UNDER a proposed new law, adopted children will be issued with an Integrated Birth Certificate that records the names of their birth parents, siblings at birth and adoptive parents.
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The bill, which passed in the NSW Parliament Lower House on Tuesday, has been welcomed by Yenda adoptive mum Jane Gibbs and Murray MP Helen Dalton.
Ms Gibbs has fostered more than 100 children in her lifetime and since adopting her son Damien in 2016, she has made sure his birth mother continues to be actively involved in his life.
"It is difficult for a child to feel completely comfortable and happy with the adoption process when they feel conflicted, about celebrating their new family, whilst their birth family are removed from their birth certificates," Ms Gibbs said.
"These changes will allow Damien and others like him to have the best of both worlds and feel whole about themselves.
"We will support Damien as soon as possible to get a new birth certificate that reflects his entire family."
Currently, when a child is adopted, NSW Government will issue them with a new birth certificate. This new certificate records the child's adoptive parents, but makes no reference to the birth parents.
The reform will change that, allowing birth parents and adoptive parents to take equal share on birth certificates, helping to instill a true sense of identity in an adopted child.
Murray MP Helen Dalton welcomed the new law, commending NSW Government reforms for making adoption easier.
"It's not often I praise the NSW Government," Mrs Dalton said.
"But I welcome this reform. A child's history, culture and birth parents should be recognised when they are adopted."
Mrs Dalton also nominated Ms Gibbs as her 2019 Woman of the Year.
"While it's generally best for children to live with their birth parents, that's not always possible," Mrs Dalton said.
"There are more than 44,000 children across Australia living in foster care, but only 310 were adopted last year.
"Many children in foster care spend years being moved from one house to another.
"Children need and deserve stability, and adoption can provide that for them."
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