Chapter 16A request for information
Guidance for prescribed bodies requesting information from the Registry under Chapter 16A of Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
What is a Chapter 16A request?
Chapter 16A of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 allows prescribed bodies to exchange information that relates to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child.
The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (the Registry) is a prescribed government agency and may provide information that is reasonably requested in accordance with Chapter 16A.
Who can request information from the Registry?
Only prescribed bodies can request information under Chapter 16A.
A prescribed body is a government agency or non-government organisation responsible for providing or facilitating the delivery of services for a child, as defined by section 248(6) of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
Prescribed bodies generally include:
- NSW or interstate government departments and public authorities
- designated agencies that arrange the provision of out-of-home care (OOHC), within the meaning of the Children's Guardian Act 2019
- non-designated agencies or any organisation responsible for the direct supervision or provision of health care, welfare, education, children’s services, or residential services, within the meaning of other Acts of the Parliament of NSW.
Information the Registry can provide
The Registry can provide information about the records we hold that relate to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child born or adopted in NSW.
Information may be provided, for example, to support:
- the immediate placement of the child into care
- decision-making, an assessment or plan, or inform or assist an investigation
- coordinated service planning and delivery.
The Registry can undertake research on the child's grandparents, aunts and uncles if it supports decision-making for the child's safety, welfare and wellbeing.
How to request information under Chapter 16A
When you submit a request to the Registry, it must clearly explain how the information sought relates to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of the child.
You can use the Chapter 16A resources from Department of Communities and Justice to help prepare your request. If further information is needed, the Registry will contact you.
Email bdm-research-unit@customerservice.nsw.gov.au with the subject line ‘Chapter 16A request’.
Your email must include:
- a cover letter explaining the request and how the information is related to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of the child
- a current court order (for Department of Communities and Justice and designated agency applicants).
Depending on your organisation, you must also include:
- non-government organisations: relevant records relating to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of the child
- interstate government agencies: the child’s interstate birth certificate.