There are three types of adoption that occur:
Since adoption legislation was first introduced in 1928, around 64,000 Victorians have been adopted. The number of adoptions has decreased since the 1970s.
This is largely due to:
- increase in social acceptance of single parent families and de facto relationships
- government benefits for single parents
- improved access to contraception and abortion.
Another reason why there has been a decrease in the number of adoptions is that in Victoria adoption only occurs when a child is freely placed for adoption by their birth parent.
Before the current Adoption Act, children were sometimes placed for adoption because the courts had decided a parent could not care for them.
Most children in Victoria who are placed permanently with another family are placed by child protection. Such arrangements are made under permanent care orders not adoption orders.
The number of permanent care orders made in Victoria every year is much greater than the number of adoptions.
Adopt a child from Victoria
The purpose of the Victorian adoption program is to find families for children, not children for families.
Adopt a child from overseas
Adoption from another country is only considered when a country has exhausted all options to care for a child.
Adopt a child you know
Sometimes people want to adopt a step-child, a relative or a person who has been in their care.
Needs of adopted children
Children who have been adopted are likely to have additional needs.
Support for families who have adopted a child
There is support available for families who have adopted a child in Victoria through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (formerly the Department of Health and Human Services).
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