The Adoption of Children Act 1964 (Act no. 54/1964) commenced on 1 August 1965. It repealed the earlier Acts in accordance with uniform adoption legislation throughout Australia. This act has the full title “An Act to Consolidate and Amend the Law Relating to the Adoption of Children”. This act was repealed in 2010 by the Adoption Act 2009 (Act no.29/2009).
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 states that the welfare and interests of the children are the paramount consideration in making an order for adoption.
The Act made the Chief Executive of the State Children’s Department responsible for making an order for adoption. Grounds for dispensing with consent were if the Court was satisfied that a parent or guardian had abandoned or neglected the child.