Adopting a better approach – Changes to the adoption process in NSW

Individuals and couples looking to adopt in Australia have historically faced a slow moving and expensive battle. Recent reforms, championed by Deborra-lee Furness, with the support of the NSW Government, may assist to improve the adoption process.

Australia now has the second-lowest adoption rate in the developed world. This would be unsurprising to many individuals and families who have endured the long and expensive process of adopting a child (both within and outside Australia). The Herald Sun recently reported that in 2011-12 there were only 333 adoptions in Australia. Of these adoptions 149 were overseas adoptions and 129 were "known' adoptions (when the adoption formalises a pre-existing parental relationship). A mere 55 were local adoptions. This represents a 78% drop in the number of adoptions since 1987.