Department of Communities – Adoption Information Session

Date: 27 November 2024

Time: 9:30am -12:30pm

Location: 5 Newman Ct

Adoptions in Western Australia are facilitated by Adoption Services, in the Department of Communities. The Department of Communities (the Department) is the only agency in Western Australia able to arrange adoptions.

The Department appreciates the opportunity to provide you with information about the adoption process. This is particularly important given the significant amounts of inaccurate and out of date information you will be able to access on the internet and from other sources.

If you believe you are eligible and wish to receive further information, attendance at an Information Session is required.

As parking can be at a premium, please allow time for parking. If you are from a regional or remote area and not able to travel to Fremantle, please call Adoption Services on 1800 182 178 to discuss alternate arrangements. We apologise in advance, we cannot accommodate children at our Information Sessions.

Important information – please read before registering

Under Regulation 37 of the Adoption Regulations 1995, it is a pre-requisite for all applicants to receive written and verbal information. Before attending an Information Session you must read the Information Booklet.

Before you register, please ensure you meet the following eligibility criteria:

• be 18 or more years of age
• be a resident or be domiciled in Western Australia
• if married or in a de facto relationship you must have been married to or in a de facto relationship with the other person for at least three years
• if married to another person or in a de facto relationship with another person apply as a joint applicant with that person
• if applying as a single applicant, but previously married or previously in a de facto relationship, you must have been separated from that person for at least 12 months
• if applying as a single applicant, you must be an Australian citizen
• if applying jointly, both applicants must be Australian citizens, or one of the applicants must be an Australian citizen and the other a citizen of a country which gives the same rights to adopted persons as nonadopted persons in relation to entry into, residence, education and medical care in that country (Section 38 & Section 39 of the Adoption Act 1994).
• if applying as a couple, it is a legislative requirement for you both to attend an Information Session.

For applicants who do not have parental responsibility for another child, there can be a maximum age difference of 45 years between the prospective adoptive child and the youngest applicant.

Please note if the youngest of the applicants is 43 years of age or older, given the length of time of the adoption application process alongside the age legislation, you may want to assess the reality of having a child placed through adoption and consider the option of fostering.

For a single person who does not have parental responsibility of another child the age gap cannot be more than 45 years. For applicants who have parental responsibility for another child, the age differential increases to 50 years. For a single person who has parental responsibility for another child, the age gap cannot be more than 50 years.