Family Spirit NSW is a specialised foster care, guardianship, and adoption agency operating across the greater Sydney metropolitan region. Formed as a partnership between CatholicCare Sydney and Marist180, it helps vulnerable children and young people find safe, stable, and nurturing homes.
We support children and young people to stay safely with their families where possible, provide nurturing foster care when needed, and help them transition to independent adulthood. We also support foster carers and deliver adoption services.
Our services include support to help families stay together, foster care (including respite, emergency, kinship, short-term and long-term), guardianship and adoption. We also support young people to transition from care to living independently.
Looking for helpful information about foster care, parenting, adoption, or supporting children and young people? Our resources provide practical guides, expert advice, and useful tools to support prospective carers, current carers, families, and the wider community.
Join our community and help make a difference. Whether you're interested in becoming a foster carer, providing emergency care, or joining our team, there are many ways to get involved.
The Family Spirit Post Adoptions Team provides information, support and counselling for individuals, couples and families affected by adoption.
Our Post Adoption Services
Accessing Records and Information
Support accessing adoption and former Catholic Children’s Home records.
Search Assistance
Help searching for adopted people, parents or siblings.
Outreach & Mediation
Supported contact with birth relatives at your pace.
Adoption Focused Counselling
Specialist counselling addressing trauma, loss and identity.
Support and Guidance
Support for those affected by adoption or former Catholic Children’s Homes.
Free & Funded
Government funded services at no cost.
Additional Support Available
Counselling available in person or by phone during file review.
Accessing Records and Information
The Adoption Act (2000) provides entitlements for adult adopted people and their birth parents to access identifying information when the adoption occurred prior to 2010.
Our team can guide and support you through this process and assist with reviewing records.
Searches
The decision to search for a relative is deeply personal and can be complex. Our team can assist in collecting information and performing searches on your behalf.
Adoption Focused Counselling
We support adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents and siblings across all life stages.
- Grief, loss and traumaIdentity and life stage impacts - Relationships and attachment - Parenting and sibling dynamics - We understand this can be a difficult process
Outreach & Mediation
Step 01
Step 01
Drafting a first letter with support and guidance.
Step 02
Step 02
Agency-supported contact acting as a go-between.
Step 03
Step 03
Gradual communication at a comfortable pace.
Step 04
Step 04
Facilitated face-to-face meetings if desired.
Contact the Family Spirit Adoptions Team
Phone
02 8709 9339
Email
adoptions@familyspirit.org
Confidentiality
Counselling is confidential except where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
Who we help
Children & Young People
Every child deserves a safe home—a place where they feel secure, sheltered and protected.
When circumstances are too difficult to keep a child at home, we are committed to continuing to support birth families and facilitate their ongoing role in their child’s life.
