Dear Members, Friends and Colleagues
Here we are in mid-Winter again and I trust your Winter Solstice weekend was good, either in blissful solitude or with family, under the magnificent moon. We are busy enough at VANISH not to feel the cold too much and I take this opportunity to up-date you with what is going on.
VICTORIAN LEGISLATION CHANGE
VANISH Committee of Management, staff and members have worked closely with ARMS, Origins, Independent Regional Mothers and adopted people to stop the amendments to the Adoption Act being passed. Whilst VANISH supports the amendment to the Adoption Act 2013 which allows natural parents to have access to identifying information we do not support the introduction of Contact Statements. We lobbied, held a vigil and attended many meetings expressing the strong opinions of all our communities against these changes. Labor members Danielle Green and Jenny Mikakos fought valiantly on our behalf aided by Greens Sue Pennicuik and Colleen Hartland. Many Coalition members personally agreed with our points of view but in the end voted as a Coalition block passing all the Amendments to the Act. Following is the Department of Human Service’s official statement in relation to the changes that will take place from the 1 July 2013 (see below). Please do not hesitate to ring VANISH and ask to talk to a Support Worker if you need further advice.