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Intercountry adoptive parent education

• Module 1 - Introduction
  • What is adoption?
  • Who is involved in the adoption process?
  • The adoption process
  • Adoption Services Queensland
  • Suggested reading
• Module 2 - The needs of overseas children requiring permanent adoptive placements in Queensland
  • Overseas country information
  • Are you suited to intercountry adoption?
  • Motivation to adopt
  • Issues and challenges faced by adoptive parents
  • Placement proposals
  • Building resilience with your adopted child
  • Suggested reading
• Module 3 - Child development
  • Understanding child development
  • Factors that impact on child development
  • A child's understanding of adoption
  • Suggested reading
• Module 4 - Attachment and bonding
  • Attachment theory
  • What is attachment and bonding?
  • Types of attachment
  • Attachment behaviour
  • Signs of healthy attachment and bonding
  • Attachment disorder
  • Impact of attachment on adoptive parenting
  • The arousal-relaxation cycle
  • Developing an attachment with your child
  • Suggested reading
• Module 5 - Separation, grief and loss
  • Definition of loss and grief
  • The impact of loss on adoptive parents
  • The impact of loss on adopted children
  • Effects and strategies for dealing with a child's loss
  • Understanding the impact of loss on an adopted child
  • The impact of loss on birth parents
  • The grief process
  • Suggested reading
• Module 6 - Identity and culture
  • Your feelings about ethnic background and culture
  • The impact of adoption on your family
  • Definition of ethnicity, culture and identity
  • Addressing cultural identity
  • The cultural heritage plan
  • Barriers to developing a child's cultural identity
  • A child's racial awareness
  • Stages of development of racial identity
  • Combating racism
  • Telling your child they are adopted
  • The adoptive family life cycle
  • Suggested reading
• Module 7 - Preparing for assessment
  • Departmental assessment considerations
  • Assessing a couple's suitability
  • Meeting the assessment criteria
  • The assessment process
  • Placement considerations
  • Assessors - their perspective
  • Establishing a family tree and Ecomap
  • Suggested reading
• Module 8 - Placement information
  • Medical assessment of children adopted from overseas
  • Lodging an application with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Migration Health Check
  • Naming your child
  • Travel arrangements
  • Arrival in Australia
  • Queensland Birth Certificate
  • Australian Citizenship
  • Adoptive parent support groups
  • Life Story Book
  • Suggested reading
• Module 9 - General reading
• Family profile
  • My family profile
• Printable version
• Contacts

What is adoption?

Adoption establishes a permanent legal relationship between a child and their adoptive parents and dissolves the legal relationship with the birth parents.

Adoption also transfers the legal rights and responsibilities of parenthood from a child's birth parents to their adoptive parents.

• What is intercountry adoption?
• Adoption legislation in Queensland
• Activity 2 - The meaning of adoption

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What is intercountry adoption?

Intercountry adoption is the adoption of a child born overseas.

Adopting a child who has ethnic origins different from your own is not the same as adopting a locally born child. We suggest that you discuss adoption of children born overseas with your family and friends, and consider their thoughts and views.

Adoption legislation in Queensland

The Adoption of Children Act 1964 and the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 provide the legal basis for adoption in Queensland.

This legislation ensures that the welfare and best interests of children requiring permanent care through adoption are of paramount consideration in the adoption process and that the interests of all parties involved in the process of adoption are safeguarded.

The Department of Child Safety is the sole agency with authority to arrange intercountry adoptions for Queensland families and is responsible for administering the legislation in Queensland. Adoption Services Queensland is responsible for managing the intercountry adoption program.

Next: Who is involved in the adoption process?

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Last updated

19 October 2007