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02-03-2005, 04:42 AM
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12132376%255
E2682,00.html
Less red tape in adoption process
By State Political Reporter GREG KELTON
03feb05
ADOPTING children from overseas will be easier under plans to streamline the
process by the State Government.
The Government is also considering ending the maximum age limit of 55 for
people wishing to adopt children.
Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill said: "This should make
adoptions quicker and simpler."
Adoptions can cost up to $30,000 with an average waiting time of about two
years.
The changes come as Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows people are
waiting longer to get married and longer to start families.
AustraliaScan social analyst David Chalke said the decision to defer childbirth
had also led to older parents, with 46 per cent of mothers under 25 in 1969,
and 20 per cent in 1999.
Under the changes, his department will become the sole agency responsible for
overseeing intercountry adoptions.
Currently, these adoptions are handled by a licensed non-government agency –
Australians Aiding Children Adoption Agency. But the department is also
involved meaning costly duplication of services and confusion over handling
cases. The changes will take effect from April 1. A team has been put in place
to manage the transition process.
SA couples adopt overseas children at a higher rate per capita than any other
state.
Figures released in November show 72 children from countries such as China,
India, Ethiopia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and South Korea
were adopted in 2003-04.
There were only six local adoptions.
There are 230 SA couples in the process of adopting a child from overseas.
Mr Weatherill said the Government had decided on the changes after a review of
the number of adoptions that had broken down resulting in new adoptive parents
having to be found for children.
"We already have considerable difficulties finding placements for children in
this environment," he said. "We really need to minimise the number of placement
breakdowns."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
E2682,00.html
Less red tape in adoption process
By State Political Reporter GREG KELTON
03feb05
ADOPTING children from overseas will be easier under plans to streamline the
process by the State Government.
The Government is also considering ending the maximum age limit of 55 for
people wishing to adopt children.
Families and Communities Minister Jay Weatherill said: "This should make
adoptions quicker and simpler."
Adoptions can cost up to $30,000 with an average waiting time of about two
years.
The changes come as Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows people are
waiting longer to get married and longer to start families.
AustraliaScan social analyst David Chalke said the decision to defer childbirth
had also led to older parents, with 46 per cent of mothers under 25 in 1969,
and 20 per cent in 1999.
Under the changes, his department will become the sole agency responsible for
overseeing intercountry adoptions.
Currently, these adoptions are handled by a licensed non-government agency –
Australians Aiding Children Adoption Agency. But the department is also
involved meaning costly duplication of services and confusion over handling
cases. The changes will take effect from April 1. A team has been put in place
to manage the transition process.
SA couples adopt overseas children at a higher rate per capita than any other
state.
Figures released in November show 72 children from countries such as China,
India, Ethiopia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and South Korea
were adopted in 2003-04.
There were only six local adoptions.
There are 230 SA couples in the process of adopting a child from overseas.
Mr Weatherill said the Government had decided on the changes after a review of
the number of adoptions that had broken down resulting in new adoptive parents
having to be found for children.
"We already have considerable difficulties finding placements for children in
this environment," he said. "We really need to minimise the number of placement
breakdowns."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
