Post by flossyinoz on Aug 2, 2007 16:13:00 GMT 10
Hi,
I think it is about time to start an adoption info thread about Queensland. Most of our members so far were in Victoria and NSW, so we still have to get some more experience in Queensland. And it seems to be a good time for Queensland now as the register for expression of interest which is the first prerequisite to start an adoption process locally or internationally stays open for 2 years from 29 October 2007. Unfortunately it is not mentioned on the site how long the process may take. This will probably depend on "offer and demand" and depend from case to case.
Here is an excerpt what I found on the website (There is a lot more - have a look):
www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/adoption/
General Children's Adoption Program
This website provides information on general children's adoption and the process for couples seeking to be assessed as suitable adoptive parents for a child requiring an adoptive family. This information is also available as a downloadable booklet: Expression of interest process information kit - General Children's Adoption Program (PDF 265 KB).
In Queensland this process occurs in several stages:
initial enquiry
lodgement of an expression of interest
establishment of eligibility
education
assessment
determination of suitability
the making of Adoption Orders
post placement.
This process is illustrated in a flowchart of the general adoption process in Queensland.
A list of suggested reading about adoption and children is also available. Adoption considerations details important issues relating to adoption and frequently asked questions contains answers to common questions.
Table of contents
About adoption
Expression of interest (EOI)
Eligibility
Removal of names from EOI Register and Assessment
Register
Assessment
Assessment process
Essential competencies required by prospective
adoptive parents
Information informing assessment
Adoption assessments
Assessment outcome
Adoption Register
Provision for review
Placement considerations
Placement procedures
Post placement issues
Making of an Adoption Order
Rights and responsibilities
Complaints
Support groups
Adoption considerations
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Suggested reading
Flowchart of the general adoption process in
Queensland
Expression of interest registers for adoption
The expression of interest registers for local and intercountry adoptions closed on 2 July 2007. However, the adoption registers will re-open later this year on Monday 29 October 2007. The registers will remain open for two years, closing on Friday 30 October 2009.
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 states that there must be a planned opening and closing date of the expression of interest. Consequently, our department cannot currently register any new expressions of interest until the registers are re-opened.
Information on how to lodge an expression of interest will be available when the register re-opens and details will be provided on this page.
Expressing interest in Queensland and overseas adoption programs
Couples may express interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents under both the General Children's Adoption Program and Intercountry Adoption Program. However, separate expressions of interest are required for each program.
If a couple lodges concurrent expressions of interest, one under the General Children's Adoption Program and another under the Intercountry Adoption Program, they are encouraged to identify the expression of interest they would prefer to progress and to concentrate on progressing through that program.
Couples who have concurrent expressions of interest will be required to postpone one program at the time they are invited to move forward to assessment for the second program. This will allow a couple to focus on specific issues pertinent to parenting a child in Queensland or a child born in an overseas country and enable the assessment to target the couple's specific capacity and commitment to parent a child requiring a placement under the relevant program.
Infertility Eligibility Criteria
It is an eligibility requirement for the General Children's Adoption Program that at least one partner in a couple is infertile. The Regulation defines infertile, for a woman, as:
an inability, for a reason beyond her control, to conceive
having a genetically transmitted disorder giving rise to a significant risk that, if she had a child, the child would not survive or the child's health would be seriously impaired
having a condition giving rise to a significant risk that, if she fell pregnant, the child would not be carried until the child could be delivered alive
having a condition giving rise to a significant risk that, if she fell pregnant, she would not survive or her health would be seriously impaired
The Regulation defines infertile, for a man, as:
an inability, for a reason beyond his control, to cause a woman to conceive
having a genetically transmitted disorder giving rise to a significant risk that, if he fathered a child, the child would not survive or the child's health would be seriously impaired.
Assessment fee
Couples who have registered an expression of interest may be invited to move forward to the assessment stage. If a couple do progress forward they will be required to pay an assessment fee of $487.30 prior to the commencement of their assessment.
The assessment fee is fully refundable if a couple withdraw their expression of interest before the assessment commences. If the assessment has commenced a couple may still be entitled to a partial refund of their fee, dependent on how far the assessment process has progressed.
Determining the number of adoption assessments to be undertaken
In accordance with Section 13AF of the Adoption of Children Act 1964 (the Act), the department must assess a sufficient number of couples to ensure that there are a reasonable number of favourably assessed couples to meet the anticipated needs of children in Queensland requiring adoptive placements.
Determining the order in which people will be assessed
The Department of Child Safety considers the anticipated needs of children requiring adoptive placements, when determining the order in which couples who have expressed interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents for children in Queensland will be assessed.
