Intercountry Adoption Alternative Models Working Group
The Overseas Adoption in Australia Report recommended that in renegotiating the Commonwealth-State Agreement, the Commonwealth should consider the use of accredited bodies to enable intercountry adoptions to be undertaken more efficiently.
This recommendation is reflected in Clause 20 of the Commonwealth-State Agreement which provides for the establishment of an inter-governmental working group to investigate alternative models for the operation of intercountry adoption in Australia, including a review of the advantages and disadvantages of a State or national-based system of accreditation for non-government bodies as provided for under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
A working group, consisting of representatives from the Attorney-General’s Department and State and Territory Government Departments, has been established.
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the Group are to:
- Agree to outcomes that are consistent with the principles of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993), and particularly that are in the best interests of the child.
- Progress a program of work that investigates alternative models for the operation and administration of intercountry adoption in Australia with a view to effective and efficient service delivery.
- Identify and review the advantages and disadvantages of various alternative accreditation and service delivery models including but not limited to:
- state vs nationally based models; and
- provision of services by:
- government or public authorities;
- accredited bodies; and
- approved persons
including combinations of the above.
- Report back to the Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Advisory Council (CDSMAC) about the outcomes of the group
Meeting Communiques
Next steps
At the March 2010 CDSMAC meeting, CDSMAC Members noted the report of the working group. CDSMAC Members agreed that a meeting of Senior Policy CDSMAC Officials be convened to examine the strategic issues associated with intercountry adoption processes/service delivery arrangements. The Commonwealth agreed to convene this meeting.