Frequently asked questions about overseas adoption
- When will the expression of interest (EOI) registers re-open?
- Do we have to be wealthy to adopt?
- Are there fees involved in intercountry adoption?
- Why are fees necessary?
- If we have recently been placed with a child from Queensland or an overseas country, can we still lodge an EOI?
- Can we still continue fertility treatment, such as IVF, after registering an EOI for adoption?
- How long can we postpone our assessment once our names have been entered onto the Intercountry Adoption EOI Register?
- What happens if I become pregnant?
- Are there any support groups for couples considering intercountry adoption?
- How is the most suitable adoptive placement for a child identified by the responsible overseas authority?
- What type of information is given to the adoptive parents about the child?
- When and how do you tell the child that they are adopted?
- Will current adoption legislation change?
- How can we prepare ourselves to become prospective adoptive parents?
- Is there any traveling involved in the assessment and adoption process?
When will the expression of interest (EOI) registers re-open?
The EOI register for intercountry adoption re-opens on Monday 29 October 2007. The registers will remain open for two years, closing on Friday 30 October 2009.
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 states that there must be a planned opening and closing date of the EOI. Consequently, our department cannot accept any new EOIs after close of business on Friday 30 October 2009.
Information on how to lodge an EOI can be found at Lodging an EOI.
Do we have to be wealthy to adopt?
No. However, couples need to demonstrate that they are able to financially support a child to independence.
There are costs associated with intercountry adoption, including fees paid to other countries and travel to those countries to bring the child back to Australia. This makes intercountry adoption very costly, with costs ranging between AUD$10,000 and $30,000.
Are there fees involved in intercountry adoption?
Yes. A fee is due at the time of lodgement of your EOI. An additional fee is due prior to the commencement of your adoption assessment. Couples must also pay fees required by overseas adoption authorities and the costs associated with travelling to, and staying in the relevant country to take custody of a child. These costs may vary between AUD$10,000 and $30,000 and are subject to change. In most instances, fees paid to overseas adoption authorities cannot be refunded if couples withdraw.
Why are fees necessary?
EOI fees and adoption assessment fees are required to assist with administrative and assessment costs.
If we have recently been placed with a child from Queensland or an overseas country, can we still lodge an EOI?
Yes. However, you may be asked to postpone your EOI until the child has been in your care for at least 12 months, allowing a gap of at least two years between your first child and another prospective adopted child.
Can we still continue fertility treatment, such as IVF, after registering an EOI for adoption?
Yes. However, you will not be able to proceed to assessment until you have ceased your IVF treatment.
You should advise us in writing and request that your adoption application be postponed until after you have completed your fertility treatment.
We need to know that couples are truly committed to, and comfortable with the idea of adopting.
The emotional demands of fertility treatments, combined with the demands of adoption make it difficult and confusing for couples who are still committed to trying to give birth to a baby.
How long can we postpone our assessment once our names have been entered onto the Intercountry Adoption EOI Register?
At this time, you are able to postpone your assessment for up to two years, depending on the individual circumstances.
What happens if I become pregnant?
If couples are planning a pregnancy, or are uncertain about proceeding with adoption and postponing or discontinuing fertility treatment, they may:
- postpone their assessment for a maximum period of two years, until after the birth of their child, or while they pursue fertility treatment
- remove their names from the EOI register.
Once your file is forwarded to the overseas country, the overseas agency understands your readiness for consideration of a child. It is an expectation, especially if you have unexplained infertility, that you will take reasonable contraceptive precautions and continue to maintain this for 18 months after a child is placed in your care.
If a female prospective adoptive parent becomes pregnant after the couple's file is forwarded to an overseas country, the couple is required to advise us of the pregnancy as soon as their doctor confirms it. The placement of a child with a couple cannot proceed if the female prospective adoptive parent is pregnant at the time an overseas adoption authority makes a placement decision in favour of the couple.
At this time, the couple may:
- postpone their EOI until after the birth of their child, or for a maximum of two years
- withdraw their EOI.
Are there any support groups for couples considering intercountry adoption?
Yes. There are several adoptive families support groups in Queensland. Adoptive families support groups can provide valuable support and information to applicants both before and after placement.
Couples can experience significant levels of anxiety and frustration during the adoption process, especially if they do not have an extended family or network of friends close by.
