Overview

Adoption is one of the options used to provide permanent care for children who are unable to live with their families. The adoption process establishes a permanent, legal parent–child relationship between a child and their adoptive parent/s.

More reports and statistics on adoption can be found under Child protection and Children & youth.

Latest findings

In 2018–19, 88% of local adoptions were ‘open’—i.e., all parties allowed a degree of contact or information exchange Of the 211 known child adoptions finalised in Australia, 142 or 67% were by carers, such as foster parents. Almost all (98%) of local adoptees and 65% of intercountry adoptees were under the age of 5. In 2018–19, 56% of intercountry adoptions were from bilateral countries, a decrease from the previous year (62%). In 2018–19, more males than females were adopted, 166 and 144 respectively The majority (98%) of overseas adoptees were from Asian countries, and the most common country was South Korea (30%). Almost all (98%) of local adoptees and 65% of intercountry adoptees were under the age of 5 310 adoptions were recorded in 2018–19—an increase of 12% since 2015–16, but an overall decline of 64% since 1994–95. There were 12 Indigenous children adopted in 2018–19. 126 Indigenous children have been adopted since 1994–95. The median waiting time for families adopting from overseas dropped to 25 months.

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Highlights

310 adoptionsThere were 310 adoptions finalised in Australia in 2018–19—82% of these were adoptions of Australian children.
98%Almost all (98%) of local adoptees and 65% of intercountry adoptees were under the age of 5.
25 monthsThe median waiting time for families adopting from overseas in 2018–19 was 25 months.
64%There has been a 64% decline in adoptions since 1994–95.
67%Of the 211 known child adoptions finalised in Australia, 142 or 67% were by carers, such as foster parents.
83%of adoptive parents involved in carer (known child) adoptions were 40 and over, and 40% were 50 and more.
41%Just under half (41%) of Indigenous child adoptions since 1994–95 were adopted by Indigenous Australians.