From 1928 to 1984 there were approximately 64,000 legal adoptions in Victoria. Adoptions during this period were ‘closed’, with the child’s original birth certificate being sealed, the birth re-registered and a new birth certificate issued showing the new name of the child and the names of the adoptive parents. Past adoption practices included forced adoptions where a child’s mother or parents were compelled to relinquish a child for adoption.
VANISH created Supporting those affected by Past Adoption Practices to inform and assist members of the community affected by past adoption practices, to increase community understanding about the effects of separation from a child by adoption and the effects of separation from family of origin and being adopted. It is also an essential resource for medical and mental health professionals to provide the background information needed to recognise, relate to and assist those individuals experiencing long term grief and trauma associated with past adoption practices.
Download Supporting those affected by Past Adoption Practices here.