Forced Adoption Practices in Australia

Forced adoption, also known as forced family separation, saw unmarried mothers and their children separated from the 1950s to the 1980s and represents a dark chapter in Australia’s history. The impact on these families was profound, causing lasting emotional, psychological and intergenerational trauma.

In 2021, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Historical Forced Adoption in Victoria revealed that thousands of women who gave birth between 1958 and 1984 experienced significant trauma due to forced adoption practices carried out by hospitals and other organisations. These women were frequently sent to institutions operated by religious and other bodies.

Tragically, many of these women endured abuse and endured harsh and humiliating treatment, including being restrained—through medication, physical force, or violence—immediate separation from their newborns, and being pressured into signing adoption consent forms against their will.

If you have been impacted by forced adoption, you may be entitled to take action against the relevant institution and seek compensation. Connect with the MEJ team for a confidential chat, you deserve better.

What compensation can I claim?

You may be able to claim compensation for the following:

• Pain and suffering;
• Past loss of earnings and future loss of earning capacity (including superannuation);
• Past and future medical treatment;
• Past and future gratuitous care (for example care provided by family or friends);
• Aggravated or exemplary damages, punishing the individual perpetrator or the institution who failed to protect you.

You may also seek a personal response or an apology as well as an updated birth certificate recognising you as the biological mother.

What do I do next?

If you or a family member have experienced forced adoption practices, we encourage you to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.

At MEJ, we have an experienced team who would be happy to speak with you further about your options and next steps.

Don’t delay and contact MEJ for a free, no-obligation enquiry.