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.