While many people have good intentions and want to help by adopting a child from overseas, this is not necessarily in the best interests of the child. Some parents may be motivated by the lack of children available for adoption in their home country and thus look at the possibilities overseas.
The 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption is the foundation of the work of ISS in this area. The Convention, and information on the application of the Convention in Australia, can be found on the Attorney-General’s Department website – www.ag.gov.au in the International Judicial Assistance section.
The goal of this convention and the related laws in place within Australia are to stop the "selling" of babies and children to other countries. The underlying principles are that:
Therefore, the child is the starting point in the decision to adopt, not the adoptive parents in search of a child.
International Social Service in Australia provides an information and referral service on issues associated with intercountry adoption.
More information on Services:
Australian State/Territory Department
Intercountry Adoptions Contacts
More information on Tracing a Family Member: