1. ADOPTION

2. DEFINATION Adoption is the legal process which permanently transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities of being a parent from the child's birth parents to the adoptive parents

3. KEY POINTS CONTAINED LEGISLATION the best interests of a child, both in childhood and later life must be the main consideration the child should know about and have access to their birth family and cultural background the child’s given name or names, identity, language and cultural and religious ties should, when possible, be identified and preserved

4. AFTER ADOPTION KEY POINTS the adoptive parents have full parental responsibility for the child, as if the child was born to them the child has full legal membership of the adoptive family the child has a new birth certificate to show the new legal relationship

5. TO APPLY FOR ADOPTION YOU MUST HAVE MUST HAVE PERMANET RESIDENCY GOOD REPUTE AND FIT AND PROPER TO FULFIL THE RESPONSIBILITES OF PARENTING AND OVER 21 YEAR OF AGE

6. Application forms A form which asks for personal details and names of people willing to be referees, A Statement as to Health  A “draft” applicants affidavit certified copies of each applicants birth and marriage certificates, or change of name certificate (if applicable).

7. PICTURE

8. NUMBER OF ADOPTION Intercouryntry adoption in 2005-2006 is 421 and in 2008-2009 is 269 Local adoption in 2005-2006 is 60 and 2008- 2009 is 68 Known child adoption in 2005-2006 is 95 and 2008-2009 is 104

9. More information about adoption Adoption information unit Phone: 1300 799 023 email:- adoption.information@facs.nsw.gov.au