Adoption Regulations 2016

The Secretary or a principal officer may accept a suitability application if he or she is satisfied that the person referred to in the suitability application fulfils the following criteria:in the case of a suitability application made by two persons, that those persons are – married; or parties to a significant relationship which is the subject of a deed of relationship registered under Part 2 of the Relationships Act 2003; or residing together in a stable continuous relationship as mentioned in section 20(2) of the Act; that – each person so named is resident in Tasmania; and each person so named is a permanent resident of Australia; and each person so named is an Australian citizen or in the case of a suitability application made by two persons, that one of those persons is an Australian citizen; that each person so named is in good physical and mental health and whether or not it is reasonable to expect that that health will be maintained; that each person so named has not been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a criminal conviction within a period of 5 years preceding the application; that each person so named has not been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 5 years or more at any time; that each person so named has not been convicted of any offence against a child; that each person so named is not undertaking treatment for infertility; that a female person so named is not pregnant.

The Secretary or a principal officer is to inform in writing a person named in a suitability application that the suitability application – is accepted and the person will have his or her name recorded on the register of accepted applicants; or is not accepted, stating the reasons for the non-acceptance.