In order to best meet the needs of children requiring placement with adoptive families, it is necessary to have a diverse range of people seeking to be assessed as adoptive parents. The department is looking to maintain a broad group of people with diverse characteristics and backgrounds so suitable adoptive families are available to meet children's specific placement needs.
Couples with their names on the Expression of Interest Register and who meet eligibility criteria will be invited to be assessed as prospective adoptive parents through an ordered process. Couples will be invited to move forward to assessment in the following order:
couples from specific cultural backgrounds or with specific characteristics, where there is a need to increase the number of approved prospective adoptive parents from particular cultural backgrounds or with particular characteristics to meet the anticipated placement needs of children, or couples expressing a willingness to parent a child with specific needs including a child who has a medical condition or disability, the likely potential to develop a medical condition or disability or a child from a complex social or family background
people who have parenting experience or experience caring for children
all other people who have expressed interest.
Assessment considerations
After a couple's eligibility is established and they are invited to progress their expression of interest to the assessment stage, an assessment is undertaken to ensure that the needs and interests of a child to be adopted would be best met by the couple wanting to become adoptive parents.
Sections 11 and 14(3) and (4) of the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 (the Regulation) set out the matters to be regarded in assessing a couple's suitability to become prospective adoptive parents.
Section 11 of the Regulation prescribes that the department must have regard to:
the quality of the couple's marriage, including its stability
the couple's capacity to be adoptive parents, including:
their emotional capacity and other personal qualities
their financial stability and other financial capacity
their capacity to ensure a child's safety and wellbeing
any other matter relevant to their capacity to provide for a child's emotional, physical, educational, recreational and social needs
the couple's attitudes to, and understanding of:
children and their physical and emotional development
the responsibilities and duties of parenthood
the issues relevant to adoptive parenting, including issues about informing a child of their adoption and the significance of an adopted child's birth parents and their families
the couple's ability and willingness to understand the child's background and to develop or maintain the child's indigenous, ethnic or cultural identity if the couple have applied to adopt a child of a particular indigenous, ethnic or cultural background
the extent of their participation in educational programs relevant to adoption, including any programs conducted by the department.
Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the Regulation prescribe that the department must also have regard to a couple's acceptance and adjustment to infertility and whether the couple are pursuing fertility treatment.
Hope this is a start for our members from Queensland.
Flossyinoz
I think it is about time to start an adoption info thread about Queensland. Most of our members so far were in Victoria and NSW, so we still have to get some more experience in Queensland. And it seems to be a good time for Queensland now as the register for expression of interest which is the first prerequisite to start an adoption process locally or internationally stays open for 2 years from 29 October 2007. Unfortunately it is not mentioned on the site how long the process may take. This will probably depend on "offer and demand" and depend from case to case.
Here is an excerpt what I found on the website (There is a lot more - have a look):
www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/adoption/
General Children's Adoption Program
This website provides information on general children's adoption and the process for couples seeking to be assessed as suitable adoptive parents for a child requiring an adoptive family. This information is also available as a downloadable booklet: Expression of interest process information kit - General Children's Adoption Program (PDF 265 KB).
In Queensland this process occurs in several stages:
initial enquiry
lodgement of an expression of interest
establishment of eligibility
education
assessment
determination of suitability
the making of Adoption Orders
post placement.
This process is illustrated in a flowchart of the general adoption process in Queensland.
A list of suggested reading about adoption and children is also available. Adoption considerations details important issues relating to adoption and frequently asked questions contains answers to common questions.
Table of contents
About adoption
Expression of interest (EOI)
Eligibility
Removal of names from EOI Register and Assessment
Register
Assessment
Assessment process
Essential competencies required by prospective
adoptive parents
Information informing assessment
Adoption assessments
Assessment outcome
Adoption Register
Provision for review
Placement considerations
Placement procedures
Post placement issues
Making of an Adoption Order
Rights and responsibilities
Complaints
Support groups
Adoption considerations
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Suggested reading
Flowchart of the general adoption process in
Queensland
Expression of interest registers for adoption
The expression of interest registers for local and intercountry adoptions closed on 2 July 2007. However, the adoption registers will re-open later this year on Monday 29 October 2007. The registers will remain open for two years, closing on Friday 30 October 2009.
The Adoption of Children Act 1964 states that there must be a planned opening and closing date of the expression of interest. Consequently, our department cannot currently register any new expressions of interest until the registers are re-opened.
Information on how to lodge an expression of interest will be available when the register re-opens and details will be provided on this page.
Expressing interest in Queensland and overseas adoption programs
Couples may express interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents under both the General Children's Adoption Program and Intercountry Adoption Program. However, separate expressions of interest are required for each program.
