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Post by shudie on Jul 6, 2008 8:51:40 GMT 10
Just thought I'd write about my experience of this so far - for anyone out there interested and wants the latest. We've just done the 2 day 'Intercountry Adoption Preparation Seminar'. It was really, really good, lots of information and wonderfully presented by 2 very warm SW's that really knew their stuff. The topic covered were: expectations, parenting your adopted child, introduction to loss and grief theory, motivation to adopt, loss from a child's perspective, country program information, birth parent presentation, identity and the adopted child, parenting someone else's child born in another country, adoption application. also, an adult adoptee came with his mum and spoke, as did 2 families that have wee tots from korea. ICA Program -Lodge EOI - $100 (took us 6 weeks to hear back) -Preparation Seminar/Older Child Seminar -$500 (1-3 month wait) -Lodge Application - $640 (training), $4260 (Assessment) $4800 (Allocation + post placement) + add on your chosen country fee -Assessment takes 9 months -File sent to country -Wait 2+ ? years -(special needs and older child placements are quicker) for eg: a child that has been born to a mother that was raped is considered special needs, same to an addict. Child may and for most countries, have developmental needs understandably. We were told that all programs have slowed down. Got loads of info on criteria which is now on the Attorney General's website - not DOCS and they pretty much said, check the criteria list and see if you fit the country. xx Shudie
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Post by kate on Jul 6, 2008 9:30:40 GMT 10
Hi
Thanks for sharing the info.
I am in Victoria, so it is interesting to see how things work in other states.
In your last paragraph you wrote that with permanent care you can apply to adopt after 2 years. Did they talk about the birth parents rights at that time? My sister was with our family through permanent care and we hoped to adopt but her birth mother did not consent (even though she did not keep up contact).
The adoption finally went through after my sister was 18, because at this age she was able to consent to the adoption.
This was a few years ago so i don't know if things have changed in Victoria, and if differences exist between states in this matter.
cheers,
kate
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Post by shudie on Jul 6, 2008 16:24:56 GMT 10
Hi Kate,
She mentioned that in some cases, this went smoothly, in others it did not......I reckon it is probably hugely different case by case.
xx Shudie
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Post by flossyinoz on Jul 7, 2008 10:57:20 GMT 10
Shudie, That really sounds interesting pc in NSW, sounds a lot easier than in Victoria where access visits tend to be a lot more often than 4 times a year and you are never able to adopt until the child is 18 and you have other legal disadvantages like you may not get a passport for the child if the birthparents do not consent. There are differences in some centerlink payments and other little "annoying things" as it is state and not federal law and thus not acknowledged by federal. So I wonder how NSW got around most of this, maybe Vic could learn from it. Also the waiting period for a 0-2 year old is a lot longer than a couple of weeks here, can be several years. Good luck in whatever you go for Shudie Cheers
Flossyinoz
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Post by sallyg on Jul 7, 2008 11:06:06 GMT 10
Hi Shudie,
This is interesting, I didn't even know NSW did permanent care! Is it new? I was wondering the same as Kate about going from PC to adoption and the bio parents involvement.
It all sounds very positive though... good luck with it all!
Sal
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Post by shudie on Jul 7, 2008 16:26:35 GMT 10
it was just lucky that a perm care was sitting in on the ICA course, so we chatted to her in the breaks etc.....
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Post by chinababe on Jul 7, 2008 19:20:03 GMT 10
Sally my understanding is that PC is fairly new (like this year) in NSW as when I have looked at the appropriate NSW websites in the past they didn't have this and their long term foster care the child had to be in same foster parent care for about 5 years before starting adoption.
I have heard some people in QLD refer to permanent care but not sure if it the same as vic.
WA only has long term and general foster care.
Not sure about the other states? ANyone?
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Post by sallyg on Jul 8, 2008 11:03:52 GMT 10
That's interesting Shudie, When we went to our first LA info session - about three years ago now - they were really pushing PC to us - and it just felt so right for us - right from the beginning. I hear now that when you call for info on ICA in Vic they suggest you try LA... I suppose it's all about educating us on our options - unless you're in the field how on earth would you know what they are?
I think you're right China,
I was told ACT has PC by someone on another board a while back... so my understanding it was just Vic (and maybe ACT if this person was right!).
I so hope it goes across the whole of Australia - it's a great system, in an not so great society.
Sal x
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Post by flossyinoz on Jul 8, 2008 11:49:47 GMT 10
If they had one unified pc program throughout Australia would be great and if this was legalised Australia wide, then many of the current legal problems would no longer exist, as at the moment at least in Victoria it is only federal law and unless it is registered and accepted by the family court, which for some reasons does not always seem possible, you can have all kinds of legal insecurities eg passport for the child if the birth parents do not consent. Unification would make it so much more attractive.
Flossyinoz
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Post by shudie on Jul 9, 2008 9:22:37 GMT 10
i'm going to ring them today or tomorrow to find out more about it so will let you all know as and when
xx shudie
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Post by sallyg on Jul 10, 2008 13:54:09 GMT 10
Let us know how you go! :-)
Sal
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