NRS-14656 | Adoption files [Dependent Children and Adoptions Branch, Department of Community Services]

These files relate to the adoption of children in cases where the Department has acted as the intermediary between the natural and adopting parents. (Under Section XIX of the Child Welfare Act, 1939, as amended, applications for an adoption order must be made to the Supreme Court. In some cases the Department makes the application on behalf of qualified persons who desire to adopt a child). The files contain: a) applications and related correspondence from prospective adopting parents; b) consents on the part of either or both of the natural parents, and sometimes of the child or person proposed to be adopted where such child or person is over the age of twelve years; c) District Officer's report on the adopting parents showing names and addresses of adopting parents, reasons of prospective foster parents for desiring a child, attitudes and outlooks, interests, experience with children, physical appearance including nationality, employment and income, other inmates of home, religion, when and where married, suitability of home locality, educational and recreational facilities for the child, description of home-type, and opinion and recommendation of District Officer. The file covers bear the following information in summary form: nomination or allotment (ie. whether the adopting parents have been nominated by the natural parents or have been allocated a child by the Department); particulars of child (name, sex, date of birth, address); in the case of a married mother, name of putative father and registration number of any maintenance order issued; and particulars of adopting parents. The Registers and indexes have been retained by the Department.1947, 1951-57, 1973-74 (12/1066 part, 12/970-1066, 7/2324A-2355B, 7/1-57, 7/3611A-3638B, 7/5700A-5729B, 7/6552A-6581B, 7/11139-11228A). 489 boxes (part). Note: This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.