Merry Christmas 2013.

    Christmas is not as much        about opening our presents as opening our hearts.

 

                          Best Wishes from ALAS Australia Inc.

 

1st Anniversary of Forced Adoption Apology morning tea.

The remembrance day morning tea was held today, 27th November 2013 at the Brisbane City Hall. The Minister for Communities,Child Safety and Disability Services,The Hon. Tracy Davis gave a moving speech and Representatives of the Working Committee, ALAS, Origins and Jigsaw spoke of past, present and future affects of Forced Adoption. This was followed by candle lighting to remember all who could not join us on this special day.
Senator Claire Moore, Senator Sue Boyce and The Very Revd. Dr.Peter Catt were among the guests.
A light refreshments was served. There were over 100 guests who attended.
We would like to thank, especially Susan Kelly and her amazing assistant Emma from Post Adoption Services Qld for all the hard work and organization that went into making this event a wonderful and memorable morning.
                                                                                                                                                                                  The Hon. Tracy Davis came with a beautiful basket of  pink roses which was her special gift to us.

Christmas Lunch 7th December 2013.

Christmas Lunch will be held at the Ox,
Oxley Rd Margate.
!! 45am onwards.
This year, the Christmas lunch is open to financial members and their support person only.
Membership fees, $15 can be paid on the day for all who wish to attend.

RSVP for bookings  by Wednesday 4/12/2013.
Please ring Trish for more information; 0417 077 159.
Please wear Christmas colors.

Your Invitation to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of the Queensland Apology.

1st Anniversary

Queensland Government’s Apology

For forced adoption policies and practices

Benevolent Society’s Post Adoption Support Queensland (PASQ), and the Queensland Post Adoption Working Committee, (Alas, Origins and Jigsaw) invite you to join us at The Brisbane City Hall to commemorate this important occasion.

A light morning tea will be served and music provided by Conservatorium of Music. We look forward to seeing you there.

Where
Brisbane City Hall
Brisbane Room
64 Adelaide Street

When
Wednesday 27 November

Time
10:30am—12:00 noon

Please RSVP Monday 18 November

07 3170 4600 or 1300 914 819

qld@benevolent.org.au 

Or ring Trish; 0417 077 159 by 15^th November to have bookings forwarded.

Replay of DVD, Queensland Parliament apology for forced Adoption 27/11/2012

 

Queensland Parliament Apology for Forced Adoption 27/11/2012.

With the celebration of the 1st Anniversary only 24 days away, we would like anyone who wishes to addend this event which will be held at Brisbane City Hall, 27/11/2013 to contact Post Adoption Support Queensland on,(07) 3171 4600 for bookings.

This invitation is for all who is affected by forced adoption, mothers, children, fathers and extended families.
This will  be a special event for all.
We will update more information soon.
Link to Brisbane Times. The Apology from Parliament from 2012
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/we-are-sorry-queensland-parliament-apologises-for-forced-adoptions-20121127-2a4vi.html

Mext Meeting 16th November 2013.

Our next meeting will be a north side meeting.

It will be held in Redcliffe at a private home.
Time 11 45 am onwards.
Please bring a plate to share.
Gold coin donation.

The 1st Anniversary of the Queensland Apology will be on 27th November 2013.
We will have all information of the event at the meeting.

All Welcome.
Please call Trish; 0417 077 159 for more details.

Salvation Army Yet To Apologise in Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Pressure on Salvation Army to say sorry over forced adoptions - ABC

The Salvation Army is yet to apologise for its role in forced adoptions in Tasmania ... "That will be a good day for me, I might get a little more closure." ...

Meeting 12th October 2013.

Our next meeting will be held at the
Seaview Hotel
Pier St
Shorncliffe.
Starting time; 11 45am onwards.
We will have more updates on the 1st Anniversary of the Forced Adoption morning tea.
All welcome.
Please ring Trish;0417 077 159 if you will be attending.

Celebration of the 1st Anniversary of the Queensland Apology for Forced Adoption, 27th November 2013.

ALAS is pleased to announce that a special morning tea will be held to celebrate the first anniversary of the Forced Adoption Apology.

It will be held at, The Brisbane Room at the newly renovated City Hall Brisbane.
A working group has been meeting with PASQ to make this a beautiful and memorable morning.

