Today on the 12th anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions, the Albanese Labor Government acknowledges the trauma faced by children, families, and communities due to past forced adoption practices.
In 2013, the then Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered an unconditional apology on behalf of Australians for the lasting harm to mothers, adopted people, some fathers and wider families caused by forced adoptions.
The Prime Minister also apologised for the estimated removal of around 250,000 babies from their mothers between the 1950s and the late 1970s.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the 12th anniversary was a significant milestone to recognise the lasting trauma inflicted on Australian families and communities.
"On this day 12 years ago, we saw the Australian Parliament unreservedly and humbly apologise to the mothers who were denied even that first precious moment with the child they brought into the world," Minister Rishworth said.
"We apologised to the children, now adults, who were denied their identities and robbed of a sense of connection to family, culture, and place.
"We apologised to the fathers - the ones who sought, but were excluded from, the births and their children's lives. And the wider families, the siblings, the grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins - because this is an intergenerational trauma that runs deep and wide.
"I recognise that the National Apology remains a significant turning point in bringing national awareness to the forced displacement of children, where identities, connections, and culture have been lost.
"It remains incredibly important that we continue to bring these issues to light, to acknowledge, reflect, and learn from the cruelties of the past, and to apologise to those who were wronged."
The Government provides $1.8 million annually for Forced Adoption Support Services (FASS) which include a national helpline, individualised casework and support, assistance with family searching and records tracing, peer support and access to counselling.
The Government also recently released a new online training package to support the aged care workforce and broader allied health professionals, who may provide services to people impacted by past forced adoption policies and practices.
This training follows the Government's 2023 announcement of $700,000 to strengthen support services during the 10th Anniversary of the Apology for Forced Adoptions.
