Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves today launched Queensland's first ever funded post adoption support service, Post Adoption Support Queensland, to be run by the Benevolent Society.

Mr Reeves said it was fitting to launch the service on the same day the Adoption Act 2009 commenced in Queensland.

"Today marks the most significant reform of Queensland's adoption laws in more than 45 years," he said.

"Adoption is a complex and sensitive matter that affects many people - people who are adopted, their birth parents, their adoptive parents and family members.

He said the new service would receive $1.2 million over three years to provide a free telephone help-line and support to people whose lives are impacted by adoption.

"It will also provide face-to-face counselling, support people in preparing documents and mediate in discussions between people involved in an adoption issue, with the agreement of the individuals involved," Mr Reeves said.

"The service is an essential element of the modern adoption system this government is putting in place.

"The new laws balance people's right to information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted, with the right of others to maintain their privacy.

"Previously, more than 3000 Queenslanders affected by an adoption that occurred before 1991 were prevented from obtaining identifying information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted.

"The new Act will give these people the right to access information about their own identity or that of a son or daughter for the first time."

Society Chief Executive Officer Richard Spencer said changed laws and access to identifying information about family members is expected to have a real impact on people's lives.

"For those who decide to search for family members, or who have received unexpected contact from a relative, the experience can be an anxious time and can involve expectations which may or may not be met, "he said.

"Professional support and counselling will be available to help people through these experiences as well as offer an intermediary or ‘go between" service for people searching for relatives."

The new laws will make it possible for people to access identifying information about themselves and their birth parents but still requires them to respect another person's privacy if they do not wish to be contacted.

Other significant changes include:

• requiring a child's father, regardless of whether he is married to the child's mother, to also provide consent before a child's adoption may proceed
• the option for more openness between those involved in an adoption
  introduction of court orders for adoption
• changed eligibility criteria for couples wanting to adopt a child from Queensland or overseas
• the expression of interest register remaining permanently open to couples wishing to adopt, rather than being open only for defined times.

Post Adoption Support Queensland will hold public meetings throughout Queensland for people affected by adoption who want to find out more about how to access support services find out about relatives and how to pass on identifying information.

To contact Post Adoption Support Queensland, call 07 3112 5182 or 1300 914 819, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or go to www.bensoc.org.au

Mr Reeves encouraged anyone affected by the new Act to visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au for more information about the changes and how they may impact them individually.

ENDS