If you are applying/waiting

During the Departmental Process

This process can be long, and at times emotional and confusing. Some things you can do in this time are:

Starting the Process

Contact your State/Territory Department ask them about what is involved in the adoption process for your State/Territory. Some things you could ask about are....

what are the requirements for people to adopt in your State/Territory
what the steps you need to take to begin the adoption process
what forms you need to submit
what Seminars and/or Education days that you need to attend
about the 'adoption application'
the interviews you need to undertake
when do you need to have decided the country you wish to apply to adopt from (in most States/Territories you do not need to have decided on a country when you submit your Expression of Interest form)

Join AACASA

Join AACASA - this will give you opportunities to talk to and meet with many people with similar experiences.
Once you have joined AACASA, you can join the AACASA e-group.
Purchase the AACASA Support Package, read the package.
If you have not yet decided to apply to adopt from Ethiopia you might like to join a number of other parent support groups as well - this can be very helpful in learning more about the experiences of other adoptive parents and adoptees from different countries, and to help you make an informed decision about which country you would like to apply to adopt from.

Meet people and go places

Go to AACASA picnics; talk with other adoptive-parents and waiting-parents and meet other people in the same process.
Go to Ethiopian events
Eat at Ethiopian/African restaurants.

Read

Use this time to read more about adoption - websites and books.
Learn more about Ethiopia and her history, geography and customs.
Re-read or check who you can and cannot contact at this time - you don't want to risk having your application cancelled for making a mistake - for full information see your AACASA Support Package.

Things to do

Do a walk over your house - is it child safe? Even crawl on the floor and check what "little fingers and eyes" might spot.
Meet with your priest or minister - talk about your plans - and ask if she/he would be willing to give you a reference when this is needed.

Discuss

Talk with your immediate family about the process and what it means to your family.
Talk with your extended family and your friends.

Waiting for Allocation

Read

Learn about Life Books.
Learn more about Ethiopia and her history, geography and customs.
Try a 50 questions quiz to test your knowledge of life in Ethiopia.
Use this time to read more - websites and books
Read and learn more about attachment and bonding .
Read about why it's important to take aid with you when you go to Ethiopia
Re-read or check who you can and cannot contact at this time - you don't want to risk having your application cancelled for making a mistake - for full information see your AACASA Support Package.
Occasionally check the current Exchange Rate
Occasionally check the Travel Advice for Ethiopia
Occasionally check the current costs for Airfares

Meet people & go places

Go to Ethiopian events
Eat at African and Ethiopian restaurants.
Meet other people in the same process through the e-group and AACASA events
Go to AACASA picnics; talk with other adoptive-parents and waiting-parents.

Lists

Begin lists that you will need at allocated, for example...

TO DO LIST... list of things to do once you are allocated (see your AACASA Support Package).
CONTACT LIST... a list of phone numbers, email addresses and/or website addresses for people/organisations you will need to contact at allocation (e.g. your State Aid adviser, travel agent, website address forTravel Advice for Ethiopia, your case worker, the Ethiopian Consulate General, etc), including notes of who you can & cannot contact.
WHAT TO PACK... a list of things to take (see your AACASA Support Package).Talk to other people and read postings on the e-group of what other parents suggest you take and not take to Ethiopia.
TRAVEL BOOKINGS... read notices on the e-group and take note of which airlines, travel agents, accommodation in Ethiopia and taxi drivers in Ethiopia that travelling parents have used and what advise they have. If the advise suits your family then write these as a list of who to contact and what to request when booking your flights and accommodation.
CARE PACKAGE... print out the list of the items to take to Koala House in your Care Package - and pin this on the fridge with your weekly shopping list (perhaps buy one item a week with your weekly shopping)

Things to do

Learn Amharic - there are CD's to help you do this. Also, in some areas AACASA members have organised Amharic language lessons.
Do the things you've always wanted to do, especially the things that will be difficult to do once you have your child/ren at home.
Do a walk over your house - is it child safe? Even crawl on the floor and check what "little fingers and eyes" might spot.
Many expectant and waiting-parents like to make a journal/diary of their journey towards parenthood - keeping copies of all your documents, a diary of your experiences and photos of any get-togethers and events attended.
Begin collecting items to take to Koala House in your Care Package - perhaps collect one item a week with your weekly shopping.
Subscribe to be notified when there is a change in Travel Advice
Periodically there are workshops on attachment - keep an eye out for when these are being held in your State/Territory and try to attend at least one set of workshops.
Sometimes there are talks and/or workshops on Life Books - try to attend one before you leave to travel overseas.

Health care preparations

Contact your private health care provider and request their policy in writing regarding adopted children (in the age-range you are applying for) regarding waiting periods, and in particular waiting periods for existing conditions.
Read the Medicare information sheet for parents adopting a child from overseas.

Getting ready to travel

When to Travel

Your State/Territory Department will inform you when you can begin making arrangments to travel to Ethiopia to meet your child.

Read

Most importantly ... re-read your AACASA Support Package.
Re-read or check who you can and cannot contact at this time - you don't want to risk having your application cancelled for making a mistake - for full information see your AACASA Support Package.
Read about what to do for aid if you are about to travel
Read about your cultural responsibilities when travelling in Ethiopia.

Contact

Contact your Aid adviser for your State/Territory.
Notify the Support Package organiser about your arrangements
Notify the AACASA Newsletter Editor about your allocation

To do

Complete your Aid Care Package that you will take to Koala House.
Put your check lists of things to prepare, who to contact and what to do on the fridge door.
Check the Travel Advice for Ethiopia
Subscribe to be notified when there is a change in Travel Advice
Check the current Exchange Rate
Check the current costs for Airfares.

When your child is home

To do

Mark on the Calendar the date that you met your child - on this date each year you need to complete and send in your Annual Report.
When you have finalised your child's adoption check if your State/Territory Department requires you to send them proof of your child's Australian Citizenship.
Go to AACASA picnics; meet other families who have children the same age as your son/daughter.
Make your child's Life Book.
Add your child to your own private health care, and to your Medicare card.
Unsubscribe to be notified when there is a change in Travel Advice
Is your child's name on the AACASA list of Meanings of Ethiopian Names? If not, let the compiler (or the Website Editor) know your child's name so it can be added.
Notify the AACASA Newsletter Editor that you have arrived home - and sendl a photo to be included in the next Newsletter
To download the Application for a Certificate of Evidence of Australian Citizenship for your son/daughter, you need Form 119 from the Department of Immigration - website.