To fulfil her dream, she chose to adopt.

It wasn't easy, though. She faced a minimum two-year wait and seemingly endless paperwork that Mrs Wark, who lives in Kogarah, likened to "studying for a PhD in adoption''.

It is no wonder then that she strongly supports the aims behind a new cause.

This week marks the first National Adoption Awareness Week [NAAW].

Australia has one of the lowest rates of inter-country adoptions.

Some prospective parents have to wait up to 10 years before they are given a child.

The campaign was launched on Monday - six months earlier than initially planned.

It is championed by Deborra-Lee Furness, who's an NAAW spokeswoman and adoptive mother, and wife of Australian actor Hugh Jackman.

Ms Furness called for the reduction of waiting lists for inter-country adoption.

Mr and Mrs Wark adopted two children from South Korea and one from China.

"It's a wonderful thing, but the process is slow, frustrating and inconsistent,'' she said.

"We were told there were 250,000 babies abandoned in China each year. I hear about movie stars adopting, and I don't think they had to go through all the steps we did. But it's wonderful to see adoption being promoted and helping people understand the issues families face in the process.''

NAAW also encourages people to reconnect with their birth families.

For more information about adopting, go to www.adoptionawarenessweek.com.a or www.asiac.org.au