We will post more information for this event as it becomes available.
It is important that your attendance is registered for this special event.

Please call PASQ ; 07 3170 4600/1300 914 819.

Or, you can call Trish; 0417 077 159 with your details and Trish will forward them on for you.

Protest March for an Apology in Parliament in England.

Protest Demonstration for Movement for an Adoption Apology at ‘Philomena’ premier,

Odeon Leicester Sq. October 16^th  2013

 

Some of you will know that a Green Party Conference about two years ago gave an overwhelming vote of agreement  to the motion, proposed by Jean Robertson-Molloy and seconded by Natalie Bennett,  for the Green Party to support the campaign by the Movement for an Adoption Apology .  We are  seeking a cross-party Parliamentary apology for past adoption practices.

 We intend to stand outside the Odeon cinema on the 16^th of October at the premier of the film ‘Philomena’ with placards demanding justice for the birth parents of the past ( many of us are still alive but getting older all the time).   Thousands of women of our generation, were pressured by the authorities into giving up our babies just because we were not married.  ‘Philomena ‘ which stars Steve Coogan and Judi Dench, is about a woman who lost her son to adoption in Ireland, and spent fifty years searching for him.

Since MAA started our campaign, we have received precious little attention from the powers that be.  We have written to every MP in Parliament and to lots of other people too, but most people just don’t want to know.  That includes both high-powered politicians and some well-known women who still find talking about it too shameful and embarrassing. 

What good would an apology do?  It would be an acknowledgement, a recognition, of what so many women suffered.  Many of us never had any more children and many suffered serious mental health problems for years afterwards.

An apology in Parliament, such as that given in March this year to Australian women by their premier Julia Gillard, would go a long way towards helping birth parents to feel acknowledged and able to speak out, instead of ashamed and scared to speak, even to close family and friends.

So we plan to gather asking for justice on that day , 16^th October. We want a large group of supporters to be outside the cinema waving their placards. 

Please get in touch with maanpn@gmail.com or phone

 Jean on 0208-882-7275 or Veronica on 01323-491417 if you would like to join us that day.    More details of what to wording to put on placards to follow.

Thanks Evelyn for the information. 

 ALAS  sends our good luck wishes to MAA .

                                  

Cancelled meeting for 14th September.

Meeting for Saturday 14th September at Four Mile Creek has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
 We are sorry for any inconvenience.
Our next meeting will be 12th October.

Invitation to AIFS Study.

 Invitation to participate in the Forced Adoptions Service Providers Scoping Study

 The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) has commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to undertake the Forced Adoptions Service

Providers Scoping Study.

 The study will be conducted between August 2013 and February 2014.

The study is part of the Australian Government's response to the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry regarding the Commonwealth's contribution to former forced adoption policies and practices. These were

announced by the then Prime Minister, the Hon. Julia Gillard, when she apologised on behalf of the Australian Government to people affected by forced adoption or removal policies and practices on 21 March 2013.

 The purpose of the scoping study is to develop options for service models that will enhance and complement the existing services to improve support for people affected by forced adoption policies and practices.

The scoping study will:

• Map the current support available for people affected by forced adoptions;

• Determine how the system currently meets the needs of those affected;

• Identify any gaps in the service system; and

• Provide options for how to complement the existing services to improve the support available to those affected.

 

We are seeking your help to ensure we have the best possible response to this study.
Please follow the link below to find more information about the study.

AIFS study website
(http://www.aifs.gov.au/pae/scopingstudy/index.html)

14th September 2013 Meeting

Our next meeting will be held at 4 Mile Creek Hotel Strathpine, (opp Westfields).
Starting at 11 45am.
Please contact Trish Mob; 0417 077 159 for booking.
All welcome.

Memorial for Forced Adoptions.

This monument honours all those mothers across Australia who lost their children to the policies of forced removal... Let it never happen again. Sculptor Silvio... Apponi. . assisted by Kaurna sculptor

Shereen Rankine and Yankjatjara artist Tjula Jane Pole and Kunyi June An McInercy..

 

ALAS likes this beautiful, sensitive and fitting memorial.
Congratulations to South Australia.
There are memorials in other States of Australia which are lovely.
We will attempt to show them to you.
Please send in your thoughts on what you would like to see in Queensland to represent all people affected by Forced Adoption.

