'KNOWN' ADOPTION 'Known' child adoptions are adoptions of children who were born or permanently reside in Australia before the adoption, who have a pre-existing relationship with the adoptive parent(s) and who are generally not able to be adopted by anyone other than the adoptive parent(s). These types of adoptions are broken down into the following categories: CODE 1 Step-parent A step-parent is a non-biological parent who is the spouse of the child's natural parent or previously adoptive parent. Foster parents are NOT included in this category. CODE 2 Other relatives(s) This category includes any relative of the child, other than step-parents. For Indigenous children, 'relative' includes those related through kinship arrangements. CODE 3 Carer Includes foster parents or other non-relatives who have been caring for the child and have had the responsibility for making decisions concerning the daily care and control of the child for the relevant period (as specified by the relevant state/territory department) before the adoption. CODE 4 Other Includes children adopted by commissioning (surrogate) parents, whether the commissioning parent is a relative or not. LOCAL ADOPTION (EXCLUDES 'KNOWN') A local adoption is the adoption of a child who was born or who was a permanently residing in Australia before the adoption, who is legally able to be placed for adoption, but who generally had no previous contact or relationship with the adoptive parents. CODE 5 Local INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION (EXCLUDES 'KNOWN') An intercountry adoption is an adoption of a child from a country other than Australia who is legally able to be placed for adoption, but who generally has had no previous contact or relationship with the adoptive parents. Inter-country adoptions are broken down into the following categories: CODE 6 Hague A Hague intercountry adoption is where the adoptive child's country of origin has ratified or acceded to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, and the applicant(s) file was sent after the Convention entered into force in this country. CODE 7 Non-Hague A non-Hague intercountry adoption is where the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption has not entered into force in the adoptive child's country of origin before the applicant(s) file was sent. |