Released 16/02/2017
This afternoon I tabled the final report of the Review of the domestic adoption process in the ACT.
Adoption is a defining moment in a child’s life, as it is for the adoptive family and the birth family.
Adoption is first and foremost about achieving long-term stability, permanency and identity in the best interest of a child or young person.
The Domestic Adoption Taskforce was established in August 2016 to review the timeliness of the adoption process in order to improve efficiency and better support people through the process.
I am committed to ensuring children and young people in care have every opportunity to live in secure, permanent and loving homes.
The Taskforce’s work focused on achieving permanency in a timely manner for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families, which is also a key priority of A Step Up for Our Kids – the ACT Government’s five-year reform strategy for out of home care.
The Taskforce looked at current processes for domestic adoption in the ACT and identified opportunities for improvement to achieve better outcomes for ACT families.
The Taskforce consulted with ACT Government Directorates and members of the community to hear the views of all stakeholders, particularly the voices of people who have been adopted, birth parents, adoptive parents, carers and community organisations.
The Community Services Directorate is already working to address some of the issues identified in the report, particularly around improving the information available about adoption, and establishing a plan to improve communication with all participants throughout the process.
The final report reflects the ACT Government’s commitment to ensuring the best interests of children and young people under A Step Up for Our Kids. A full Government response will be delivered by the end of March.
A copy of the final report can be found at: www.communityservices.act.gov.au
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases