birth certificate.

Integrated birth certificates were a recommendation of the Inquiry into responses to historical forced adoption in Victoria(opens in a new window).

Learn more about the implementation of the Victorian Government's response to historical forced adoption(opens in a new window).

Adoption services

Adoption Services Victoria(opens in a new window) is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). They provide services in relation to current adoptions, and for people affected by past adoptions. They are also responsible for arranging adoptions in Victoria.

Their Adoption Information Service(opens in a new window) can:

Provide copies of records that were created at the time of the adoption
Seek copies of adoption related information from BDM
Support people to search for natural family members
Provide information on support and counselling services.

Updated 30 September 2024