Question about the Aussie adoption system?

Question

I'm wondering if I could get some clarification on how this works.

1. Someone chooses to place an infant for adoption, for whatever reason.

2. Parental rights are terminated.

3. APs are chosen by the government on a list.

4. Adoption happens.

If the APs are chosen by the government and not by the people relinquishing, aren't there problems with this? Don't relinquishing parents want the option of choosing the family to raise their child, even if that choice is made post-birth/post-termination of parental rights?

How does open adoption work in Australia.

Thanks for clairifying. I'm curious about how the process works.

Answer 1

You've had some excellant answers already.

In most cases - when a women is in crisis - and considers adoption as an option for her child - it is a women such as this - that usually just needs some encouragement and a "I think you'll be a wonderful mother - here let's help you with some of those essential skills" - and they find out quickly that - YES - they really can parent their own child.

Children that end up with parents that are drug dependent or abusive - have parents that wouldn't have even thought through such adoption options for their child pre-birth. They are usually troubled or abusive people BEFORE they have the child - and wouldn't have it in them to think of the best interests of the child - usually because their parents were abusive to them - and for many and varied other reasons.

But the research shows - that most that 'think' adoption pre-birth - are in crisis and hormonal - and just not thinking straight. Not bad people.

I know women that relinquished (in the USA) - that were so unbelieving in their own abilities (hormones/crisis/no one giving support) that they thought that they just couldn't be a good mother. When they pre-matched - they were looking for that 'perfect mother' that they thought they had to be to be able to parent. They now realise - that as your child's mother - most times - you already have inside of you to be the 'perfect mother' for your own child.

(if there even is such a thing as a 'perfect' mother anyway!!)

If pre-matching is taken out of the equation - that added pressure isn't there to add to the already frightening mix of being a first time mother.

In Australia - they have taken that step out - so that pressure and influence is removed.

As has already been described by a relinquishing mother from AUS here - you can stipulate what you would like in an adoptive parent - if you do decide to go ahead and relinquish (after the birth) - but suitable candidates are picked by the government - not by an agency that is making money off the whole process.

Domestic adoption does still occur in AUS - but numbers are way down low - simply because women are encouraged to parent first and foremost.

Most women work out quickly - that a) they fall in love with their child after birth AND b) they can be good mothers - with a little bit of help and encouragement.

I hope this and the others have helped.

PM me with any other questions and I'll see if I can help.

Answer 2

google search; aussie adoption system or and google search; how does open adoption work in australia

Answer 3

Its my understanding, and I could be wrong because I've only read, and I don't live in australia anymore ( i only lived there for a year )

The pro's I see to no pre-matching is that there isn't incentive. The decision has to be completely up to the parents with no outside influence, like persuasion from couples wanting to adopt, no living expenses paid for by PAP's. When the "idealism of finding the parents you never had" is taken out of the equation, parents suddenly can become the parent they don't think they could be. When you don't know who you're giving your child to, incentive to become the best you can be, if based on this history, happens.

South Australia's law:

http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/legislation_in... (subject index)

( click on adoption act of 1988 and it takes you to reformed 2004 version )

New South Wales: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/

(its in the browse a-z force section, click on that, then adoption )( check out chapt. 2 objects and adoption princeples )

Victoria:  http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/

Western Australia:  http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/swans....

Queensland:  http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/OQPCho...

Northern Territory: http://www.nt.gov.au/dcm/legislation/cur...

Other sites with information, don't have time to plough thru them today:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/l...

Answer 4

we have a call out to possum.  she's your expert on aussie adoption!

Answer 5

hi, i gave my daughter up at birth in q.l.d australia. i went through social services, i was made to go to about 5 counselling sessions during which they asked me, what religion i was, if i had a problem with a particular race, if i wanted the child to go to white parents only, all sorts of questions like that, I was told i could pick the particulars of a family for her to go to, but not pick or meet the actual family, the only thing i asked for was for the child to be placed in a home that was not overly religious, ie, forced to follow the parents religion. also i was asked time and time again if id take my daughter for a few nights to make sure i really wanted to go through with this. and i was offered again and again for her to be there at all the additional sessions after she was born. i also had the option to have a post box setup, where i could receive pictures of her until she turned 2. and i would be notified if she became very ill or ( god forbid) if she dies. I'm on record that i would be a donor, ie for bone marrow etc in case of severe sickness.

o.k. i think thats everything, hope it helped a bit.