Notes
Data quality statement
Adoptions Australia 2018–19; Quality Statement
Data in the displays are based on the National Adoptions Dataset Specifications.
Adoptions Australia 2018–19
Publication
Release Date:
Topic: Adoptions
Citation
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2019) Adoptions Australia 2018–19, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 24 June 2026.
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310 adoptions were finalised in Australia in 2018–19, of which 82% were of Australian children and 18% were intercountry. The majority of adoptions finalised were known child adoptions (211, or 68%) and, of these, 67% (142) were carer (known child) adoptions. Overall, there has been a 64% decline in finalised adoptions in Australia in the 25-year period between 1994–95 to 2018–19. However, since the low for the period of 278 adoptions in 2015–16, there has been a rise of 12%.
A series of fact sheets are available as part of this release.
- ISSN: 2205-5037
- ISBN: 978-1-76054-657-1
- Cat. no: CWS 71
- Pages: 76
Findings from this report:
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310 adoptions were recorded in 2018–19—an increase of 12% since 2015–16, but an overall decline of 64% since 1994–95.
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Of the 211 known child adoptions finalised in Australia, 142 or 67% were by carers, such as foster parents.
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The median waiting time for families adopting from overseas dropped to 25 months.
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Almost all (98%) of local adoptees and 65% of intercountry adoptees were under the age of 5.