Open Adoption Forums
In late 2015, an Open Adoption Forum was hosted for all stakeholders in out-of-home care and adoption to share their experiences.
It focused on four areas:
- the experience of young people
- learning from past adoption practice
- understanding the importance of openness and
- current barriers to adoption.
The report ‘The Future of Open Adoption in NSW’ outlines the barriers to adoption and details how the NSW Government is addressing the issues.
DCJ is increasing resourcing in this area, streamlining the process for adoption applications and upgrading the IT systems to handle the process.
More information about open adoption is available by calling:
Open Adoption Hotline
1800 003 227
You can also send your enquiry via our Open Adoption online form.
Open Adoption Study and Practice Innovation Forums 2016
A series of Out-of-home Care (OOHC) Adoption Practice Innovation Forums were delivered throughout New South Wales by DCJ in early 2016 by the Open Adoption in OOHC Research Initiative team.
The forums covered the training needs identified in a previously undertaken practitioner study. Local, interstate and international speakers presented currently OOHC adoption research and practice insights at the forums which were launched in Sydney. Following the launch, eight regional Adoption Forums were held throughout the state during February and March 2016.
The Adoption Forums were practice-focused and attended by DCJ and NGO frontline practitioners including caseworkers, psychologists and managers. Almost 600 NGO and DCJpractitioners attended.
The forums were evaluated and demonstrated gains in adoption practice confidence. The evaluation report can be downloaded here.