Placing the baby for adoption
If you wish to consider the option of adoption more fully, at PCL, we can provide counselling to assist your decision-making and support you throughout your pregnancy, if required.
Adoption is the legal process whereby you permanently give up all parental rights to your child, and the child is placed with adoptive parents.
Click here to organise an appointment at PCL, or use our easy email form for more information.
The adoption process
If you choose this option in Queensland, the General Consent of Parent or Guardian to Adoption (form 4) is signed no earlier than five days after the birth. The opportunity of receiving counselling, so you can make your final decision, is made available once the birth is realized. You are encouraged to see and hold your baby in the first few days. After you have signed the consent, you have thirty days in which you can change your mind - you may decide to revoke your decision. During this time, your baby will be in the care of foster parents who have been approved by the Department of Child Safety, and you are able to see the baby if you wish. If you decide to proceed with the adoption, the baby will be placed with the adoptive parents who become the child's legal parents. You have the opportunity to request specific characteristics you desire in the prospective parents adopting your child, prior to signing the consent. You will receive some (non-identifying) information about the adoptive parents and they will receive some background information about you and the baby's father. Where adoption occurs in Queensland, identifying information will become available to adult adopted persons and their birth parents after the adopted person turns eighteen years of age.
For counselling before making your decision, please contact PCL on 1800 777 690, or (click here) to make an appointment.
