- Want to adopt?
Explanation of what adoption is, who can adopt and the different types of adoption available, including local, intercountry and intrafamily.
- What is open adoption
Learn more about open adoption: what it is, its benefits and what it means for you, the child and their birth family.
- The adoption process
Adopting a child can take some time. Here is a step-by-step explanation of what happens in the adoption process.
- What happens when an adoption order is made
Information about adoption orders issued by the NSW Supreme Court, including changes to the child's birth certificate, adoption plans, and access and contact with the child's birth parents.
- Out-of-home care adoption
Find out more about the process of adopting a child who is in out-of-home care or in your foster care, and the out-of-home care adoption allowance.
- Adopting within the family
Legal requirements and application process for intrafamily adoption, which is adopting a child by a step parent or relative.
- Adopting locally
Information for couples and families who want to adopt babies and children locally in NSW, including a list of adoption agencies other than DCJ.
- Adopting from overseas
Find more about intercountry adoption if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, including waiting times, fees and costs, and legal requirements.
- Adopting children with special care needs
Information about adopting a child with special care needs, including the adoption process, adoption subsidy and which agency to contact.
- Adult adoptions
Information about adopting someone who is aged 18 years or older, perhaps to formalise a child-parent relationship or for inheritance purposes.
- Aboriginal people and adoption
Adoption is not generally accepted within the Aboriginal community, however there are some circumstances where adoption may occur.
- Torres Strait Islander people and adoption
Customary Torres Strait Islander adoptions are private arrangements and therefore not legally recognised unless there is a formal adoption order.
- NSW birth certificates for children whose adoptions were finalised overseas
Children whose legal adoptions were finalised overseas with DCJ’ assistance are now entitled to obtain NSW birth certificates.
- Support organisations
A list of organisations that offer support for local and intercountry adoptions, as well as international playgroups and social groups.
- The Institute of Open Adoption Studies
The Institute of Open Adoption Studies has been funded by NSW Government in an effort to increase the number of open adoptions from care in NSW.
- Open Adoption Hotline online enquiry form
The Open Adoption Hotline has been established to help carers and others learn more about the adoption process.
- Open Adoption Forums
Information about the DCJ Open Adoption Forum, which involved stakeholders in out-of-home care and adoption sharing their experiences.