Adoptions Australia data visualisations

Web report
Last updated: 12 Dec 2018
Author: AIHW
Media release

The Adoptions data visualisations allow you to explore data on adoptions through customisable charts and tables. The displays are updated annually and contain data back to 1998–99. Data in the displays are based on the National Adoptions Dataset Specifications.

Cat. no: CWS 67

Findings from this report:

All local adoptees were under 5 years old whilst 53% of known child adoptees were aged 10 years or over
In 2017–18, 62% of intercountry adoptions were from bilateral countries, an increase from the previous year (55%)
Most adoptees seeking information about a past adoption were 35 years old or over
94% of local adoptions in 2017–18 were ‘open’—i.e., all parties allowed a degree of contact or information exchange

Known child adoption in Australia

Known child adoptions refer to adoptions of children who were born or permanently residing in Australia before the adoptions, who have a pre-existing relationship with the adoptive parent(s) and who are generally not able to be adopted by anyone other than the adoptive parent(s). Known child adoptions include adoptions by step-parents, other relatives, and carers. The diagram below presents a simplified overview of the known child adoption process for step-parent and relative adoptions (Figure 3) and carer adoptions (Figure 4).

Figure 3: Overview of step-parent/relative (known child) adoptions in Australia

The flow chart broadly shows the process for adoptions by step-parents and other relatives (intrafamilial adoptions). It starts from the initial enquiry by either the step-parent or relative through to the adoption order being made, as well as any consents or dispense orders. The precise order of the steps may vary slightly between jurisdictions.

Note: The number and order of the steps may vary between jurisdictions.

Figure 4: Overview of carer (known child) adoptions in Australia

The flow chart broadly shows the general process for adoptions by carers, such as foster parents. It starts from the initial enquiry by either the carer(s), child’s birth family or caseworker and progresses as a single process through to the adoption order being made, as well as any consents or dispense orders. The precise order of the steps may vary slightly between jurisdictions.

Note: The number and order of the steps may vary between jurisdictions.

Known child adoptions are administered and/or recorded by the department responsible for adoption in each state and territory. The aim of this type of adoption is to provide the child with a clear legal position, status, and stability within the family arrangement. In some circumstances, the adoption may be finalised after the adoptee is legally considered an adult. The majority of known child adoptions are by step-parents adopting their partner’s children, or by long-term carers, such as foster parents, of children placed in their care.

Adoptions by relatives other than step-parents are less common. This is because most states and territories have policies that promote the use of parental responsibility orders rather than adoption when a child is to be permanently cared for by another relative, such as permanent care and guardianship/custody orders. Known child adoptions by people who are not carers or relatives, such as by commissioning (surrogate) parents, are uncommon in Australia.

Age of known child adoptees

The older age of children in known child adoptions is affected by minimum age requirements for some types of known child adoptions and, in many jurisdictions, the length of time the intended adoptive parent(s) needed to have had a relationship with the child before an adoption was possible. Children adopted by step-parents are generally older than those adopted under other types of adoption, including other categories of known child adoption, in part, due to the additional time involved in forming step-families.

See the source data tables for further information and footnotes about these data.

Explanatory notes

Age is calculated from date of birth, in completed years. For known child adoptions, this is the age when the adoption order for the child was granted.

‘Other known’ was introduced as a reporting category in 2000–01, but not consistently used as a reporting category until 2007–08. In addition to adoptions from commissioning parents, adoptions recorded as ‘other known’ prior to 2007–08 may include adoptions where the relationship with the adoptive parent was unknown.

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