Comments8

Some of the comments we have received so far: (PAGE 8)

Approved, prospective adoptive parent (Ethiopia) in the system since November, 2004. File still in Australia with at least another 3-4 year wait ahead of us.
I support any measures that can facilitate a quicker process once approval to adopt has been given.
My daughter & son in law have been waiting for 4 years to adopt a baby. Not only has this caused much heartache for all concerned, but also that is 4 years lost for this country to enjoy the benefits of one more citizen who will be Australian from its earliest years.
Adoption should not be as difficult as the Australian authorities have made it. Other countries seem to have practices in place that work smoothly. I understand that protecting the children is vital, but adoption should be faster and uniform across ALL Australian states.
As an adoptive parent who has been through the system, things have not improved, costs & waiting times have increased, & the NSW Government department appears to only work on Intercountry Adoptions on a part time basis. Every child has the right to a loving family. Its time for a change.
Every child deserves to have a loving family
Adopting from Ethiopia. Waited 3.5 years just to be able to send our file. At least 2 more years wait in Ethiopia.
The adoption overseas children should be easier.
Please speed the process of implementing the recommendations, and allow more overseas children to be adopted into Australia.
Please allow more children to be adopted into Australia from overseas, and speed the implementation of recommendations.
We have adopted 1 Ethiopian child and are currently trying to adopt another. We would like this happen quickly so as not to create a significant gap in ages. Already 2 years into second application.
2 years into second application to adopt and still our file sits on a desk in Australia. We expect to wait at least 3 more years before we have another child. 5 years between children is far to long to wait. We applied for #2 as soon as we arrived in Australia with our first.
Helping to ease this crisis would end the pain and suffering of children desperate for a home and also of those couples wishing to raise a child as their own.
Australia needs to act with compassion and action for these children and families.
There are so many couples out there that can provide a loving a caring home for children in need all over the world. These children deserve to live a normal life when there are people out there that can provide it.
I obviously endorse all of the above and hope for speedy changes in order to make the whole process fairer.
The Federal Government should make adoption into Australian families more accessible, affordable and streamlined. Adoption waiting lists need to be reduced. Australians should be allowed to adopt from more countries.
I would like to sign this petition as i believe that our overseas adoption laws desperatly need to be changed.
I strongly endorse the petition
Our file is finally overseas waiting to be matched, however as with many couples we had lengthy and unnecessary delays to get to the point we are at now.
Our daughter has seen sick and lonely children in a Bolivian orphanage. Give these kids a chance to have a loving family. Make adoption more affordable and less stressful.
My sister has adopted a child from India and is currently waiting on a second child. The effort, time, stress and financial issues that she and her husband faced and dealt with were extraordinary, and yet here they are doing it again!! Courageous and willing to share their love and committment to another in need. Truly inspiring.
Please make it easier and quicker for loving families to adopt children, from Australia and Overseas, who would otherwise not have a chance in life
Australia needs to get past the idea that leaving an orphaned child in their community/culture is more important than them having a family. Every child needs to feel loved and wanted and be part of a family regardless of race, culture etc.
I have friends who would be wonderful parents who are trying to adopt an orphaned child from overseas. They have already been waiting years, and expect to wait many more - it must get easier!
For Heavens Sake! What is the problem????
I have seen close friends, already traumatised by fertility problems and multiple miscarriages, going through further hardship as they navigate the delays and inconsistencies of the international adoption process. It shouldn't be this hard for people who just want to love and raise children.
Australia's overseas adoption process is a mine-field for prospective parents. Why? Children need families to flourish. I cannot comprehend how such a generous and prosperous country such as Australia could make this process so very difficult. When there are willing, approved parents waiting for children to nurture, care for and love why are there children without proper homes? Why are there children growing up in institutions? It isn't right.
I think ICA seriously needs work, there are children who need families and great Australian families who want to welcome those children into their homes
As an adoptive Mother, I know the joy that adoption can bring. In our case it took 5 years for our adoption to be completed. Meanwhile our son waited in an orphanage for 5 years for a family to adopt him. There doesn't seem a lot of sense in that.
I am a single mother to two children, both adopted from Cambodia while I was living overseas as an expatriate Australian. It is devastating that so many children live out sorry lives in orphanages around the world while potential loving parents sit waiting in queues.
I am adopted, and I love my adopted parents... and I may very well have to adopt myself, but I know it will be hard in AUSTRALIA, as I am 29 already. It worries me, as I so want to be a mother
As adoptive parents we are in need of the establishment of new programs and of extending the quotas of current programs.
As an overseas adopted child, I am blessed with the opportunity my loving family have given me with my life here in Australia. There are many people within Australia who are unable to have children would love to adopt, however due to the costs, restrictions and government regulations it is very difficult. Why when these people are with open arms to bring a homeless child into their lives.
it is soul destroying to think that there are children in the world without a loving family to look after them and families in this world who are destroyed by not having a child to give their love to.
I fully support the contentions of this petition.
I think the State Governments should work together to make waiting times quicker and costs equal and inexpensive for young couples adopting from overseas.
Please help make a difference to this crazy world that we live in. We have - and it has made all the world of difference to our family...........
We are waiting for our adoption to go through after 4 years so far. Our file has been o/s for 2 1/2 years. The expectation where a total of 2 years.
We would like to adopt a sister or brother for our adopted daughter Mei who is from Southern China. It is not looking possible and knowing there are many orphanages in China that are not eligible for int adoption can't our Govt support them to help them reach the necessary criteria so more children are able to have a family to love them.
Lisa and I are waiting parents to adopt from Ethiopia. We are very excited by this process BUT ask us this in 5 years time! Yes that's the estimated wait time for us! There is room for massive improvements to the system in both time and associated cost! We Support this petition fully!