Summary

  • 1,142 adoptions orders were made in the year 1 July 1990 to 30 June 1991. This represented a decrease of 12% from the previous year and a decrease of 66% since 1979-80.
  • The majority of adoptions were by non-relatives (76%), with adoptions by step-parents accounting for 22% and by other relatives 2%.
  • Of the children adopted by non-relatives, 66% were aged under one year. 75% of children adopted by relatives were aged between 5 and 14 years.
  • 45% of children adopted by non-relatives were born overseas. Of these, 66% were girls.