Response 643980720

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Contact details

Organisation name (if applicable)

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Select the category that best describes you or the organisation you represent:

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Individual
Academia/educational institution
Australian government
Business
Community organisation
Industry body/association
Local government
Non-government organisation
State/territory government
Other (please specify)

Has this submission been prepared in collaboration with any other individual(s) or organisation(s)?

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(Required)
Yes
No

What information would you like the ABS to collect and produce statistics on?

Please provide a brief summary of the information you would like the ABS to collect and produce statistics on.

There are currently no questions that request information of an individual's genetic heritage. For adoptees and donor conceived people this question would both indicate respect and acknowledgement of their identity as well as provide data to support ongoing mental health studies about these individuals.

What topic does this information most relate to? (Select one)

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Cultural diversity
Health, disability, unpaid work and care
Household and families
Housing and homelessness
Income, work, education and training
Location and transport
Population, including sex and gender
Other (please specify)

To help us assess your submission, tell us why it is important that the ABS collect and produce this information, including how you would use the data.

Studies have indicated that adoptees are at a higher risk for mental health issues and 4 times as likely to commit suicide. Surrogacy conceived people are also impacted by the early severence from their gestational mother. Donor conceived people while usually not impacted by a separation trauma are still affected by not having a full understanding of their own identity.
All of these people are "dissolved" into society. There is no database where people who are adopted, donor or surrogacy conceived are identified.
Yet there is plenty of evidence to indicated that these outcomes impact these individuals their entire lives.
In order to understand the consequences of these practices these people need to be identified.
Currently census questions exist around heritage/ancestry - but for adoptees and donor conceived people they are a slap in the face as many of us don't know our heritage or ancestry.
These people are a vulnerable group and there is a responsibility of government and society to quantify these people in order to identify their needs.

For what purpose(s) will you use the data? (Select all that apply)

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Resource allocation for programs and policies
Planning, development, monitoring and evaluation related to programs, policies and service delivery
Research
Journalism/media
Other (please specify)

What is the smallest area or geography required to effectively use this data? (Select one)

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National
State/Territory
Statistical Area Level 2 (suburb or locality)
Statistical Area Level 1 (neighbourhood/rural district)
Local Government Area
Don’t know
Other (please specify)

Is there other information you would like the ABS to collect and produce statistics on?

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Yes
No