During 1994, the International Year of the Family (IYF), the New South Wales Law Reform Commission received a grant from the IYF Secretariat in New South Wales to conduct research relevant to families in Australia. The Commission conducted research into two issues: intercountry adoption and the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle.

The lack of empirical data in relation to both of these issues was identified by the Commission after it commenced a comprehensive review of the Adoption of Children Act 1965 (NSW) in December 1992. This Research Report is published contemporaneously with the Commission's final report, Review of the Adoption of Children Act 1965 (NSW) (Report 81, 1997).

The Research Report provides a profile of each of the parent support groups currently involved in the process of intercountry adoption in New South Wales. The differences between the groups in terms of their approaches to the role of a parent support group, the extent of their involvement, their structures and their styles of operation are examined.

The value of the Research Report is twofold. First, and most obviously, it provides comprehensive information in an area where this has been lacking. Secondly, it has formed an integral part of research into intercountry adoption generally, aiding the Commission in reaching the final recommendations of its review of the Adoption Act. The Commission's Report of its review refers to material contained in this paper where that material has been relevant to the formulation of recommendations.

This Research Report was prepared for the Commission by Ms Catherine Gray. The Commission gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance from the IYF Secretariat which enabled this research to be undertaken. It would not have been possible without the participation and commitment of the parent support groups who work in intercountry adoption in New South Wales.

Peter Hennessy
Executive Director