The number of children adopted in Australia during 1996-97
increased despite an overall decline in the number of adoptions
since the late 1960s.
Adoptions Australia 1996-97 shows that there were 709
adoptions in 1996-97 - an increase of 41 children in 1995-96. Most
children adopted (62%) were Australian-born and of these, 75% were
adopted by non-relatives.
Co-author of the report, Ms Carolyn Dunn, said the number of
adoptions had fallen substantially since its peak of almost 10,000
in 1971-72.
She said changing attitudes to single parenthood, and changes to
legislation relating to adoption by relatives - particularly step
parents - were just some of the reasons for the sharp decline in
adoption numbers.
"Wider availability of birth control and greater options - such
as IVF for infertile couples - have also affected adoption rates."
Ms Dunn said.
Other findings include:
- There were 177 adoptions of Australian-born children by
relatives, more than 90% of which were adoptions by
step-parents.
- Most (77%)Australian-born children adopted by relatives were
aged between 5-14 years of age.
- Of those Australian-born children adopted by non-relatives, 60%
were aged under 1 year.
- During 1996-97, non-relatives adopted 269 overseas-born
children.
- About 31% of overseas-born children adopted by non-relatives
were from Korea, 13% from India and 13% from Thailand.
- Since 1990-91, 35% of the total number of overseas-born
children adopted by non-relatives have been from Korea.
- There were 4,176 applications for information about past
adoptions (similar to the number reported in 1995-96). Of these,
63% were made by the adopted person, 28% by the birth parents, 7%
by other birth relatives and 2% by adoptive parents.
- The number of contact and identifying information vetoes has
dropped from 426 in 1995-96 to 259 in 1996-97. The number of vetoes
lodged has been falling since 1994-95.
12 June 1998
Further information: Carolyn Dunn, ph. 02 6244
1182.
For media copies of the report: Michelle Wells,
ph. 02 6244 1012.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.