[annie_hope]

Hi,

I am a single woman looking at the options of International Adoption or Permanent Care/Adoption in Australia.

I am interested to know people's recent experiences of international adoption in either NSW or Victoria (I am living in a border town, and could easily live in either state). Has the recent legislation made the process any the easier? What wait-time from start to child/ren have people experienced in either state?

I have also begun the process of training for Foster Care, with the view of taking a child/ren in Permanent Care - again the agency I am training with spans both NSW and Victoria, and could complete the training for either state. In addition to the continual fear that the birth-family may successfully contest the permancy order and regain child/ren I am also concerned about the ability to move children out of the state or out of the country at a future time, which would be a real possibility for me in the future. Again, any people that have faced these issues and have advice on them?

Option three is moving to New Zealand (where I also have citizenship by descent) and going through the overseas adoption process there. Money wise; it is cheaper there, but then my earnings would be rather less, so the cards are equal. In terms of the process though, it is often presented as a much easier and faster one. It would also allow me to adopt from Russia, with which I also have cultural ties with that I could maintain for the children.

I am seriously considering Option Three, but want to know that I researched Options one and two thoroughly before I do so.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!