As National Adoption Awareness Month launches, the number of children living in out of home care reaches stadium proportions

As National Adoption Awareness Month launches, the number of children living in out of home care reaches stadium proportions 

This year marks ten years since humanitarian, international actress and Adopt Change founder and Patron, Deborra-lee Furness, launched National Adoption Awareness Week (NAAW). In 2018, National Adoption Awareness runs for the entire month of November, with Adopt Change calling on all Australian’s to say ‘yes’ to #aHomeForEveryChild 

Australia, Wednesday 31 October 2018, There are close to 50,000 Australian children living in out of home care in Australia, many for two years or more. This is enough children to fill most Australian sporting stadiums, including the Sydney Cricket Ground. These children often move multiple times, and for an average of 12.5 years before ageing out of the system at eighteen.  In 2017, only 315 children were adopted, less than 1% of those requiring a permanent home.   

This National Adoption Awareness Month (NAAM), Adopt Change is inviting all Australians to turn November into ‘Yesvember’, and say ‘yes’ to  #aHomeForEveryChild, ensuring the rights of children are put first and all children have access to a safe, nurturing and permanent home.  

Everyone can support the campaign by purchasing a slogan cap and taking a photo of themselves or recording a short clip talking about what “home” means to them while wearing the cap and sharing it to social media using the hashtags, #aHomeForEveryChild  #yesvember and #adoptchange.  

Renée Carter, Adopt Change CEO said, “This year, Adopt Change has launched the  “Yesvember”  campaign to show the solidarity of Australians who want to ensure all children have access to a safe, nurturing and permanent home. There are too many children who don’t have access to stability and belonging, and children who bounce around a system in limbo are more likely to have poorer life outcomes such as homelessness, substance abuse and health problems. We need to do better.  

“Adopt Change believes the campaign message of A Home For Every Child is something we can all agree needs to be a priority. “Australia-wide we need to ensure that from legislation through to the front line we remove any unnecessary barriers to permanency, and with an ethical approach, provide children with the families they need to bring them up with all the core ingredients for better life outcomes,” Ms Carter added.

Caps for the campaign are now available for purchase via the Adopt Change shop.  

“Any money raised will contribute to the ongoing work of Adopt Change, at the forefront of which is working towards stability for all children and support for families to thrive; keeping the spotlight on issues surrounding permanency for children; conducting research, running community and sector education, events and training, and providing information and pre- and post-adoptive and trauma supports to parents and carers,” said Ms Carter.

Founder and Patron Deborra-lee Furness added, “Due to the energy and passion of Adopt Change we have brought this issue out of a very dark cupboard. We are committed to raising awareness around this issue that we hope will inspire the community and our politicians to put vulnerable children’s needs high on the agenda. With unity, creativity and passion we can ensure that we find A HOME FOR EVERY CHILD.  

#This ‘Yesvember’, we continue the conversation around providing the best possible adoption and foster care system to support our vulnerable children. They are all our children, and a permanent family is the best solution to encourage children to thrive.”