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Call the Aged Care Advocacy Line, our national team of advocates is available Monday to Friday 8am–8pm and Saturday 10am-4pm 

Home Diversity resources Diversity characteristics Characteristics p8

Characteristics p8

Parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal

Department of Social Services (DSS) (2019) Fact sheet: History and experiences of forced adoption.  Available here.

Department of Social Services (DSS) (2019) Forced Adoption Practices.  Available from: https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/programs-services/forced-adoption-practices

Gillard, J. (21 March 2013) National Apology for Forced Adoptions.  Further information is available from: https://www.ag.gov.au/families-and-marriage/national-apology-forced-adoptions

Higgins, D. J. (2012) Past and present Adoptions in Australia: Facts sheet. Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). Available from: https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-snapshots/past-and-present-adoptions-australia

Higgins, D. J. (2010) Impact of past adoption practices: Summary of key issues from Australian research. Australian Journal of Adoption, 2(2). Available from: https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/publications-articles/impact-of-past-adoption-practices-summary-of-key-issues-from-australian-research

National Archives of Australia (2021) Forced Adoptions History Project.  Information and resources are available from the archived website: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20210603062207/https://forcedadoptions.naa.gov.au/

Services and support available for parents separated from their children by forced adoption or removal

Department of Social Services. Forced Adoption Support Services for people affected by past forced adoption policies and practices.  Available here.

National helpline for people affected by forced adoptions: 1800 210 313


Delivering safe and inclusive services for people affected by adoptions or removal

Department of Social Services (DSS) (2019) Fact sheet: Supporting people affected by forced adoptions. Available here.

Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH) provide a range of resources and information about working with people affected by adoption on their website: https://vanish.org.au/.  Of particular interest may be:

Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) (2016) Forced Adoption National Practice Principles – Guidelines and principles for specialist services.  (Note: While this document is designed for specialist service providers, it contains useful information about appropriate language and practices to support people affected by forced adoptions).  Available from: https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-reports/forced-adoption-national-practice-principles