Adoption in WA

[asprovan]

Posted an earlier reply but it doesn't look like it has appeared.

We are in WA and have adopted a child from Ethiopia. A long process but worth it. One of the most frustrating things about the journey was the different information we were provided by the Department and then our home assessor.

Have just posted what happened to my friend in terms of being pregnant. In regards to placement of another child the Adoption Act specifies that a child has to be in your care for at least 2 years before another child is placed in your family:-

ADOPTION ACT 1994 - SECT 52

The Ethiopian program has also just reopened (well as from April) but the fees have gone up significantly.

What's New in Intercountry Adoption

The final amount is yet to be released but I have heard it is above US$10,000 so I would be budgeting around AUS$25,000 to AUS$30,000 for the whole adoption journey which will include assessments, file processing fee, visa ($1,400), flights ($10,000), accommodation, spending money etc. Fortunately you don't need to pay this out in one hit but you certainly feel very poor when you are allocated as this is when the money flies out of your account and this was on the old fee structure (Power of Attorney: US$1,000, Foster Care Fees: US$2,000, Visa: $1,400, Flights: $8,000, Accommodation: $1,000) just pray the US/AUS exchange rate remains favourable.

[~BecD~]

Thats what the people told us as well - you are taken off the list once the baby is born and will need to be reassessed afterwards as your child changes your situation.

We are still pursuing adoption - have completed all of our education seminars, now are doing our medical and financial check paperwork to submit to DCP before we can start the assessment process. We are taking our time at the moment, just trying to enjoy our lives a bit before getting back on the ivf/adoption rollercoaster

[~TT40~]

just poping in again bec. Good luck with it all and i hope you get your dream!!! what a long journey, but such a rewarding one a the end =)
good luck!!!

[~BecD~]

We submitted our medical reports to DCP but my husbands doctor screwed us over with his report, saying that he wouldnt recommend murray for adoption until he had a psych review for his depression. Never mind that he has (had) been treating murray for 4 years, and known about the (very mild) depression for the last 6 months - if he thought DH needed it, why didnt he actually refer him to someone, rather than just writing it in a letter and no doing anything. He certainly didnt tell dh that he felt anything was wrong. I think ikt is a vindictive thing as me made a complaint to the dr surgery about him overcharging us for the report (DHs report cost 3 times the cost of mine - exactly the same two page report!)
DCP sent us a 'please explain' letter and I am nervous this has ruined our chances. We havent started the assessment process yet as we want to see how this next round of ivf goes, but if it is unsuccessful we will start focusing on this again.

[lil_chookie]

Bec - my experience with the assessment process is that if you demonstrate you have sought help for the issues, this won't work against you. I had some fairly large trauma in my life over 10 years ago and this came up alot through my assessment process. But I was able to demonstrate I have worked through these issues, sought out supports and there is no daily affect on my life.
When you begin assessments the social workers would have identfied the mild depression in your DH, so it is probably better it is in the report from the doctor as it shows your DH has been seeking help.

[~BecD~]

THought I should update in here, we are finaly getting around to submitting our adoption application. We got swept away with IVF and life and decided to put the application to the side for a while, but we are ready to get back on board. Just need a couple more certified documents and we will be ready to submit. Fingers crossed!

[Poncho]

That is great Bec! How did you end up sorting out the medical report stuff? All the best with it all. xo

[~BecD~]

Didn't really sort out the medical report - no doubt we will get some questions about it come the assessment stage.
Sent off our application this morning - so excited!

[~TT40~]

*fingers crossed*

[Early Kids]

All the best xx

[onthefly]

Good luck

[~BecD~]

It's been many years but I thought I would update that we finally got approved in October 2013 and got the call last Friday that we are locally adopting a 1 year old boy. We are thrilled to bits and madly getting the house ready for a toddler!

[Sequoia]

It's been many years but I thought I would update that we finally got approved in October 2013 and got the call last Friday that we are locally adopting a 1 year old boy. We are thrilled to bits and madly getting the house ready for a toddler!

This is amazing!!!! I only checked your blog today to see if there was any update (I comment occasionally). Congratulations, you must be beyond thrilled. xx