http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1276240.htm
Last Update: Tuesday, January 4, 2005. 12:45pm (AEDT)

Overseas adoption unsuitable for tsunami orphans

Adoption groups are advising it is unlikely children orphaned by the
Asian tsunami disaster would be repatriated to Australia.

Agencies including Centrelink and support groups in the ACT have
received calls and emails from people wishing to adopt victims of the
earthquake event.

Julia Rollings, from the Adoptive Families Association, says it is
often inappropriate for children affected by war and natural disaster
to be adopted overseas.

She says the inquiries are well-meaning but are often unrealistic,
especially in the short-term.

"Inter-country adoption is only appropriate for children who can't be
placed in a suitable family within the country of origin," she said.

"So there's a lot of steps that have to be taken first before they
decide that inter-country adoption is appropriate for any of these
orphans."

Unicef Australia chief executive Carolyn Hardy says her organisation
will not support or encourage inter-country adoptions.

"We believe children are best left where they are in environments that
are familiar to them, in a culture that's familiar to them, speaking a
language that they know, and in the schools that they're already going
to," she said.

"To uplift them out of their country to Australia or anywhere else
would be an absolute last resort."

"Julia" <jurol@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:qs0kt0hp19fgopocvm9gmri5k9rcn655hr@4ax.com... http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1276240.htm Last Update: Tuesday, January 4, 2005. 12:45pm (AEDT) Overseas adoption unsuitable for tsunami orphans Adoption groups are advising it is unlikely children orphaned by the Asian tsunami disaster would be repatriated to Australia. Agencies including Centrelink and support groups in the ACT have received calls and emails from people wishing to adopt victims of the earthquake event. Julia Rollings, from the Adoptive Families Association, says it is often inappropriate for children affected by war and natural disaster to be adopted overseas. She says the inquiries are well-meaning but are often unrealistic, especially in the short-term. "Inter-country adoption is only appropriate for children who can't be placed in a suitable family within the country of origin," she said. "So there's a lot of steps that have to be taken first before they decide that inter-country adoption is appropriate for any of these orphans." Unicef Australia chief executive Carolyn Hardy says her organisation will not support or encourage inter-country adoptions. "We believe children are best left where they are in environments that are familiar to them, in a culture that's familiar to them, speaking a language that they know, and in the schools that they're already going to," she said. "To uplift them out of their country to Australia or anywhere else would be an absolute last resort."

There was an interesting article in the Globe amd Maiil today on child care
of the aids orphans orphaned by the aids pandemic in Africa. The needs are
so great that in country solutions are the only viable ones, and include
paying for child care to local women. The cost is relatively minor, and the
result is care for children locally.

Had the paper this morning, don't have a link.

Doug Thomas