If a couple lodges concurrent expressions of interest, one under the General Children's Adoption Program and another under the Intercountry Adoption Program, they are encouraged to identify the expression of interest they would prefer to progress and to concentrate on progressing through that program.
Couples who have concurrent expressions of interest will be required to postpone one program at the time they are invited to move forward to assessment for the second program. This will allow a couple to focus on specific issues pertinent to parenting a child in Queensland or a child born in an overseas country and enable the assessment to target the couple's specific capacity and commitment to parent a child requiring a placement under the relevant program.
Infertility Eligibility Criteria
It is an eligibility requirement for the General Children's Adoption Program that at least one partner in a couple is infertile. The Regulation defines infertile, for a woman, as:
an inability, for a reason beyond her control, to conceive
having a genetically transmitted disorder giving rise to a significant risk that, if she had a child, the child would not survive or the child's health would be seriously impaired
having a condition giving rise to a significant risk that, if she fell pregnant, the child would not be carried until the child could be delivered alive
having a condition giving rise to a significant risk that, if she fell pregnant, she would not survive or her health would be seriously impaired
The Regulation defines infertile, for a man, as:
an inability, for a reason beyond his control, to cause a woman to conceive
having a genetically transmitted disorder giving rise to a significant risk that, if he fathered a child, the child would not survive or the child's health would be seriously impaired.
Assessment fee
Couples who have registered an expression of interest may be invited to move forward to the assessment stage. If a couple do progress forward they will be required to pay an assessment fee of $487.30 prior to the commencement of their assessment.
The assessment fee is fully refundable if a couple withdraw their expression of interest before the assessment commences. If the assessment has commenced a couple may still be entitled to a partial refund of their fee, dependent on how far the assessment process has progressed.
Determining the number of adoption assessments to be undertaken
In accordance with Section 13AF of the Adoption of Children Act 1964 (the Act), the department must assess a sufficient number of couples to ensure that there are a reasonable number of favourably assessed couples to meet the anticipated needs of children in Queensland requiring adoptive placements.
Determining the order in which people will be assessed
The Department of Child Safety considers the anticipated needs of children requiring adoptive placements, when determining the order in which couples who have expressed interest in being assessed as prospective adoptive parents for children in Queensland will be assessed.
In order to best meet the needs of children requiring placement with adoptive families, it is necessary to have a diverse range of people seeking to be assessed as adoptive parents. The department is looking to maintain a broad group of people with diverse characteristics and backgrounds so suitable adoptive families are available to meet children's specific placement needs.
Couples with their names on the Expression of Interest Register and who meet eligibility criteria will be invited to be assessed as prospective adoptive parents through an ordered process. Couples will be invited to move forward to assessment in the following order:
couples from specific cultural backgrounds or with specific characteristics, where there is a need to increase the number of approved prospective adoptive parents from particular cultural backgrounds or with particular characteristics to meet the anticipated placement needs of children, or couples expressing a willingness to parent a child with specific needs including a child who has a medical condition or disability, the likely potential to develop a medical condition or disability or a child from a complex social or family background
people who have parenting experience or experience caring for children
all other people who have expressed interest.
Assessment considerations
After a couple's eligibility is established and they are invited to progress their expression of interest to the assessment stage, an assessment is undertaken to ensure that the needs and interests of a child to be adopted would be best met by the couple wanting to become adoptive parents.
Sections 11 and 14(3) and (4) of the Adoption of Children Regulation 1999 (the Regulation) set out the matters to be regarded in assessing a couple's suitability to become prospective adoptive parents.
Section 11 of the Regulation prescribes that the department must have regard to:
the quality of the couple's marriage, including its stability
the couple's capacity to be adoptive parents, including:
their emotional capacity and other personal qualities
their financial stability and other financial capacity
their capacity to ensure a child's safety and wellbeing
any other matter relevant to their capacity to provide for a child's emotional, physical, educational, recreational and social needs
the couple's attitudes to, and understanding of:
children and their physical and emotional development
the responsibilities and duties of parenthood
the issues relevant to adoptive parenting, including issues about informing a child of their adoption and the significance of an adopted child's birth parents and their families
the couple's ability and willingness to understand the child's background and to develop or maintain the child's indigenous, ethnic or cultural identity if the couple have applied to adopt a child of a particular indigenous, ethnic or cultural background
the extent of their participation in educational programs relevant to adoption, including any programs conducted by the department.
Sections 14(3) and 14(4) of the Regulation prescribe that the department must also have regard to a couple's acceptance and adjustment to infertility and whether the couple are pursuing fertility treatment.
Hope this is a start for our members from Queensland.
Flossyinoz