Adoption is the legal process which permanently transfers all the legal rights and responsibilities of being a parent from the child’s birth parents to the adoptive parents.
The Australian Attorney-General’s Department has primary responsibility for managing intercountry adoption arrangements with other countries and this responsibility is shared with the various state and territory government departments.
Adoption within Australia is handled by the state and territory governments.
Foster care is provided to children and young people who are unable to live with their own families. Foster carers take on the responsibilities of a parent for a period of time, to provide a safe, nurturing and secure family environment for children and young people needing care.
Becoming a foster parent is a big decision and can require significant commitment. Foster parenting is often described as being more than a parent.
The rewards include contributing and making a difference to a child’s life, but fostering can be challenging in ways that can affect carers physically, emotionally and financially.