The legal side of things

52 . Prerequisites for CEO placing child for adoption
To place a child for adoption, we need to:
• Show that our marriage is stable
• recognises the value of, and need for, cultural and ethnic continuity for the child
• show a desire and ability to continue the child’s established cultural, ethnic, religious or educational arrangements
• can meet the wishes of the birth parents in relation to the child’s upbringing and the preferred attributes of the adoptive family
(ADOPTION ACT 1994 - SECT 52)

Another really interesting section is schedule 2 of of the act:
• A significant feature of the infancy stage is that the child needs to be able to trust others to care for and nurture the child. The child has the right to be cared for and nurtured; and to develop attachment to the adoptive family without undue disruption by the birth parents.
• Before consenting to the child’s adoption, the child’s birth parents have the right to make an informed and unpressured decision about the child’s future. After consenting to the child’s adoption, the child’s birth parents have the right to negotiate as to the provision of information and the extent of any contact between the parties.
• There is no right to adopt a child. The adoptive or prospective adoptive parent with whom the child is placed with a view to the child’s adoption has the right to bond to the child.

If you are interested in how adoption in works in Western Australia, you can read the
Adoption Act 1994 which has all the details.