Table 31: General process for ICA in Australia Phase Processed involved Agencies involved Initiation Initial enquiry Education seminars Formal applications STCA Processing Suitability assessment and approval decision by both the Australian STCA and the overseas country Sending of documents to country of child’s origin Placement proposal STCA Country of origin CA/ responsible agency Finalisation Immigration application Travel to meet child Beginning of post-placement support Finalisation of adoption DIBP DFAT STCA Post-adoption support services in Australia Source: (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2015)
STCAs As noted above, STCAs are responsible for providing education and information for prospective ICA clients and providing advice and assistance around procedural aspects of ICA. However, how these functions are achieved, and the level of information available to prospective ICA clients through STCA websites varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A summary of the information and linkages available through STCA websites is provided in Table 33. Further insight into jurisdictional differences in the delivery of introductory information sessions to prospective adoptive parents were identified during discussions with STCA representatives. For example, as noted in Table 33, attendance at information sessions is mandatory in some jurisdictions before applications can be accepted (with this requirement noted on STCA websites in the ACT, NSW and SA). Frequency of information sessions differs, ranging from twice-yearly in NSW and the ACT, to quarterly in Queensland, Tasmania and WA. In the NT, information sessions are replaced by a personal interview (of 1.5–2 hours duration) with each prospective adoptive parent, during which relevant information is conveyed. Similarly, in Victoria, information sessions have recently been replaced by personal interviews.
Separate webpages contain information about adoption fees and adoption information sessions Several videos (and their transcripts) are available to view from the information sessions webpage, with titles including ‘ICA: Dylan and Gillian’s story’, ‘The realities of adoption’, ‘Requirements for ICA’ and ’Understanding the adoption process’ SA Placement Services, Families SA, Department for Education and Child Development Information sessions are held ‘regularly’ and must be attended before an expression of interest can be submitted Six-page information sheet on ICA process and 28-page booklet on ICA available for download Tas Adoption and Permanency Services, Department of Health and Human Services Persons interested in attending an information session can contact STCA through link provided Links provided to the Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption and the UN convention on the rights of the child Vic Department of Health and Human Services: Intercountry Adoption Victoria (IAV) - arranges intercountry adoptions Family Information Networks & Discovery (FIND), Department of Human Services Pre-application information sessions no longer held. Attendance at education groups (3 days) is a mandatory requirement to proceed once an application has undergone initial screening and clearance and prior to assessment phase Website being updated and scheduled to be launched in October 2016. ICA Information kit (42 pp), tool and mandatory questionnaire and ICA Victoria assessment standards available online Dedicated page outlining challenges of ICA ICA newsletter, last published May 2015, including current statistics and reference/links to:
Table C1: Summary profile of survey respondents Characteristic n % Jurisdiction ACT 1 0.4% NSW 33 14.3% NT 14 6.1% QLD 41 17.8% SA 34 14.8% TAS 8 3.5% VIC 37 16.1% WA 11 4.8% Not stated 51 22.2% Age 18-25 years 2 0.9% 26-29 years 10 4.3% 30-45 years 122 53.0% 46-55 years 74 32.2% 56-65 years 17 7.4% Over 65 years 3 1.3% Not stated 2 0.9% Gender Female 189 82.2% Male 39 17.0% Not stated 2 0.9% Marital status De facto 12 5.2% Divorced 2 0.9% Married 199 86.5% Other (please specify) 3 1.3% Single 13 5.7% Not stated 1 0.4% Residency status An Australian citizen 220 95.7% An Australian resident 7 3.0% Not stated 3 1.3% Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background
In-depth follow-up interviews with survey respondents In-depth interviews were undertaken with 25 respondents to the online survey who had indicated that they had used the IAA service and were happy to be contacted for a more detailed discussion. The interviews were carried out via teleconference where possible and via email if the interviewee was living outside of Australia or this method was requested. The majority of interviewees were people considering ICA, 21 (77.7%) with the remainder from other groups as detailed in (Table C11). Two interviewees are categorised into two groups, one interviewee who was considering ICA and was an adoptive parent, and one interviewee who was considering ICA and local adoption, resulting in a total of 27 responses. Table C11: Interviewees’ stage in the ICA process Grouping Number of respondents Considering ICA 21 Considering local adoption 1 Considering expat adoption 1 ICA adoptive parent 2 Expat adoptive parents 1 Adoptee 1 Total 27 While the reasons for using the IAA service varied, the majority of interviewees were seeking general information on ICA. The reasons are detailed in Table B-12. Three of the interviewees had more than one reason for using the service, resulting in a total of 28 responses. Table C12: Interviewees’ reasons for using IAA service Reason Number of interviewees Information on ICA 22 Information on expat adoption 1 Information on local adoption 1 Immigration support 2 Post-adoption support 2 Total 28* * Three of the interviewees had more than one reason for using the service, resulting in a total of 28 responses. All interviewees expected accurate and up to date information in a timely manner to inform and guide them through the adoption and immigration processes, and to provide them with post-adoption services. Eight of the 25 interviewees received a referral, with six respondents saying they found the referral useful.