Adopting a child
Adoption is an option considered by some couples wishing to form a family.
Couples who cannot have their own children and families seeking to increase the number of children in their family may consider adopting a child or children.
Who can adopt?
Our department is looking for couples with a range of characteristics and backgrounds to express interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents.
Adoptive parents provide a permanent family for a small number of children from Queensland and overseas who require permanent care through adoption.
We anticipate that approximately 30 couples seeking to be approved as prospective adoptive parents for a child from Queensland will be assessed through the General Children's Adoption Program between 2008 and 2009.
We anticipate that approximately 100 couples seeking to be approved as prospective adoptive parents from overseas will be assessed through the Intercountry Children's Adoption program between 2008 and 2009.
In particular, we are looking for couples who have the capacity to provide high-quality, long-term care for children who are between five months and two years of age. These children may have medical issues including prematurity, hepatitis C, minor physical disabilities, a history of psychiatric illness in the birth family, or other medical conditions. There may be little known about the child's family medical information and prospective adoptive parents may be given no indication about possible hereditary conditions or future health issues.
What do prospective adoptive parents need to consider?
There are many different reasons why couples consider adoption and why adoption may be appropriate for particular couples. Couples considering expressing interest in adopting a child need to consider many issues, including:
- The welfare and interests of children requiring adoptive placements are paramount in the adoption process.
- There are many more couples seeking to adopt children than there are children requiring adoption.
- Not all couples who seek to adopt will be eligible; nor will all eligible couples be favourably assessed as prospective adoptive parents.
- Adoption is about providing for a child's individual needs and cannot be considered as a means of providing company for a lonely spouse, another child in the family or as a way to solve other problems.
- Adoptive parenthood is different from biological parenthood but can be as successful and satisfying for children and adoptive parents.
- Coming to terms with feelings of grief and loss associated with infertility, where applicable, and whether seeking to adopt a child is the right answer.
- People in the community sometimes have a limited understanding of adoption and may make insensitive comments about children who have been adopted and adoptive families.
- Under the provisions of current legislation, children who are adopted and parents who consent to their child's adoption can receive identifying information about each other once the adopted person reaches 18 years of age.
As well as all of the usual rights and responsibilities of parenthood, adoptive parents have a unique responsibility to find a healthy balance between acknowledging the differences that adoption brings to their family, while fostering a strong sense of attachment and family belonging.
Further information
For further information about adopting a child from Queensland or overseas, contact our Adoption Services Queensland Unit.
- Last updated
- 23 September 2008