Module 1 - Introduction
The education program
Educational programs for prospective adoptive parents are available throughout Australia as part of the adoption assessment process.
The Department of Child Safety education program aims to provide couples with:
- information about the Intercountry Adoption Program
- specific overseas country information
- information about intercountry adoption assessment processes
- an awareness of the needs of children adopted from overseas.
As part of this education program, we encourage prospective adoptive parents to consider the issues surrounding adoption.
Learning objectives
The learning objectives of Module 1 are to:
- provide an opportunity to learn more about intercountry adoption
- provide an opportunity for prospective adoptive parents to begin the process of evaluating their own knowledge, skills and abilities in relation to intercountry adoption
- create an awareness of many of the issues associated with adoption
- provide prospective adoptive parents with further information about adoption and what this means for them and their extended family prior to making a decision to proceed with their Expression of Interest
- ensure that prospective adoptive parents are provided with the same information, regardless of their location across the state.
Purpose
In participating in the education program, it is important that you continually ask yourself why you want to adopt a child. Think about your hopes and aspirations, your concerns, and the challenges and issues that you will face in adopting a child. The process of adoption of overseas children is complicated and it takes time.
The purpose of the education program for prospective adoptive parents is to provide information and support to assist you in assessing your capacity, capability and motivation to adopt a child. Many adoptive parents feel that during this time they are able to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to proceed with adoption.
To benefit from the education process, we encourage you to participate in the exercises that are provided. It is important that you think about your views from your own individual perspective, although as a couple you may later want to share and discuss this information together.
Activity 1 - Introduction
In your learning journal, comment on the following questions:
- How would you describe your motivation and readiness to adopt a child?
- What are your thoughts and feelings about the adoption process to date?
- What is your current understanding of intercountry adoption within Queensland?
- Have you talked to other people who have experience of adoption?
- How much have you told your family and friends about applying to adopt a child born overseas and what were their reactions?
- How firm, at this point, is your decision to adopt a child born overseas? Firm/Not sure
- If you are still not sure, what else do you think you need to know and where do you think that you can obtain this information?
- What are your hopes, concerns and challenges about adopting a child born overseas?
Please note: Most people who have been through this process report on the great value of recording their responses to learning activities and reflection questions in a journal in order to reflect on them as they go along.
If you have not already downloaded and saved your learning journal template, you should do so now before proceeding further.
Next: What is adoption?
- Last updated
- 19 October 2007
