A national adoption provider has been left confused and disappointed after a meeting with minister Mick Gentleman left it doubting the ACT government's commitment to adoption.
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Barnados Australia chief executive Louise Voigt said her meeting with the new minister for Children and Young People had left her feeling hopeless.
"I got an opinion [adoption] was not part of the strategic plan, he didn't think it was necessary, he showed limited interest in it," she said.
It comes almost one year after Ms Voigt and other ACT adoption advocates said the government was not doing enough to encourage adoption in the territory, including a ban on private not-for-profit adoption agencies.
Ms Voigt had previously met Joy Burch in January, 2014, when she was still the minister responsible.
In January, Ms Voigt said her meeting with Ms Burch had been very positive and she was feeling "incredibly encouraged".
But nine months later she said her appointment with the new minister had left her believing there was no serious intent by the government to pursue adoption reforms.
"We have many wonderful carers who wish to adopt the children in their care but I don't see much hope. The department has done one or two but it's so tiny a number," she said.
Ms Voigt said adoption by foster carers of children who are in the government care system was very important and could even save money in the long run.
She said adoption meant a foster child had a family for life.
"Their identify is changed, they're a member of that family and they don't need the contact attention and supervision of social workers because they do the things that families do best, which is accept responsibility for their children," she said.
"I'm very hopeful that maybe I misread the situation."
Mr Gentleman did not comment on the meeting with Ms Voigt but said permanent care and adoption were important parts of the suite of measures used to support out-of-home care.
"It is pleasing to note that the rate of adoptions in the ACT continues to improve and with the focus on adoption in the Out of Home Care Strategy we are aiming to sustain this improvement," he said.
"Given the increasing need for support faced by the out-of-home care sector, adoption and permanent care must be complemented by other actions."
Mr Gentleman said an upcoming report would focus on early intervention support for children and young people who were in care or at risk of entering care.
