Overseas Adoption in Australia Report
Following the release of the 2003-2004 Annual Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services conducted an inquiry into the adoption of children from overseas. On 28 November 2005, the Committee’s Report, Overseas Adoption in Australia was released.
The Report included 27 recommendations designed to improve the system of intercountry adoption in Australia. The Government has already implemented many of these recommendations, including the creation of the Intercountry Adoption Branch of the Attorney-General's Department to manage Australia’s overseas adoption programs, the establishment of the National Intercountry Adoption Advisory Group (formerly National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group) and the passing of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, which provides another option for children whose adoption has been finalised under full and permanent Hague Convention arrangements to obtain Australian citizenship.
The Government is working to implement all of the remaining accepted recommendations, most of which are ongoing, to ensure the best outcomes for children in need of intercountry adoption and for Australian families.
Further information will be available in due course.