Consultations
The Australian Government Attorney-General's Department recognises the central importance of consultation with the States and Territories and all key stakeholders on intercountry adoption issues. Consultation with the States and Territories is particularly important given their experience and expertise in intercountry adoption matters.
Community Consultations
The National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group provides the primary forum for consultation with the Australian intercountry adoption community. State and Territory authorities also meet with their state consultative forums regularly. The Department has conducted consultations with stakeholders across Australia regarding the formation of the Peak Group and other intercountry adoption matters. See the National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group page for more information.
Consultation with the States and Territories
Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Conference (CDSMC)
- CDSMC membership is comprised of all Australian and New Zealand Ministers with direct responsibility for family, community, disability, youth, children, ageing and social welfare. The relevant Papua New Guinean Minister attends as an observer.
- The relevant Australian Government Minister on CDSMC is the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
- CDSMC provides a forum for ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest and promote consistent approaches to policy development and program implementation.
- CDSMC meets at least once a year.
- The Department reports to CDSMC on issues relating to intercountry adoption.
Community and Disability Services Ministers Advisory Council (CDSMAC)
- CDSMAC membership comprises the Head (plus one other senior officer) of each of the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments and New Zealand Government Departments or Authorities which have responsibility for community, family, disability, youth, children, ageing and social welfare matters.
- The Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Chief Executive of the relevant Papua New Guinea Department attend as observers.
- The relevant Australian Government officials on CDSMAC are from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
- The role of CDSMAC is to provide effective and efficient support to CDSMC.
- The Department reports to CDSMAC on issues relating to intercountry adoption.
- A CDSMAC Sub-Committee renegotiated the Commonwealth-State Agreement for intercountry adoption
Central Authorities’ Meeting
- The Central Authorities’ Meeting membership is comprised of representatives from Commonwealth and State and Territory Central Authorities for intercountry adoption, as established under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
- These meetings address issues affecting Australia’s intercountry adoption programs.
- Meetings are held twice a year.
Meeting agenda: 6 -7 November [DOC 28KB]
Meeting agenda: 6 -7 November [PDF 20KB]
Intercountry Adoption Central Authorities’ Meeting - 15 & 16 May 2008, Brisbane
The Central Authorities held their standing biannual meeting in Brisbane on 15 16 May 2008. Representatives from the New Zealand Central Authority, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) also attended parts or all of the meeting. Keys discussion items are outlined below. Further information on various issues will be provided on the AGD website as soon as this is appropriate.
1. Immigration Issues
Various immigration issues were discussed including processing times for Australian citizenship and passports, policies on private adoptions and private assessments, expatriate adoptions and post-placement reporting issues. AGD informed Central Authorities that an Information Paper on citizenship changes would be placed on the AGD website next week.
2. Updates on Australia’s current intercountry adoption programs
AGD maintains responsibility for the establishment and management of all intercountry adoption programs. AGD provided reports on the status of each of Australia’s existing intercountry adoption programs.
3. Delegation Visits – Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea
AGD provided an overview of recent delegation visits.
4. Special Needs and Older Children
AGD noted the consistent need for families for children with these backgrounds, as identified by overseas adoption authorities, as well as the additional complexities in training, assessment and post-placement support for families. AGD noted the progression of a range of work to better inform Australian intercountry adoption practice on this issue.
5. Working Groups Pursuant to the Commonwealth-State Agreement and Harmonisation
It was noted that the revised Commonwealth-State Agreement is with State and Territory Ministers for their signature. AGD requested Central Authorities to put forward nominations for two separate working groups on Harmonisation and the Consideration of Alternate Models of Service Delivery (including accreditation). These working parties will be subcommittees of the Community and Disability Services Minister’s Advisory Council (CDSMAC). AGD is liaising with CDSMAC Secretariat to confirm the process to be followed and will provide further information to Central Authorities in the future.
7. Strategic Plan Issues
AGD presented a draft paper on the establishment of new programs and identifying the need in existing programs for additional adoption applications, and noted that the principles of the Hague Convention and the Strategic Plan guide all such work. Further information will be provided on the AGD website as soon as possible. AGD noted the Attorney-General is keen to support developing countries in meeting the principles of the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption.
8. Peak Support Group
AGD informed Central Authorities that the inaugural meeting of the National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group was scheduled for 21-22 May 2008, to be held in Canberra.
9. AIHW Reports and NICAD
Discussions occurred on a range of data collection issues, including AIHW reporting and the planned development of a National Intercountry Adoption Database (NICAD). It was noted that while NICAD would allow for a better understanding of intercountry adoption at a national level, there are a range of privacy issues which must be addressed. Further information will be provided as soon as practicable.
10. Other issues
A number of other matters were also discussed, including a range of post-adoption matters, the 9th Australian Adoption Conference, the Interstate Transfer Protocol, and permanent/long-term care.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled to take place in November 2008 in Canberra.