Adoptions Australia 2011-12

This report contains comprehensive information relating to adoptions in Australia, including characteristics of adopted children, adoptive families and birth mothers. For the first time, the report also contains information on the processing times for intercountry adoption. During 2011-12 there were 333 finalised adoptions across Australia; the lowest annual number on record. Among these: 45% were intercountry, 17% were local and 39% were `known' child adoptions; 58% of adopted children were aged under 5; 86% of intercountry adoptees came from Asia; 54% of `known' adoptions were by carers, such as foster parents.