         Colebrook Reconciliation Park, Eden Hills Adelaide South Australia.

From Facebook page.

South Brisbane Meeting 22nd August 2013

There will be a special meeting at East Leagues Club.
Thursday 22nd August;
Time 11 45am onwards.
Please ring Trish for more details.
 mob; 0417 077 159.

AGM Meeting 10th August 2013

Our next meeting will be our AGM. 10/8/2013.
Place ; Seaview Hotel
Pier St, Shorncliffe.
Time; 11 45am onwards.
All welcome.
Membership fees are now due.
For more details,
Please ring Trish; 04717 077 159
               or Marg; 0402 336 480. for bookings.

Hon. Desley Scott's questions to Hon. Tracy Davis on behalf of ALAS

Mrs SCOTT: Minister, following the Queensland apology to forced adoption mothers in November 2012, ALAS wrote to you requesting you address unfinished business for these women. Minister, can you tell the committee what issues ALAS raised with you? I seek leave to table a copy of the letter from ALAS which outlines the issues. That may assist in refreshing your memory. Minister, what progress, if any, has been made on addressing the issues outlined in the letter?

Ms DAVIS: Could I just ask for the reference to the SDS? Sorry, I missed that in the question.

Mrs SCOTT: SDS page 7, sorry.

CHAIR: I am seeking the leave of the committee for the letter to be tabled. Leave is granted.

Ms DAVIS: I thank the member for the question. It was a really historic day, the day the apology was delivered to those men and women who were challenged with those issues around forced adoption. I had the very great opportunity to meet many of those stakeholders, as I know you did, prior to the apology that was delivered by the Premier. It was a great privilege to be able to speak to that motion in the House.

Having understood from my conversations with these very brave women about the challenges that they had faced over a lifetime in not having had the opportunity to raise their child because they had not been provided with the options that are afforded to parents now if they are in fact considering adoption, I think I would ask that the member understand that I have had some private meetings, as have my staff, with ALAS. We are still working our way through those things. We know that there are a number of issues that they have raised that are of importance to them. We will continue to have dialogue with ALAS. They know that my office door is open for those conversations. We very much hope that we can work in a very collegial way to get some results that they are comfortable with.

Mrs SCOTT: So, Minister, you would foresee that you can actually bring some or all of these issues to finality for them?

Ms DAVIS: As I said, we are working through those. This is not an appropriate forum to identify those but, as I have said, the ladies particularly from ALAS know that the door is open. I know that there have been some conversations recently with my staff about some of those issues and what we might be able to achieve. So that is quite encouraging. 24 Jul 2013 Estimates—Community Services, Child Safety and Disability Services (Proof) 87

Recently I wrote to the Speaker about a permanent memorial. I know that is of very great interest to those affected by the practices of past forced adoptions. If I could just ask that those conversations continue, these are issues very close to the hearts of these ladies and it is appropriate that they are dealt with in a very compassionate manner.

Queensland Parliament Hansard 24/7/2013

Members of forced adoptions working group announced

 

5 July 2013

A new panel of 12 experts will provide key advice to Government on services and projects to improve support for people who have been affected by forced adoption practices.
Minister for Community Services Julie Collins today announced the membership of the Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group.
“We want to deliver the best possible support for those impacted by forced adoption practices and have selected 12 outstanding Australians for the working group,” Ms Collins said.
“Each member has considerable expertise and experience in this area and many have personal experience of adoption practices, either as mothers, fathers or adoptees.
“The Implementation Working Group, to be chaired by Professor Nahum Mushin, will help us deliver on our commitment to provide support for Australians impacted by forced adoption practices.”
The establishment of the Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group follows the National Apology for Forced Adoptions on 21 March 2013 and an expression of interest process announced by the Australian Government on 16 May 2013.
The Government’s response to the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry Report into Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices formed part of the national apology and included the establishment of a working group for mothers, fathers, adult adoptees and others who have been affected to provide advice to Government.
The Government has also invested $11.5 million over the next four years in a number of related initiatives:

• $5 million to improve access to specialist support services, peer and professional counselling and support records tracing for those affected by forced adoptions
• $5 million to immediately increase access to psychological services and develop guidelines and training materials to increase awareness of the issues relating to forced adoptions among health professionals
• $1.5 million to develop a website and exhibition by the National Archives of Australia to record the experiences of those affected by forced adoption and increase awareness and understanding of these experiences in the community.

