Your Rights
Are you pregnant and making a decision about parenting your child?
It is important to know your rights as a natural mother before you make any decisions.
It is your right:
- To Parent your child regardless of your age, financial position,state of health, whether or not you have a partner or are able bodied.
- To get independent legal advice
- To discuss your decision with anyone you choose
- To take as long as you need to make that decision
- To change your mind
- To not be influenced or pressured by deadlines set by social workers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, prospective parents or other professionals and agencies – unless you are contemplating an abortion
- To apply for Supporting Parent Benefits and Family Support to enable you to financially support your child
- To ask for supportive emotional and practical help
- To have your own legal representative at the signing of any documents to protect your own rights
It is also important to know your rights as a natural mother where your child is still under 18 years of age.
It is your right:
- To make contact with your child as adoption has been open since 1984.
- To apply for information from the Department of Justiceand Community Safety, Adoption Information Service (AIS) and ask for information about your child including the first name given them by adoptive parents.
- To leave a letter or information about you and your child's natural family on the adoption file and to say that you desire contact with your daughter or son
- To ask if the adoptive parents have left a letter on the file asking for information or contact with you
- To receive personal support and information during this process
- To approach the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Adoption Information Services (AIS) to investigate contact with your child.
If you have any questions concerning your rights please phone us on 0400 701 621
If your child is now over the age of 18 years, you can apply under the Adoption Act 1984 for information and contact. Pamphlets are available at all Department of Justice and Community Safety, Adoption Information Services (AIS)
If, at any time you have questions about your rights, or if relinquishing becomes your choice, there are always options that protect your rights.
For support, further information, or questions about the work of ARMS (Victoria), please do not hesitate to contact us.
