[KLusk]

we live in Australia and would love to adopt a baby. Does anyone have any information or advice on what to do or where to contact. we are interest in overseas adoption also. Please reply.....

[KLusk]

we are wanting to adopt a child

[cakegirl]

Hi KLusk,

It's different in each state. If you're in NSW, I can help you - I'm about one third of the way through the process, but I've just done a seminar with DOCS where the whole thing is explained.

Rebecca

[Jurol]

Hi KLusk

I can certainly help. We've adopted six of our eight children from overseas. Let me know what state you are in, and I can let you know who to contact.

Julia
Aussie mum of 8L 2 daughters born to me and 5 sons and a daughter adopted from Korea, Taiwan and India.

[cakegirl]

Hi Julia,

What state are you in?

Rebecca

[Jurol]

Hi Rebecca,

I am in the ACT but have contacts in other states. I've been involved in intercountry adoption in Oz now for 19 years (lodged our first application in 1986) and I am now very involved with our state Adoption Unit in pre-adoption education - speaking at all ACT adoption seminars and jointly running a pre-adoption preparation course here. Now my kids are mostly young adults or teens they are also involved, and speak at seminars and forums.

What country are you hoping to adopt from Rebecca?

Cheers,

[cakegirl]

Hey Julia,

I'm applying to adopt from China as a single. I'm not quite 30 yet, and I know I've got a longer wait with DOCS because I'm single, and then if I'm approved by DOCS, I have a longer wait for my dossier to go to China because of their quota... But it will be worth it in the end, I'm sure! At least it's giving me time to get my "life in order" (aka sending lots of stuff to St Vinnies and the book exchange!)...

Rebecca

[Jurol]

Hi Rebecca,

The waiting can be difficult but it does eventually pass. I found the process ended up being over three years for each of our kids. Sometimes the delays were at the Oz side and sometimes the overseas side.

The hardest time was when we had our two children allocated to us in India and then had to wait a total of 19 months before we could travel to meet them. That was a long, long time to know those two were to be our children but I couldn't bring them home yet. The toughest part was celebrating two birthday for my son while he remained in an orphanage. He was 3 years old when we accepted his allocation and 5 when we brought him home. He's now 12 years old and those times are a distant memory.

May the wait pass quickly for you, and once your child is with you - you will barely remember a time you didn't have them in your life.

[cakegirl]

Thanks, Julia. I keep my life pretty "busy", and I'm always surprised when another month ends, so I know this wait is not going to seem as long as it does for people who "feel" the time more acutely - which doesn't mean it's not going to be tough!

Rebecca

[BrookeInOz]

I am in NSW and am 41 - my husband is 44 and we are interested ina dopting a child from Thailand or the Phiullipines. Any and all info would be much appreciated!!

[cakegirl]

BrookeInOz, I have sent you a PM with my phone number. If you'd like to give me a call, we can chate and I can give you the details of where to go with DOCS etc.