Single parents eligible to adopt Filipino children
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Single parents eligible to adopt Filipino children
Carol Nader
November 5, 2008
THE arduous road to adoption for single people may become slightly easier, with the Philippines becoming one of just three places that will now accept applications from single people in Victoria.
They will be permitted to adopt only children at least six years old with minor medical conditions or complex social issues.
The change, announced by the federal Attorney-General's department this week, makes the Philippines, Ethiopia and Hong Kong the only places that have adoption programs with Victoria that will accept single applicants. Victoria has adoption programs with 12 countries, most of which permit children to be adopted only by married couples.
But even in the cases of Hong Kong and Ethiopia, it is difficult for single people to adopt. Just two children were adopted from Hong Kong by Victorians last financial year and applications from single women are accepted only for children who have special needs when there are no married couples available.
For Ethiopia, the wait is five years or longer because of a quota of 14 applications from Victorians at any time.
Single people previously turned to China, which until a couple of years ago had a program open to single people. But it now also excludes singles.
Leesa Meldrum, who campaigned for single women to have access to IVF treatment and went through 34 IVF cycles, may be one of the last single people permitted to adopt a child from China. She applied three years ago before the law changed and her application is being assessed.
Aileen Berry, from Families with Children from China, adopted a 10-month-old baby from China in 2002.
She said the evidence showed that children adopted by single people fared just as well as children in two-parent households.
Janine Weir, president of adoption lobby group Orphan Angels, said single people who adopted children with complex needs should be applauded.
"These children are damaged from a lack of attachment to a primary carer in those first three years and it's heartbreaking stuff," she said. "If single people are prepared to get in the queue to take these children on, they are extraordinary people."
Carol Nader
November 5, 2008
THE arduous road to adoption for single people may become slightly easier, with the Philippines becoming one of just three places that will now accept applications from single people in Victoria.
They will be permitted to adopt only children at least six years old with minor medical conditions or complex social issues.
The change, announced by the federal Attorney-General's department this week, makes the Philippines, Ethiopia and Hong Kong the only places that have adoption programs with Victoria that will accept single applicants. Victoria has adoption programs with 12 countries, most of which permit children to be adopted only by married couples.
But even in the cases of Hong Kong and Ethiopia, it is difficult for single people to adopt. Just two children were adopted from Hong Kong by Victorians last financial year and applications from single women are accepted only for children who have special needs when there are no married couples available.
For Ethiopia, the wait is five years or longer because of a quota of 14 applications from Victorians at any time.
Single people previously turned to China, which until a couple of years ago had a program open to single people. But it now also excludes singles.
Leesa Meldrum, who campaigned for single women to have access to IVF treatment and went through 34 IVF cycles, may be one of the last single people permitted to adopt a child from China. She applied three years ago before the law changed and her application is being assessed.
Aileen Berry, from Families with Children from China, adopted a 10-month-old baby from China in 2002.
She said the evidence showed that children adopted by single people fared just as well as children in two-parent households.
Janine Weir, president of adoption lobby group Orphan Angels, said single people who adopted children with complex needs should be applauded.
"These children are damaged from a lack of attachment to a primary carer in those first three years and it's heartbreaking stuff," she said. "If single people are prepared to get in the queue to take these children on, they are extraordinary people."
2008 Nov 5