IVF is no longer the only option for couples struggling to have a baby, with a long-awaited change to Australian adoption laws
The Federal Government are already changing adoption laws making it easier for couples who can’t have kids to start a family.
Tony Abbott has announced that adoptions from Taiwan, South Korea and Ethiopia will automatically be recognised after amendments to Australian Family Law.
Previously, Australian couples could only adopt from specific countries that have signed the Hague Convention (an international agreement about foreign adoptions). But even for those countries, couples would have to go through a seemingly-never-ending process both in the local country and then back home in Australia through the court systems.
The lengthy (and often expensive) process has often meant couples who can't conceive have turned away from adoption as an option. Placing adoption in the too-hard basket and seeing IVF as the only way.
However, with the new changes, couples will be able to adopt far easier and quicker. Of the 129 foreign adoptions made last year, 40% were from Taiwan and South Korea. And as for Ethiopia, there are multiple pending adoption cases that will be able to speed up. Giving orphans a much deserved home and parents the family they have always wished for.
Tony Abbott set up a committee last year to develop a report on how to make adopting easier. It includes making adopting easier in Australia by getting state governments to scrap the complicated local adoption system and have more of the 37,000 foster care kids in stable adoptions. While the committee is yet to release its report, Tony has already put the plan in action in relation to foreign adoptions.
The reasons for this he says is "What could be better than giving an orphan child the love of parents?"
If you couldn't have children, would you consider adoption over IVF?