Knowing who we are influences almost every aspect of our lives, and thanks to new legislation the story of identity can now be fully recognised.
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Adopted people in NSW can now have both their birth and adopted families included on a birth certificate for the first time in the State's history, following new reforms introduced to Parliament.
Will Winter, based in the New England, has been facilitating birth registration and birth certificates in rural and regional communities as part of the Menimbah Project.
He has been pioneering for birth certificate reform for almost a decade, and says this is another step on a long journey of reform.
"The more information that we can capture - as part from a genealogy point of view and also the adoptive history of family - the earlier it occurs the better," he explained.
"It creates an identity, a sense of belonging, and a sense of meaning for people."
As national co-ordinator of the project, which assists thousands of Australians who struggle to fully participate in society because their birth was not registered, or they can't access a birth certificate.
But his experience encapsulates the personal as well.
His wife was adopted as a baby, and has just been able to reconnect with her birth mother, something which was previously prevented through legislation.
"Her adopted family ... are very much regarded as her natural family, or has been and will remain so.
"But having the reunion [with birth family] it's the end of a long journey for her, as it is for many others. She is more settled now that she's met them.
"We are just beginning, we are mid-life, but just beginning to understand and connect to our identities."
Being able to have that information recorded, he says, is means the world.
The Bill amends the Adoption Act 2000 and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 to authorise the issuing of an Integrated Birth Certificate (IBC), announced by Attorney General and families, communities and disability services MP Gareth Ward.
People who have been adopted now have the choice to use a certificate with their full history.
This includes information about their parents and siblings at birth, as well as their parents and siblings after adoption.
While the IBC will be issued to everyone adopted after the reform, those adopted prior can contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
With one win down, many more battles face birth certificate reform in Australia, Mr Winter says.
"I thank Mark Speakman and the registrar Amanda Ianna for these recent reforms and hope this is the start of similar reforms leading ultimately to digital registration for all Australia citizens," Mr Winter stated.
The biggest issue is the paper-based system on which the whole of our identity and consequently our society hinges on, he explains.
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Not having a birth certificate makes it difficult for people to live their lives, and doing things most take for granted like going to school or getting a driver's licence,
When children or adults fail to have their births registered, or cannot obtain a birth certificate, the whole foundation of their identity is jeopardised. Sadly, they often go under the radar.
"Not having a birth certificate can lead to a cycle of poverty from one generation to the next," Mr Winter said.
"So while these reforms are good, there is still a very long way to go."