I have an adoption question for australians?

Question

hi i was just wondering if adoption is incredibly expensive in australia. i gave my daughter up for adoption at birth and believe that this was definitely the right thing to do. ie never had any regrets or second thoughts, however since reading on this site about the cost of adoption in other countries and the amount that adoption agencies get when a child goes through the adoption process i am becoming increasingly worried that some one made a "profit" off the adoption of my child. the thought absolutely horrifies me. i believed my child was going to a good home and that the only people benefiting would be a childless couple. if its any help the adoption was handled through social services in q.l.d. sorry this is kinda long but i was just trying to get my question out clearly. any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I do believe social services are government funded and do not operate off of profits. The reasons adoption may be expensive is probably the legal fees associated and the paperwork and travelling to meet the child and then later to adopt. I hope I helped a little.

Answer 2

Luckily - currently - no one makes money off adoptions in Australia - especially to the amount of the adoption agencies in the USA.

Adoptions here are all handled through each State Government.

People are pushing for laws to be changed to mirror the US - but I'll try d**n hard - as will many others - to make sure that Australia stays the way it is - where family preservation is of most importance - and the absolute best interests of the child are cared for.

In the US - adoption is a multi-billion dollar industry. It would be a sad day if Australia headed down that same path.

I hope that you have been able to have some contact with your daughter - as adoptees need to know - personally - where they came from - and who their first parents are. (better for self identity and self worth)

If you can't handle it now - please make yourself prepared for a possible reunion down the track.

It's hard when adoptees find brick walls when they finally find the courage to search.

I wish the all the best.

Oh - and if you ever need support - here are links to Origins in NSW & QLD - an organisation that supports those that have been separated by adoption -

http://www.angelfire.com/de/lilyorigins/

http://www.originsnsw.com/index.html