For more information, email forcedadoptions@fahcisa.gov.au.
A full list of members and their credentials are below:

• Angela Barra, Queensland adoptee and member of Origins Supporting People Separated by Adoption and Post Adoption Support Queensland.
• Sue Boyce, Senator for QLD, was a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group.
• Elizabeth Brew, NSW mother actively involved in the NSW apology and Commonwealth Senate Inquiry, was also a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group
• Christine Cole, NSW mother, coordinator of the Apology Alliance, was a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group.
• Gary Coles, Victorian Father, member of the Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help, was a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group.
• Thomas Graham, ACT adoptee, editor of the Australian Journal of Adoption, a free online resource, also runs an ACT-based support group.
• Leigh Hubbard, Victorian adoptee, chairperson of the Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help, was a member of the Forced Adoption Apology Reference Group.
• Sue MacDonald, Western Australian mother with extensive experience working alongside other forced adoption stakeholders.
• Claire Moore, Senator for QLD, was a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group.
• Kathryn Rendell, Queensland mother, member of the National Council for Single Mothers and Their Children, was a member of the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group.
• Evelyn Robinson, South Australian mother who provides training to professions through Post Adoption Support Services.
• Rachel Siewert, Senator for WA, was a member

Meeting 13th July 2013

Our next meeting will be at;
 Four Mile Creek Hotel,
Strathpine ( Opp Westfield.)
Starting time 11 45am.
Please Phone Trish; 0417 077 159.
All welcome.

8th June 2013 Meeting

Our next meeting will be held at the;
Sea View Hotel
Pier St
Shorncliffe.
Starting at 11 45 am.
Please call Trish after 3rd June 0417 077 159
or Marg 0402 336 480 anytime to confirm.
We need to have numbers for a bookings.
All Welcome.

PAST FORCED ADOPTIONS IMPLEMENTATION WORKING GROUP

PAST FORCED ADOPTIONS IMPLEMENTATION WORKING GROUP

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI)

The Minister for Community Services, the Hon Julie Collins MP has asked the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to invite EOIs from people with an interest in the implementation of the Australian Government’s response to the recommendations of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into past forced adoption policies and practices.

 Following the National Apology by the Prime Minister to people affected by forced adoption or removal policies and practices on 21 March 2013, the Government response to the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry was announced.  As part of this response, a national consultation group involving people affected by forced adoption practices will be established – the Past Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group (the Working Group).

 This Working Group will perform a key advisory role to the Government on services and projects related to the implementation of the Government’s response.  At least three meetings are proposed per year, which may be face-to-face or conducted via tele/videoconference.  Working Group members will be appointed until 30 June 2014, with an extension of term if required and agreed.  Terms of Reference will be developed and agreed by the Working Group.  Professor Nahum Mushin, the Chair of the former National Apology Reference Group, has been appointed by the Minister for Community Services, the Hon Julie Collins MP as the independent chair of the Past Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group.

 

If you would like to be considered for membership of the Working Group, please provide an outline of your interest in no more than 2 pages.

 The following questions may be used as a guide in preparing your EOI:

 

• What is your interest in being a member of the Past Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group?
• What skills/knowledge/experience can you bring to the Working Group?
• What do you see as the particular challenges for past forced adoptions stakeholders working collaboratively and how would you address them?

 As part of your application, please provide your contact details, confirm your availability to participate in three meetings a year, state your involvement with any advocacy or support groups, and declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

 

Please submit your EOI to forcedadoptions@fahcsia.gov.au by 5.00pm on 10 June 2013.  

 Enquiries can also be sent to the above email address.

 

Please note that membership of the Working Group will be in a voluntary capacity.  Reasonable travel and accommodation costs will be met by the Department.

 

Further information about the National Apology, the Senate Inquiry report and the Government response can be found at http://www.ag.gov.au/About/ForcedAdoptionsApology/Pages/default.aspx. 

