Adoption Act 1994

Where the CEO receives an application under section 38(1), the CEO is to appoint a person who the CEO thinks is suitably qualified, to assess the application and prepare a report (the assessment report) on the applicant or joint applicants.

For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant’s suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant —

is, and continues to be, a person to whom section 39(1) applies; and

is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age; and

is of good repute; and

if applying jointly, has a stable marriage or de facto relationship with the other applicant; and

shows a desire and ability to provide a suitable family environment for the child; and

has not been convicted of a Class 1 or Class 2 offence; and

does not have a pending charge in respect of a Class 1 or Class 2 offence; and

satisfies other criteria as prescribed by regulation.

Despite subsection (2), an applicant who has —

previously been assessed under the Act as suitable to adopt a child; and

subsequently adopted a child,