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 about the outcomes of the group
Meeting Communiques