THERE WILL BE NO MEETING FOR MAY.

Meeting 13th April 2013.

Our next meeting will be at Four Mile Creek Hotel at Strathpine.
(opposite Westfields Strathpine.)
Starting time 11 45 am onwards.
Please call Trish for more details; 0417 077 159.

Article from Hungary's leading newspaper.

Recently we were approached by a Hungarian newspaper about the recent National Apology for Forced Adoption. They have written the below correspondance:

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I believe yours is a very important story
that needed to be covered even here, in Hungary. My article
(http://www.origo.hu/nagyvilag/20130322-kenyszeradoptalasok-es-bocsanatkeres-ausztraliaban.html)
was published today, it was a leading story, and there was an impressive feedback
from the readers. I wish you all the best, and I hope that Australia will come to
terms with all that happened.

We have used Google translate to create a very rough translation of the website for your viewing. See below:

http://www.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.origo.hu%2Fnagyvilag%2Fkomment%2F20130322-kenyszeradoptalasok-es-bocsanatkeres-ausztraliaban.html%3Fcmd%3Dgettid%26status%3Dok

PM apologises for 'dark period in nation's history'

ABC News (Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:23pm AEDT) "Prime Minister Julia Gillard has delivered a national apology to victims of forced adoption practices that were in place in Australia from the late 1950s to the 1970s.

More than 800 people affected by forced adoptions gathered at the Great Hall in Canberra for the historic occasion"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-21/pm-apologisises-for-dark-period-in-nations-history/4586358

Update for Federal Apology

Broadcasting of the event

 

The apology will be televised on ABC News 24. A live stream of the event will also be available through the Parliament of Australia and the ABC News 24 websites.

 Australian media have been invited to attend the event in the Great Hall. The apology will also be filmed by broadcast staff from the Department of Parliamentary Services and provided to television networks. It is likely that guests attending the apology will be filmed for news purposes. The Attorney-General’s Department has also engaged photographers to capture proceedings on the day and images will be uploaded to our Flickr account.

 

The images and footage shot during the day will be used to create a commemorative CD and DVD which will be available on request via forcedadoptionsapology@ag.gov.au or on 02 6141 3030 after the event.

Shuttle bus

The Attorney-General's Department will be arranging a free bus that will operate between Parliament House and various Canberra locations on the day. A flyer containing information including pick up times and locations is now available on the Frequent Asked Questions webpage.

Performances on the day

The event in the Great Hall will feature performances by the Woden Valley Youth Choir and Mia Dyson. Mia Dyson and Anne Kirkpatrick will both perform at the Federation Mall from 1:00pm.

 

Events to be held around Australia to view the national apology

 

A number of events will be held around Australia to coincide with the delivery of the national apology in Canberra.

Events will be held in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania to view the live broadcast of the apology.

 

Detailed information about these events and contact details can be found on the Frequent Asked Questions webpage.

 

 

Background information to the Apology

 

A new webpage containing background information to the national apology has also gone live.

 

 

Further information about the apology event can be found on the Forced Adoptions Apology website

 

St John’s Liturgy for all affected by Forced Adoptions.

On 12^th February 2013, a Liturgy of Healing and Support was held for Those Affected by Forced Adoptions at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane.  The Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall and the Dean of Brisbane, the Very Rev’d Dr. Peter Catt welcomed the congregation to St John’s for  this important and significant service.

Many special guests attended this service including The Governor of  Queensland, Her  Excellency, Ms Penelope Wensley,  Professor Ian Jones, Hon. Tracy Davis, Hon. Desley Scott, Catholic  Archbishop, the Most Rev’d Mark  Coleridge, Salvation Army Leaders,  along with representatives from the Australian Senate  and Queensland Parliament who could not attend due to sitting commitments.

A special Message was sent from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Her message said:

“For too long, women suffered the unthinkable trauma of having their babies taken away, while those babies grew to childhood and adult life confused about their origin, so often suffering from feelings of profound rejection and distress.
We can never recover the ties that were broken and the life journeys that remain forever unexplored. But at least we can face the past with honesty, bring comfort to each other, and ensure the mistakes of former times are not repeated in our own.”

