A contact statement is a document that sets out a person's wishes about being contacted by another party, or parties, to the same adoption who may ask for information about the person.
For example, a contact statement may state things like the person wishes:
- to have contact only by telephone or
- to have contact with another party only at a neutral place in the presence of a mediator or
- not to be contacted in any manner.
An adopted person who is at least 17 years and six months old, or a birth parent of an adopted person, may give Adoption Services Queensland a signed contact statement form.
A contact statement remains in force until it is revoked by the person who lodged it, or until that person dies.
A contact statement is revoked by completing a Revocation of a contact statement form.
A contact statement will not have to be renewed, however, a person can update, revoke or replace the contact statement at any time.
The Adoption Act 2009 recognises an objection that was in place under the Adoption of Children Act 1964. Under the Adoption Act 2009, the objection automatically becomes a contact statement expressing a wish not to be contacted.
Contact statements operate differently depending on whether the relevant adoption order was made before or after June 1991.
Table of contents:
Adoption occurred before 1 June 1991
The Adoption Act 2009 allows Adoption Services Queensland to provide identifying information about one person to another person only if they:
- have participated in an interview (in person or by telephone) with an officer of Adoption Services Queensland
- have signed a document acknowledging they have been told the other person does not want to be contacted and it would be an offence to do so
- have been given the contents of the other person's contact statement, if applicable.
It is an offence, carrying a maximum penalty of $10,000 or imprisonment for two years (100 penalty units), for a person to contact, or try to contact, another person who he or she knows has registered a contact statement expressing a wish not to be contacted.
Adoption Services Queensland may offer a person seeking identifying information, and/or the person who has a contact statement in place other information counselling or support considered appropriate (before or after the information is provided).
Adoption occurred after 1 June 1991
If a contact statement relates to an adoption that occurred after 1 June 1991, the Act requires Adoption Services Queensland to give the contents of the contact statement to a person who asks for information, and to explain the other party's wish not to be contacted before providing the person with identifying information.
Adoption Services Queensland may offer a person seeking identifying information, and/or the person who has a contact statement in place other information, counselling or support considered appropriate (before or after the information is provided).
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