are you a former ward?
If you grew up in a state or church institution or were in foster care, you may have been a State Ward.
You may be wondering about details of your past or longing to understand why you were unable to remain with your family. You may be wanting to search for members of your family.
If you have more recently left out-of-home care, or you were a child or young person for whom the Minister had parental responsibility, you have a right to access personal information held on your DoCS file.
Following are the steps you can take to find out more about your personal history or find members of your family if you live in NSW.
step one – reading your ward file
The first step in searching for your family is to find out if you have a ward file.
If there was a ward file made about you, it could help you understand why you were unable to remain with your family. Information on the file might also give you a clearer understanding of your personal history and events while you were a ward.
The easiest way to access your file is to go to your nearest DoCS Community Services Centre (CSC) and ask them to confirm whether a written record, or ward file, has been kept.
You'll need to take proof of your identity such as a driver’s licence, birth certificate, pension or health care card. You'll also need to supply your full name as well as any other names you have may have been known by, your date of birth, the name of your mother and/or father and any other information which will assist our search.
After you have taken this first step, if a file has been kept, the DoCS office can order it for you from Archives and arrange a time for your next visit. It could take up to several weeks to find out if you have a file — especially if it has been a long time since you were a ward.
Sometimes the information contained in your file might need explaining. Although it might give you a realistic pictue of why you came into care and what was happening with other members of your family at that time, it might also be upsetting or confusing.
DoCS can arrange for a caseworker to be present while you read your file and they will help you with any questions you might have. You might also wish to take a support person such as a partner or friend when you go to the CSC to read your file.
can I take my file with me?
Your original file must stay with DoCS but you are entitled to the originals of personal documents on your records, such as birth certificates, school reports, medical reports and personal photos.
If you want specific information, such as medical details, or information which could assist in finding family, make sure you include this in your request.
what if I don’t live in NSW?
If you live outside NSW, you will need to send a written request with photocopies of proof of identity to DoCS' Freedom of Information Unit:
Locked Bag 4028
Ashfield NSW 1800
Fax: 02 9716 3400
The Freedom of Information Unit will forward photocopies of any records we might have relating to your time as a Ward. See more on Freedom of Information.
how do I see my file if I was fostered through a church or non-government agency?
If you were a former ward in foster care with a non-government foster care agency such as Anglicare (Careforce), Barnardos, Burnside, Centacare (Catholic Church) or Wesley Dalmar, these agencies might also hold records. You will need to contact the agency directly.
See family tracing support services
step two – electoral roll search
Once you have found a current name for the person you are searching for, you can search the electoral roll for an address.
Every electorate around Australia has its own roll which lists the name and address of all people over the age of 18 who are registered to vote.
Copies of current electoral rolls are held at all divisional offices of the Australian Electoral Commission and you can obtain the address of the office closest to you by calling 132 326.
step three – making contact
If you have successfully obtained an address for a family member, often your first impulse is to pick up the phone or start travelling.
Your caseworker will advise you to STOP…WAIT and THINK for a moment before acting.
Contacting someone you have been separated from for some time when they are not expecting it is an emotional and delicate matter.
It’s important the person you contact doesn’t feel pressured or uncomfortable about making contact. It may be advisable to invite a mediator to help both you and the person you are wanting to contact through the process.
If you do wish to make contact yourself, it is strongly recommended that you write before calling or visiting. A letter will give the person time to consider and respond to your request.
There are organisations which can assist you to make contact. They can advise on the positive and negative aspects of using a mediator, how to write a letter and how to prepare for the first meeting.
step four – what if I can’t trace my family members?
family tracing services
DoCS' community partners can help you get in touch with family members separated during care.
Salvation Army's Special Search Service
- assists people who want to be reunited with missing family members by using their world wide resources. They do not search for legal or genealogical reasons.
- helps adults who have been separated from their family in NSW by some form of government intervention including adoption, being made a ward (NSW) or being placed in foster care or a children’s home or by another form of substitute or residential care.
- Salvation Army Special Search Service
ph: 02 9211 6491
Toll Free: 1300 066 7366 (Australia wide)
specialsearch@aue.salvationarmy.org
Link Up Aboriginal Corporation NSW
- assists Aboriginal adults who were separated from their families as children through wardship, adoption, fostering or institutional care, as well as Aboriginal families who were separated from their children.
Link-Up also offers counselling to non-Aboriginal foster parents who have had children of Aboriginal descent placed with them.
ph: 02 4759 1911 or 1800 624 332
link-up@nsw.link-up.org.au
Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC)
- once you have located an address for the person you are searching for, the Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC) can assist you by making an approach on your behalf or advising you on making an approach yourself.
ph: 02 9365 3444
parc@bensoc.org.au
Connecting kin
Connecting kin is DoCS' guide to searching for records for all people who were separated from their families through adoption, foster care or other arrangements. The guide is relevant to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, for both the parents/ families and the children who were separated. Download Connecting kin - guide to records