Archbishop Aspinall said:
“We acknowledge before you the pain that comes with loss.
We bring before you the unanswered questions about those who were adopted and a life missed with them:
What would life have been if we stayed together?
What type of person did she become?
What is he doing now?
We pray for all affected by forced adoption. 
May our time Together today be one of healing.”

 

Margaret Hamilton and Trish large then spoke of the horrors that is forced adoption.
Susan Kelly from PASQ was their support person.

Dean Peter Catt then spoke from the heart to the congregation.

This was followed by the lighting of remembrance candles.
Special readings and hymns were chosen by Dean Peter Catt.
A special pale pink rose was then planted in the rose garden, and a plaque which reads:
“Always remember,
 A Children’s Tea Rose.
Planted 12 February 2013.
To those affected by Forced Adoption.
Commemorate the Diocesan Apology"

This beautiful Service was followed by afternoon tea provided by the Diocese. All who attended remarked positively on the Liturgy and mingled with the special guests during the afternoon Tea.

ALAS believes that this service of healing is the first ever given by any Church in Australia and we are proud to have been involved.
We congratulate St John’s on their willingness to hold this service.
Channel 10 News covered the event on their 6pm news.

Our Next Meeting will be 9th March 2013.

Our next meeting will be at East Leagues Club.
Main Ave., Cooparoo.
Starting at 12 o'clock onwards.
The address for meeting for 13th April will not be on our blog.
Please ring Trish for details for both meetings.
Trish; 0417 077 159.

Service at St John's Cathedral for forced adoption victims. Channel 10 news from 12th February 2013

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Cumeoj198

Federal Apology, 21st march 2013.

The Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, and the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark
Dreyfus QC MP, invite those affected by forced adoption or removal policies and
practices and their families to attend the national apology at Parliament House in
Canberra on 21 March 2013.  Please find attached the formal invitation.

Venue
The national apology will be delivered in the Great Hall of Parliament House,
Canberra. The event will commence at 10:30am with formal proceedings beginning at
11:00am AEDT.  Tea and coffee will be available to attendees from 9:00am.

The national apology is a public event and will be open to all. Seating for
approximately 800 will be available in the Great Hall, with additional standing
room. Due to the large number of people expected to attend the apology, seating in
the Great Hall will not be pre-allocated.  There will also be other vantage points
within Parliament House for people to view the apology on broadcast screens.

Appropriate arrangements will be made for those who require special assistance on
the day.  Attendants will also be available to assist people.

The apology will be followed by a lunch for attendees from 12:30pm on the Federation
Mall lawns of Parliament House.

Further information about the event, including how to RSVP, can be found on the
Attorney-General's Department
website<http://www.ag.gov.au/About/ForcedAdoptionsApology/Pages/default.aspx>.

An Invitation from Kate Cocks

Mothers separated fromtheir children by adoption
In November 2011 Uniting Communities and the Uniting Church in SA issued an unreserved apology to mothers who may have been coerced to give up
their children for adoption and to children who may have been removed from their mothers, through involvement with the Kate Cocks Memorial Babies Home.

Since then many Mothers have told us their stories have been overlooked and want them to be heard. In response we have developed a website to enable this to happen.

We invite Mothers separated from their children by adoption to an information session regarding how your story can be published.

Tuesday 26th February 7pm in Way Hall,

Level 1, 10 Pitt Street, Adelaide.

For more information contact:
Rev Peter McDonald, Uniting Communities

peterm©unitingcommunitiesorg.au

82025880

No RSVP required          

National Apology in Canberra on 21 March 2013.

 

The Australian Government has provided $120,000 to support organisations across Australia to assist people affected by forced adoption or removal policies and practices attend the National Apology in Canberra on 21 March 2013. The following organisations have each been provided $20,000 to assist those in need.  The organisations are responsible for making arrangements and are advertising the availability of the funding through their existing networks.  For more information you should contact the relevant organisation:

 

New South Wales
Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC)
Post Adoption Resource Centre
Locked Bag 6002
HURSTVILLE  NSW  1481
Ph: (02) 9504 6788, Regional NSW: 1300 659 814
Fax: 02 9570 2699
Email: parc@bensoc.org.au<mailto:parc@bensoc.org.au>
Website:
www.benevolent.org.au/connect/post--adoption--support/<http://www.benevolent.org.au/connect/post--adoption--support/>

