Marriage and Intercountry Adoption Branch
The Marriage and Intercountry Adoption Branch provides legal and policy advice to the Attorney-General, the Australian Government and State and Territory government agencies with responsibility for matters relating to intercountry adoption.
The Branch carries out the Department’s responsibilities as the Australian Central Authority for intercountry adoption under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect to Intercountry Adoption.
The Branch is responsible for implementing the accepted recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services’ report, 'Overseas Adoption in Australia'. Consistent with the Convention, it oversights existing, and considers the establishment of new, intercountry adoption programs with overseas governments.
The Branch also provides legal and policy advice to the Attorney-General on marriage (including same sex issues) and the Marriage Act 1961.
The Registrar of Marriage Celebrants is located within the Branch and has responsibility for managing the appointment and regulation of marriage celebrants under the Marriage Celebrants’ Program.
The branch is divided into 4 sections:
- Marriage Celebrants Section
- India and South America Section
- Africa and South East Asia Section
- East Asia and Europe Section