Since the early 1970s, there has been a 22-fold decrease in the
number of adoptions in Australia, according to a report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
'The number of adoptions has fallen from a high of 9,798 in
1971-72 to 440 in 2007-08. This is the smallest number of adoptions
recorded since 1969-70 and a 23% decline from just one year ago
when there were 568 adoptions,' said report author Nicole
Hunter.
'This one-year decline may be part of the normal variation in
adoptions over the last decade,' she said.
According to the report, Adoptions Australia 2007-08,
the overall decline in adoptions in the past 25 years can be
attributed to a fall in the number of Australian children
adopted.
'In contrast, intercountry adoptions have emerged as the
dominant category of adoptions; steadily increasing over the last
25 years to represent 61% of all adoptions in 2007-08, compared
with just 6% 25 years ago,' Ms Hunter said.
Of the 440 adoptions in 2007-08, 61% were intercountry, 16% were
local and 23% were 'known' child adoptions.
For 'known' child adoptions, 67% were by step-parents and 26%
were by carers.
Over half of all intercountry adoptions were from three
countries: China (23%), South Korea (17%) and the Philippines
(15%).
'Nearly all children, in both local and intercountry adoptions,
were less than 5 years old (99% and 92% respectively), whereas for
'known' child adoptions, most (69%) of the children were 10 years
of age or older,' Ms Hunter said.
Agreements made at the time of adoption indicate that the great
majority (77%) of local adoptions are now open adoptions, meaning
the birth parents have agreed to some contact and/or information
exchange.
Only 96 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have been
adopted over the last 17 years, and just four Indigenous children
were adopted in 2007-08.
Friday 6 February 2009
Further information: Nicole Hunter, AIHW 02
6244 1062, mob. 0407 915 851.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Adoptions Australia
2007-08.