 Origins SPSA Inc. (Origins’ members Australia wide and NSW)

Origins SPSA Inc
Ph: (02) 9604 9352
Mob:0411 164 964
Fax: (02) 9604 1950
Email: adoptionorigins@hotmail.com<mailto:adoptionorigins@hotmail.com>
Website: www.originsnsw.com<http://www.originsnsw.com>

 Victoria

Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH)
VANISH Inc
Level 1, 50-52 Howard Street
North Melbourne, Victoria
Ph:  (03) 9328 8611 or 1300 826 474
Email: info@vanish.org.au<mailto:info@vanish.org.au>
Website: www.vanish.org.au<http://www.vanish.org.au>

 

Queensland
Jigsaw Queensland
Jigsaw Queensland
PO Box 912
New Farm QLD 4005
Ph: (07) 3358 6666
Mob: 0437 016 437
Email: jigsawqueensland@bigpond.com<mailto:jigsawqueensland@bigpond.com>

 

Western Australia
Adoption Jigsaw
Adoption Jigsaw
Ph: (08) 9384 0222
Website: www.jigsaw.org.au<http://www.jigsaw.org.au/>

 

South Australia
Post Adoption Support Services (PASS)
Post Adoption Support Services
Relationships Australia SA
PH (08) 8245 8100
Email: passinfo@rasa.org.au<mailto:passinfo@rasa.org.au>
Website: www.rasa.org.au/PASS.aspx<http://www.rasa.org.au/PASS.aspx>

 Tasmania

Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help (VANISH)
VANISH Inc
Level 1, 50-52 Howard Street
North Melbourne, Victoria
Ph:  (03) 9328 8611 or 1300 826 474
Email: info@vanish.org.au<mailto:info@vanish.org.au>
Website: www.vanish.org.au<http://www.vanish.org.au>

 Northern Territory

Post Adoption Support Services (PASS)
Post Adoption Support Services
Relationships Australia SA
191 Flinders Street

 Adelaide 5000

Ph: (08) 8216 5230
Mobile: 0400 267 518
Fax: (08) 8359 3599

Thanks to Chris cole for this information.

 

Special Service at John's Cathedral 12th February 2013.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/emotional-mums-church-apology-forced-adoptions/1752997/

Funding to Attend Federal Apology in Canberra 21st March 2013.

The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department has provided Jigsaw
Queensland Inc. with a grant to distribute to current Queensland residents affected by past forced adoption practices who need financial assistance to attend the apology in Canberra on 21 March 2013 or a local viewing event.
  Support is available for travel to and from Canberra and up to one night’s accommodation on the night before or after the apology.
 Post Adoption Support Queensland has already generously agreed to host a viewing event in Brisbane again and we encourage all support groups to attend this event if possible. Guidelines and application forms will be available from Jigsaw Queensland from Monday 10 February 2013.
  Applicants are encouraged to assist others by applying only for the assistance they need.
        * All applicants must be current residents of Queensland and apply personally.
        * · Priority will given to parents separated from a child by adoption and adopted persons
        * · Applicants must be committed and able to attend the apology on 21 March * · There is no funding available at this stage for support persons.
         * · Applicants agree to make their own travel arrangements and cover their own incidental costs.
        * · Amount of funding will depend on the number of eligible applicants and full funding cannot be guaranteed for all applicants. For example, travel and accommodation assistance may be capped.
        * · If funds are oversubscribed allocation may be by ballot.
        * · Funds will be provided for actual expenditures only and receipts will be required in a timely fashion.
        * · Successful applicants will be reimbursed by cheque only. The funding is provided for individuals to attend; however, we are aware that support groups are the best way of identifying and encouraging those people needing assistance to apply.

Jigsaw Queensland, however, accepts sole responsibility for distributing the funds according the Commonwealth Attorney-General's guidelines.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 20 February 2013.
Guidelines and application forms are available from Jigsaw Queensland via Email: jigsawqueensland@bigpond.com (preferred)
Mail: Jigsaw Qld, PO Box 912, New Farm, QLD 4005
Ph: 07 3358 6666 and leave a short message with your contact email or postal address. Trevor Jordan President Jigsaw Queensland, Inc.