Adopting a child from Queensland
Children requiring adoptive placements under the General Children's Adoption Program are up to two years of age. The majority of children requiring placement have been between five and nine months of age at the time of their adoption. However, a small number of children have been between nine months and two years of age at the time of their adoption.
Many children requiring adoptive placements under this program have had a range of medical needs and complex family and social backgrounds. Medical issues have included:
- prematurity
- Hepatitis C
- minor medical conditions
- minor physical disabilities
- history of psychiatric illness in the birth family.
Complex family and social backgrounds have included issues related to the:
- child's cultural background
- parent's state of affairs
- circumstances of the child's conception
- child's extended birth family.
If a child has specific and significant needs – for example, relating to their cultural background, or relating to a significant medical condition or disability - the child's placement needs may be best met under the Special Needs Children's Adoption Program.
However, in many instances couples who have expressed interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents under the General Children's Adoption Program have been able to meet a child's specific special needs.
How many children need adoptive placements in Queensland each year?
While it is not possible to estimate the number of children who may require an adoptive placement in any given year, it is anticipated that there will continue to be a small number of children each year requiring adoptive placements in Queensland.
The table below indicates the number of children adopted in each program since 2005:
| Adoption program | 2006-07 | 2005-06 |
|---|---|---|
| General Children's | 8 children | 6 children |
| Special Needs Children | 6 children | 2 children |
| Total | 14 children | 8 children |
Note: Many of the children placed under the General Children's Adoption Program had particular needs relating to their health, the circumstances of their conception, family background or cultural background.
A small number of the children requiring placements were from South-East Asia, the Pacific Islands, or of Aboriginal or European backgrounds.
Further information
For further information about the adoption process for children in Queensland, refer to the General Children's Adoption Program or contact our Adoption Services Queensland Unit.
- Last updated
- 19 October 2007