What You Need to Know About Adoption in Australia

In this video, Award-Winning surrogacy lawyer and Accredited Family Law Specialist, Stephen Page reveals the key things that you need to know regarding adoption in Australia.

Transcript

G’day, I’m Stephen Page from Page Provan Family and Fertility Lawyers, and now I’m talking about adoption in Australia, what you need to know before you start.

I think the most critical information that you need to know is that unless you’re doing a relative adoption or you’re doing a step-parent adoption, or if you’re in New South Wales and Victoria, for example, you’re doing an adoption of a child who’s been in your care, and now the child has turned 18, so it’s an adult adoption.

If you’re looking at a child who is a stranger to you, so you’re seeking to be part of the pool to adopt, go and look at the state website in your state, so for example, Department of Child Safety in Queensland, and see what the eligibility requirements are, and then be prepared to wait.

It’s really depressing knowing about adoption in Australia because there are very, very few children available. There are very, very few children available here, and very, very few available children from overseas.

You should expect to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more, and the waiting time, once you’re accepted in the particular programme, may take between a couple of years and in excess of four years.

By comparison, if you undertake surrogacy, then you should be able to become parents in 2-3 years, although it costs a bit more money. So adoption is available, it’s nondiscriminatory across the country, but there are very, very, very few children. Don’t expect to be able to adopt anytime soon.

I’m sorry to say that’s depressing news, but that’s the reality. Thank you.