Adoptions and Permanent Care

‘Providing children with permanent families; Supporting the lifetime journey of adoption’

Adoption in the ACT operates under the legislative frame work provided by the ACT Adoption Act 1993  

The 1993 Adoption Act is currently under review, the discussion paper A Better System for Children without parents to care for them PDF  217KB Word  791KB was published for consultation in 2006. The public consultation process concluded with the publication of the Report on key findings from the Review of the Adoption Act 1993. PDF  108KB Word  109KB

The ACT Adoptions and Permanent Care Unit provides a range of services for children and families involved with adoption and permanent care, these include

•  Information sessions and training seminars for prospective adoptive parents considering Local Adoption PDF  469kb Word  34kb and Intercountry Adoption PDF  481kb Word  34kb  and for prospective permanent carers.
•  Processing all adoption and permanent care applications and arranging assessments.
•  Counselling and support for parents Considering a Plan of Adoption PDF  459kb Word  35kb.
•  Out of home care adoption and Step-parent adoption Stepchildren and Adoption PDF  182kb Word  41kb.
•  Enduring Parental Responsibility (attachment) assessments for children and their permanent carers.
•  Post Order support.
•  ACT Adoption Information and Support PDF  477kb Word  36kb , Counselling and Mediation for birth families, adoptees and adoptive families.

Overseas Adoption

The Adoption and Permanent Care Unit has a number of specific functions in relation to Australia's obligations for international adoptions under the Hague Convention  

The Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, as the Australian Central Authority under the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, is responsible for ensuring that Australia, as a whole, meets its obligations under the Convention.

A primary recommendation of the Overseas Adoption in Australia Report   was that the Commonwealth, through the Attorney-General’s Department, take on primary responsibility for the establishment and management of Australia’s intercountry adoption program.

The Attorney-General’s Department has now taken on responsibility for Australia’s existing intercountry adoption programs and works closely with the ACT.

Information about Overseas adoption can be found on the Attorney-General’s website  

Useful information about ACT Adoption and Permanent Care

ACT Adoption and Information Services  477kb
ACT Adoption and Information Services  36kb

Intercountry Adoption Brochure  481kb
Intercountry Adoption Brochure  34kb

Stepchildren and Adoption Brochure  182kb
Stepchildren and Adoption Brochure  41kb

Considering a Plan of Adoption  459kb
Considering a Plan of Adoption  35kb

Local Adoption  469kb
Local Adoption  34kb

Enduring Parental Responsibility  24KB
Enduring Parental Responsibility  36KB

Baby Bonus and Maternity Immunisation Allowance for Adoptive Parents

There are important changes to some families’ payments that came into effect from 1 January 2009. If you are the parent of an adopted child, there are changes to Baby Bonus and Maternity Immunisation Allowance that you need to be aware of. For information about these changes and how they may affect you, www.centrelink.gov.au

Search and Reunion

Search and Reunion Booklet

Contact

ACT Adoptions and Permanent Care Unit
Phone – (02) 6207 1335
Fax – (02) 6207 8888
Email – adoptions@act.gov.au