Adoption wait times in Australia vary significantly, but generally range from 1-2 years for local adoptions (often from foster care) to several years (3-4+) for intercountry adoptions, depending on the state, country, and the specific child's needs, with intercountry waits influenced by partner country processing and demand, while local placements depend on birth parent choice and availability.
How long does adoption take? In South Australia, adopting a locally-born child may take up to 2 years. In 2020 - 2021, the median time for an intercountry adoption was 3 years and 4 months. This is from when an adoptive parent was approved by an Australian state or territory to when the child was placed.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) provides a variety of reports and statistics on local and intercountry adoption in Australia. The AIHW reports that the waiting times vary between the partner countries and currently the median waiting time to adopt a child from overseas is 25 months.
Adopting in Australia is difficult, lengthy (often 2+ years), and highly regulated, focusing on the child's best interests, with most adoptions being local children in care or known-child placements rather than healthy infants, which are rarely available. The process involves thorough assessments (background checks, interviews, home visits) to ensure suitability, and timelines vary significantly, especially for intercountry adoption, but generally require immense patience due to low numbers of children needing adoption and bureaucratic steps.
Adopting locally in Australia generally costs a few thousand dollars for government/legal fees (e.g., $2,000-$3,000+), while intercountry adoption is significantly more, ranging from $10,000 to $40,000+, covering overseas travel, accommodation, document translation, and foreign government fees. Adoption of children from foster care (local) often has minimal to no fees, especially for children with high needs, but intercountry adoptions always involve substantial extra costs.
The "hardest" age to adopt is subjective and depends on the family, but older children (school-age to teens) are generally harder to place due to trauma, multiple foster placements, and developmental challenges like forming attachments, making them often considered "special needs" by agencies, though they offer benefits like self-sufficiency; conversely, some find toddlers (ages 3-4) the most challenging due to behavioral hurdles.
Easiest Countries to Adopt from 2026
You can apply to become a proposed adoptive parent and have children placed with you who would benefit from open adoption rather than foster care. Many children who are adopted in NSW are first cared for by foster carers, who intend to care for rather than adopt a child.
The independent adoption process usually takes from 6-12 months, depending on how quickly you can complete the home study and paperwork. The best way to help speed up this process is to figure out ahead of time if the birth parent or parents will agree (consent) to the adoption and sign the necessary paperwork.
The 7 Core Issues of Adoption are Loss, Rejection, Shame/Guilt, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, and Mastery/Control, a framework describing lifelong challenges for all members of the adoption constellation (adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents) stemming from separation and new family formation. These aren't stages but ongoing themes that affect individuals' sense of self, relationships, and control over their lives, requiring validation and processing for healing.
Although you do not choose what baby you adopt, you can specify what you are looking for in an adoption. We will find you an adoption opportunity that fits your wants and needs. Working with us means that you'll have a reliable resource for every step of the adoption process.
The adoption process
The adoption approval process normally takes around 6 months.
Adoption numbers have declined
Compared with 1971–72, the number of adoptions in 2023–24 has fallen by 98% from 9,798 to 207. Information on whether children were adopted from Australia or overseas has been recorded since 1979–80.
The five stages (steps) in the adoption process are: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation.
While domestic adoption is free, there are still some out of pocket expenses specific to the adoption journey. Some of these expenses you have to pay yourself, and some are incurred by the agency on your behalf and then recharged to you.
Foster kids need a range of essential items to help them feel safe, secure and loved. Whether it's basic necessities like clothing, toiletries, or school supplies or comfort items like stuffed animals, toys, and books, these simple items can make a big difference in the lives of foster children.
But most adoptions from foster care are free. Families who adopt from foster care usually adopt from a county, state, territory, or tribal public child welfare agency. Adopting a child from foster care is often funded by the state, and in most cases there are few or no fees.
With age comes experience, and this is an advantage for midlife parents hoping to adopt. Many adoptive parents in their 40s find that they are actually in a better position to raise children than they may have been when they were younger. They may be calmer and have more time to devote to a child.
Adopting in Australia is difficult, lengthy (often 2+ years), and highly regulated, focusing on the child's best interests, with most adoptions being local children in care or known-child placements rather than healthy infants, which are rarely available. The process involves thorough assessments (background checks, interviews, home visits) to ensure suitability, and timelines vary significantly, especially for intercountry adoption, but generally require immense patience due to low numbers of children needing adoption and bureaucratic steps.
Nearly 40% of international adoptions to the US in 2022 were from three countries: Colombia (235), India (223), and South Korea (141). A world map showing countries colored by total international adoptions to the US in 2022. The countries with the most are Colombia (235), India (223), and South Korea (141).
Results. DM indicated that Black children (0.81) were underrepresented in adoption, and DI indicated that the likelihood of adoption for Black children (0.73) was one third lower than that for White children.
Intercountry adoption occurs when an Australian citizen or permanent resident, who is residing in Australia, adopts a child from another country through the authorities in their Australian state or territory. DCJ is currently the only agency in NSW which can arrange intercountry adoption.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).