Adoption rates rise in NSW after adoption, guardianship overhaul
More children are being adopted in NSW than ever since the state government overhauled the adoption process. Siblings Fraser, 10, Anabella, 7, and Preston, 8, were officially adopted by Paul and Veronica Robertson after living with them for three years.
NSW
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More foster children are finding their “forever home” than ever before, according to the latest official figures that show adoption rates are at record levels.
Halfway through the financial year 85 children have been adopted in NSW, which is 25 per cent more than the same time last year.
Fraser, 10, Anabella, 7, and Preston, 8, officially joined the Robertson family on June 25 after three years living with their adoptive parents Paul, 46, and Veronica, 39.
Even after three years in Mr and Mrs Robertson’s care, the children had deep-seated fear of abandonment and were sceptical they would ever be truly loved unconditionally.
“They were attached to us but they weren’t ours and they knew that, no matter how many times we told them everything would be fine and that we loved them,” Mrs Robertson told The Sunday Telegraph.
“We were living and acting as a normal, everyday family who loved each other but under the surface the kids had a different surname and they were sceptical about whether they were loved and would have parents who would be there for them forever.”
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The anxiety melted away the moment a judge finalised the adoption, which the kids described as the happiest day of their young lives.
“I haven’t seen the kids smile as big as they did on our court date,” she said.
“From that moment on, the kids entire demeanour changed and they were instantly more peaceful, secure and stable.”
That same week, Mr and Mrs Robertson let an unused embryo from a failed IVF attempt “succumb” in a symbolic gesture that their family was complete.
“Life’s easier with a forever mum and dad because nothing’s going to change,” Fraser said.
“Before I found a forever family, everything was always changing, which was stressful.”
When Fraser goes back into Year 6 at McCallums Hill Public School next term, he will be inducted as school vice-captain after being installed by his peers.
The siblings were removed from their young western Sydney birth parents by Family and Community Services (FACS) and spent time with a foster carer before they moved in with Mr and Mrs Robertson.
The children see their birth parents every few months, which they enjoy.
At the current rate of adoptions, the record of 140 set in the 2017-18 financial year will be broken.
The increased adoption rate has coincided with a 27 per cent reduction of kids in foster care or group homes since 2015.
The government has overhauled the adoption and guardianship process since it became a “premier’s Priority” in June to double the number of children in safe permanent homes by 2023 for children in, or at risk of entering, out-of-home care.
The sweeping changes included embedding guardianship and adoption taskforces inside the Department of Communities and Justice to deal with a backlog of applications, new laws to cut red tape and streamline the adoption process, 52 new case works, and a hotline for caseworkers to access on-demand support.
There has also been a concerted effort to keep families together with early intervention programs to snuff out child abuse and neglect before children have to be removed from their birth parents.
Of the 853 families, including 225 Aboriginal families, who have completed the early intervention courses, fewer than 20 have been forced to give up their children.
“We want to make sure children have the opportunity to thrive and when it’s not safe for them to remain with their birth parents, we’re committed to providing permanency through adoption or guardianship,” Minister for Families Gareth Ward said.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a loving, safe and permanent home and our reforms are making a real difference.”