Releasing the past: adoption practices 1950 - 1998

The purpose of this report has been to describe and explain the past, with a view to recommending changes for the present and for the future. The report is an acknowledgment that many mothers who gave up their children to adoption were denied their rights, and did not uncaringly give away their children. Part One includes background information on adoption laws, policy and practices and provides the context in which to understand and assess the evidence presented to this inquiry. The Part considers the development of adoption laws and policies, with their key principles of ensuring secrecy and providing a neat solution to the twin problems of illegitimacy and infertility. Adoptions in New South Wales reached a peak in 1972 at 4,564. By 1975 there were only 1,889 adoptions and by 1984 the number had dropped to 741. In 1999, there were only 178 adoptions including overseas born children. With the significant decline in the number of local babies available for adoption, most adoptions now involve either babies from overseas or babies with special needs. This part of the report also includes an overview of the legal and ethical standards that applied during the period. The Committee has been cautious not to judge past practices by today’s standards. The report acknowledges that to a large degree adoption practices reflected the values and attitudes prevalent in the 1950s and 1960s. However, it is important to stress that there was not in the past, nor is there now, a single set of attitudes and values. While there were common principles guiding adoption practices there were also professionals seeking to question and challenge the appropriateness of these practices. Part Two of the report details the experiences of the parents, mostly mothers, who relinquished a child to adoption and seeks to evaluate whether these practices were inappropriate, unethical and unlawful. The section describes the experiences of past adoption practices during the pregnancy and birth and in the post adoption period. In particular, the section details the experiences of single pregnant women residing in maternity homes during pregnancy, their treatment during and after labour and practices surrounding the signing of consent. A large number of witnesses told the Committee of their individual experiences of adoption and this Part presents as many of their accounts as possible. It seeks to convey the emotion and distress expressed in these testimonies. The Committee acknowledges that in certain cases past adoption practices were misguided, and that on occasions unethical and unlawful practices have occurred. This section of the report also looks at the short- and long-term effects of adoption and the past failure of adoption professionals, family members and others to acknowledge those effects. This provides the context in which the need for continuing support for people affected by past adoption practices may be understood. Part Three, as directed by the terms of reference, examines what measures would assist people experiencing distress as a result of past adoption practices.The recommendations from this inquiry are developed in chapter 10 and listed below. These recommendations address the need for improvements in the delivery of current adoption services and post adoption information and resources. The chapter looks at reparations for past practices and at the specific issues of compensation, apology and acknowledgment. The Committee notes that some adoption-related issues, such as reunions and information about biological heritage, will be important to subsequent generations. The last chapter deals briefly with issues for the future. We have found in taking evidence about past actions that many of the issues are relevant to future social policy and practice. The chapter seeks to stimulate debate on such matters as donor insemination, support or state wards, and several aspects of the Adoption Act 2000. Published in 2000, this report was posted on APO 12 October 2009 as part of improving the APO archive. RELATED CONTENT Our dirty adoption secret, New Matilda 8 October 200