Couples considering joining support groups can choose to receive written information and use library resources and may also become active members by attending meetings and social functions. For information about support groups, refer to Community organisation contacts or contact Adoption Services Queensland.
Support group members will participate in education programs undertaken by Adoption Services Queensland, and will be available to provide important information and answer questions for prospective adoptive parents.
How is the most suitable adoptive placement for a child identified by the responsible overseas authority?
Overseas adoption agencies use the information in the assessment report to determine which prospective adoptive parents are best able to meet the child's individual needs.
In some overseas countries, birth mothers or parents choose the adoptive family for their child. As a result, birth mothers receive varying degrees of detail about prospective adoptive parents, depending on the country and its placement process.
Children requiring adoptive placements from overseas have a broad range of needs depending on their age, medical and social backgrounds.
Overseas adoption authorities are committed to optimising the potential for successful adoption outcomes by limiting risk factors and ensuring the needs of the child are paramount.
A thorough assessment, including evidence of specific competencies or capacities of prospective adoptive parents and their preparedness for post-adoption responsibilities is an essential part of identifying the most suitable placement.
It is important to note that overseas adoption authorities are not bound to make placements in accordance with the chronological order in which prospective adoptive parents' files have been forwarded overseas.
It is not uncommon for placements to be made without any reference to the chronological order of files received from Queensland. The most suitable placement is recommended irrespective of when a file has been received.
The files of Queensland families are considered along with those from other countries. Some adoption program's placements may not happen in chronological order and there have been instances where prospective adoptive parents with files overseas have not been placed with a child.
What type of information is given to the adoptive parents about the child?
Information relating to the child contained in documentation received from the overseas agency is routinely provided to the prospective adoptive parents during the placement discussion. Photographs of the child usually accompany this information. This information may include:
- details of the child, for example, weight, appearance, health, milestones and any known history of the child and their birth parents
- some countries are able to provide only basic information such as name, and approximate age and date of birth.
Prospective adoptive parents considering accepting the placement of a child must be conscious of the fact that there are risks associated with the lack of information about health and genetic issues.
When and how do you tell the child that they are adopted?
Parents can help their child understand adoption by explaining that their adoptive family is their permanent and legal family and that they were adopted because their birth family decided that was the best way to secure the child's future wellbeing.
Parents can also help their child by providing accurate information about their adoption and expressing positive feelings about the child's adopted status and birth family.
Adoptive parents are encouraged to talk about adoption within the family from the time the child is very young.
Explaining adoption to a child is a progressive process because a child understands different things at different ages and will have different information needs as they grow up. This process provides an opportunity for the child to discuss adoption on a more complex level when they are ready.
It is important for parents to provide opportunities for their child to talk about how they feel about their adoption. Parents can do this by talking about issues when it seems natural to do so, for example when there is something in the media about adoption, when friends adopt a child or when talking about the child's physical appearance.
The Life Story Book, prepared by prospective adoptive parents, assists in this process. Other ways families can help their children have a realistic understanding of adoption include:
- finding out as much as possible about other adoptive parents' experiences and how adoption affects their children. Adoptive parents support groups can help and often have resources for loan or for sale
- reading story books about children who have been adopted and families that have been formed by adoption
- ensuring the child grows up with pride in their cultural background and have people in their family and social networks they admire who share their cultural background
- providing their child with any known information about the circumstances of their adoption, the non-identifying information provided at the time of their adoption can help with this
- consider participating in correspondence with their child's pre-adoptive carer in the overseas country if appropriate (further information about this can be sought from Adoption Services Queensland, if required)
- accessing support from a professional counsellor if issues associated with the child's adoption or adjustment arise in the future.
Will current adoption legislation change?
Adoption legislation in Queensland is currently under review. It is possible that some key aspects of the legislation may change. The timeframe for the development of the new legislation is under consideration and will be made publicly available once confirmed. For more information, refer to Adoption legislative review.
How can we prepare ourselves to become prospective adoptive parents?
Stay healthy, research adoption issues, learn about the country from which you hope to adopt a child and improve your understanding of children, early childhood development and parenting.
Is there any traveling involved in the assessment and adoption process?
Couples may be asked to travel to undertake some of their adoption assessment interviews, particularly if they are not living in a major city or regional centre. Couples who are adopting from overseas are required to travel to the country of the child's residence to take custody of, and spend time with the child, learn about the child's culture and bring the child back to Australia.
- Last updated
- 26 October 2007