Update on the 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 recent establishment of the 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 Commonwealth-State Agreement for the Continued Operation of Australia's Intercountry Adoption Program has now been signed. Please refer to the Roles of the Commonwealth, States and Territories page for further information. The new Agreement will provide an excellent framework for the Commonwealth Government to work in collaboration with the States and Territories to manage and improve intercountry adoption in Australia. Working groups will now be established through the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council to investigate important issues concerning intercountry adoption in Australia. These include the greater harmonisation of intercountry adoption laws, fees and assessment practices and the investigation of alternative models of service delivery. Although accreditation is not an area where the Commonwealth has direct responsibility, this Department will remain proactive and engaged with the States and Territories on this issue.
The program of work anticipated by the new Agreement will involve collaboration and coordination amongst the Commonwealth, States and Territories. Consultation with the intercountry adoption community will take place via the National Peak Overseas Adoption Support Group as appropriate.
The Government is working to implement all of the remaining accepted recommendations to ensure the best outcomes for children in need of intercountry adoption and for Australian families.
Further information will be available in due course.