Seminars & Assessment - What to Expect
In NSW, once you have submitted your Expression of Interest (EoI), you are then invited to attend a Seminar. The seminars cover a range of issues and subjects, including health, social and emotional issues, attachment, racism and education. They also involve meeting families who have adopted, adult adoptees as well as a birthmother (from a local adoption perspective). If you are looking to adopt an older child, you are invited to attend a additional seminar. These seminars are conducted over two days.

At the Seminar, you are given the Application Form to complete and return to DoCS. It is at this point that you will need to decide which country you wish to adopt from. ASIAC recommends that you make contact with our Information Officers to have a very good understanding of the current status of the various programs - particularly in terms of the process overseas and the waiting times - and to attend as many ASIAC events as possible to meet adoptive families.

The formal assessment process, conducted by a social worker, is designed to assess your ability to parent a child from overseas. The process and criteria relates to the following:

• your motivation to adopt a child from overseas
• your past experience with children
• your parenting skills or potential
• your emotional maturity and stability
• your capacity to deal with stress
• your relationship as a couple
• your experiences and networks with other cultures

The feelings of your extended family and your friends will also be considered. If you already have children, their views and concerns will also be taken into account. Your financial position, employment status and housing will be evaluated and you will be required to obtain references, medical checks and criminal checks. In NSW you are also required to write a brief life story and in some cases may be asked to undertake a project about your prospective child's birth country. Depending on the country criteria, you may have to provide further information regarding age and religion.

For more information on the Assessment phase and any other questions you may have, please contact one of our Information Officers or president@asiac.org.au.