Local and community support

There are a number of organisations that can help both adoptees and their parents. Your state and territory central authority can provide pre- and post-adoption support and supervision, and help adoptees access their adoption records.

Many of the organisations listed on this page have been started by people with lived experience of intercountry adoption.

If you have an organisation you would like included, please contact us.

National

Counselling and therapeutic services

Intercountry Adoptee and Family Support Service (free service)
Relationships Australia
We provide counselling support and information, and support services to assist with a range of challenges related to intercountry adoption.
Phone: 1800 422 377
Email: icafss@rasa.org.au

Intercountry Adoption Tracing and Reunification (fee for service)
International Social Service (ISS) Australia
We offer intercountry adoption and post-adoption tracing support.
Level 2, 313-315 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 03 9614 8755
Email: iss@iss.org.au

Community, peer and advocacy groups

Intercountry Adoptee Voices (ICAV)
We advocate and educate as voices of those with lived experience in intercountry adoption.

Adoptee Rights Australia (ARA)
We are a National Advocacy Association of Adopted People, established by adopted persons to give a national voice to their lived experiences of adoption in Australia.
PO Box 976
Toronto NSW 2283
Email: admin@adopteerightsaustralia.org.au

Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI)
We provide opportunities for adopted Vietnamese to explore our community and history together and connect with each other.
PO BOX 337
Mona Vale NSW 2103
Email: adoptedvietnamese@hotmail.com

Australians Caring for Children
We are a voluntary, non-political and non-sectarian association, whose main objectives are to provide aid to orphaned and abandoned children in developing countries.
PO Box 7420
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Email: info@accau.org

Families with Children from China – Australia (FCC-Australia)
We aim to address the needs of adoptive families and children from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in a supportive, friendly and family-oriented manner.
PO Box 13143
Law Courts VIC 8010
Email: info@fccaustralia.com.au

Korean Adoptees in Australia Network
We provide support and resources to Korean adoptees living in Australia.
Email: info@kaian.org.au

Raising Children Network
We provide links to national, state and territory parent support and family support services for parents and families of all kinds.

Special Needs Adoption Australia (SNAA)
We provide education, support and friendship… because every child deserves a family.
Email: specialneedsadoptionaustralia-owner@yahoogroups.com
Facebook: Special Needs Adoption Australia (SNAA)

Viet Nam Family Search
We provide a search and reunion service for Vietnamese intercountry adoptees and birth family in Viet Nam.
Email: contact@vietnamesefamilysearch.org

Australian Capital Territory

Counselling and therapeutic services

Your state and territory central authority can offer advice on available services. If you would like to add your service here, please contact us.

Community and peer groups

Adoptive Families Association (ACT)
We are a supportive community of adoptive parents and children providing friendship, information, advice and informal education on all aspects of adoption and adoptive parenting.

New South Wales

Counselling and therapeutic services

Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC)
We provide information, counselling, intermediary services, therapeutic groups and support to people affected by adoption in NSW.
The Benevolent Society
Suite 253, Level 5, 7-11 The Avenue
Hurstville NSW 1481
Phone: 02 9504 6788
Email: parc@benevolent.org.au

Community and peer groups

Adoption and Permanent Care Association of NSW Inc (APA)
We are run by parents who have formed their families through adoption and permanent care.
Phone: 02 8091 5157
Email: president@apansw.org.au

Friends of F.A.N.A
We support people through the application process and help Colombian adoptees to connect with other adoptees.
Email: kbrodaty@yahoo.com

NSW South Korean Adoption Support Group
We support people through the application process and help South Korean adoptees to connect with other adoptees.
Contacts: Please contact the NSW Department of Communities and Justice Adoption Information Unit for details.

NSW Taiwanese Adoption Support Group
We support people through the application process and help Taiwanese adoptees to connect with other adoptees.
Contacts: Please contact the NSW Department of Communities and Justice Adoption Information Unit for details.

NSW Thai Adoption Support Group
We support people through the application process and help Thai adoptees to connect with other adoptees.
Email: cosmic.lolly@gmail.com

Northern Territory

Counselling and therapeutic services

Your state and territory central authority can offer advice on available services. If you would like to add your service here, please contact us.

Community and peer groups

Your state and territory central authority can offer advice on available services. If you would like to add your service here, please contact us.

Queensland

Counselling and therapeutic services

Jigsaw Queensland
We assist all people affected by adoption and the professionals who work with them.
PO Box 912
New Farm QLD 4005
Phone: 07 3358 6666
Email: support@jigsawqld.org.au

Post Adoption Support QLD (PASQ)
We provide information and support for people affected by adoption. This includes people who have been adopted, parents, siblings, partners and children who have been separated from family by adoption.
The Benevolent Society
189 Coronation Drive
Milton QLD 4064
Phone: 07 3170 4600
Email: PASQ@benevolent.org.au

Community and peer groups

International Adoptive Families of Queensland Inc
We are a volunteer, non-profit support group for Queensland families involved in local and overseas adoptions.

South Australia

Counselling and therapeutic services

Relationships Australia SA
We provide counselling, information and support, assistance with family search and reunion, and links to other supports and networks.
49a Orsmond Street
Hindmarsh SA 5007
Phone: 08 8245 8100
Email: passinfo@rasa.org.au

Community and peer groups

World Families Australia Inc
We facilitate support for members of the adoption community.
PO Box 11
Hope Valley SA 5088
Phone: 08 8261 0008
Email: worldfamilies@bigpond.com

Tasmania

Counselling and therapeutic services

Your state and territory central authority can offer advice on available services. If you would like to add your service here, please contact us.

Community and peer groups

Your state and territory central authority can offer advice on available services. If you would like to add your service here, please contact us.

Victoria

Counselling and therapeutic services

Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH)
We are a community organisation based on the self-help model, offering a support service that aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions.
PO Box 112
Carlton South VIC 3053
Phone: 03 9328 8611
Toll Free: 1300 Vanish (1300 826 474)
Email: info@vanish.org.au

Community and peer groups

Korean Adoptees in Australia Network (KAIAN Inc)
We are a resource for adult Korean adoptees in Australia providing information, raising awareness, and building a supportive community.
Email: info@kaian.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAIANAus

Korean Adoptive Families of Victoria – Han Ho Inc (Vic)
We assist families in developing friendships in the adoption community and within the wider Korean community.
Email: kafhanho@gmail.com

Permanent Care and Adoptive Families (PCA Families)
We are an early intervention service that provides support to families formed through kinship care, permanent care and adoption.
Level 5, 50 Market Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 03 9020 1833
Email: info@pcafamilies.org.au

Victorian Adoptee Network (VAN)
We offer mentoring to intercountry adoptive applicants and parents and volunteer our time to share our experiences at education sessions and workshops.
Email: victorianadopteenetwork@mail.com

Western Australia

Counselling and therapeutic services

Adoption Research and Counselling Service Inc (ARCS)
We offer professional counselling, support, education, research and information to anyone living with the reality of adoption and being separated from family.
301 Railway Parade
Maylands WA 6051
Phone: 08 9370 4914
Email: arcs@adoptionwa.org.au

Community and peer groups

Adoption Jigsaw
We provide information, counselling, search and intermediary services to people separated from family for many different reasons.
176 Fitzgerald St
Perth WA 6000
Phone: 08 9328 4000
Email: jigsaw@jigsaw.org.au

Adoption Support for Families and Children
We aid, assist and support prospective and post-adoptive families in WA through information sharing, education and community, government and sector engagement.
PO BOX 122
Subiaco WA 6904
Email: infoasfc@yahoo.com.au