Bastard Nation: Forced Adoption in Australia.

Brett Kable

In Australian history, there is quite a few dark and nefarious passages which we could
and often try to gloss over. Its one thing for them to have happened, but quite another to
face them. One of these villainous events was the forcible adoption of children between
1945 and 1985. The is not to be confused with the Stolen Generation of Indigenous
Australians, this was a carte blanche removal of children, irrespective of race. This event has
largely gone by in silence, despite earning a Federal Apology. This event, though vile and
dark, should never be forgotten and should be held in the same status as the Stolen
Generation because, sadly, this loss of culture and identity is one of the unifying events that
is shared by a majority of Australians.
Society at this time in Australia exerted vast pressure to formulate what sadly is still
today seen as a normal family of mother, father and kids. The Supporting Mothers Benefit,
or single mothers pension as it has come to be known, was introduced in Australia in 1973.
Prior to this, and for a decade after, if you were an unmarried woman you were deemed an
unfit parent and were forced into adopting their children out. Swain writes this in her work
as The mother with no marriage certificate and the child without a male provider existed in
a separate space, the stigma attached to their deviance/defiance used to reinforce morality in
the community as a whole1. Essentially, an unmarried woman, with no man to care for her
or the child then became two separate entities and it was deemed best for the child to be
removed, and thus enforcing the mentality of marriage and male providers into the
community as a whole.
Predominantly white, these mothers and children was has been dubbed the White Stolen
Generation or the Lost Generation. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies
led research, the alleged number of forced adoptions come to around 250 000 but it is highly
likely to be far higher. This number, whilst unknown, is tied into the practices themselves
and societies behaviour and attitudes. Whilst accurate data on the number of Australians
who were forcibly adopted can never be truly known, it must be remembered that this did
not just effect the child and mother but also including fathers, any future partners either had,

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Brett Kable

the children who were adopted, their adoptive parents, other siblings and naturally other
family members. This was not an act that had little impact, but one that had far range effects
into families and communities.
Shockingly the Australian Senate Inquiry Report into Forced Adoption Practices found
doctors, nurses, social workers, religious figures, sometimes with the assistance of adoption
agencies or other authorities were the perpetrators of illegally adopting these children out to
married couples. People in authority and caring professions were the main offenders
enforcing their morality upon the population. This was however, seen as something that was
best for the child. For much of this period, adoption had two key features: the application of
a clean break, and the framework of 'closed adoption' that was a legal framework in all
states and territories. Clean break theory means exactly how its sounds, the child is adopted
and the Australian families. This also removed the social problem of illegitimate babies
being born and being able to be given to more deserved families who were a married
couple. This veil of secrecy compounded the shamefulness of this practice towards mothers,
and left long term effects upon the children.

So from 1921 onwards, secrecy

provisions were given at the request of
adoptive parents. Objecting strongly to
the child retaining any name, or
connection to its parentage, the
Government effectively erased all
connection the child may have with
heritage. This is the sinister nature of
this event, as no regard for cultural
identity was shown beyond being the
same colour. Thus a child with Irish
heritage would be raised by English
parents, or German and with the closed
adoption practices in place, be entirely
cut off from any cultural heritage or
identity associated with this. In short,
as long as child and adoptive parents
were both white then it didnt matter
about cultural heritage. An unintended
consequence and somewhat ironic
A.L.A.S. Advertisement published in
reversal of fortunes for the infamous
The Australian 21st Nov. 2008.
White Australian Policy that Australia
had perpetrated upon immigrants and
Indigenous Australians. This essentially damned an entire section of the population into
accepting a generic white label to their culture instead of a former nationality.

Bastard Nation: Forced Adoption in Australia.

Brett Kable

This loss of identity and a sense of belonging were pivotal findings of the Senate Inquiry
into Forced Adoption. This lack of belonging had one forced adoptee in the report stating
We are not validated as people. We were given up because our mothers had to because of
society wishes. And we were adopted for a purpose, to fill a need in that family. And then if
we didnt perform? You were discarded2 This existence where children were left to feel
invalidated and in a state of eternal duality with both nature and nurture forming parts of
their identity with no central anchor. In a psychological study into the effects of adoption on
adulthood, Nola concludes this as a risk factor for negative relational attitudes and
relationship difficulties in adult life, particularly in terms of attachment security3 The senate
inquiry also found that all most all respondents to the inquiry suffered a lack of self worth,
lack of identity, abandonment and intimacy issues, as well as feeling obligated to show
gratitude to others throughout their lives. This isnt something that people have been able to
get over or move forward from, as it has permeated every aspect of their lives well into
adulthood. It is a life sentence that people have had to simply endure.
This practice of forced adoption was largely due to societies expectations of what a normal
family should constitute. Mother, father and children and anything that deviated was seen as
something to be disparaged openly. Societys attitudes, which at the time were still largely
governed by religious views, particularly by the Christian faith, meant that largely mothers
were expected to return to
their lives and forget they
had ever given birth.
Shuffling off a pregnant
teenager to distant relatives
until the birth had happened
was quite normal. Dr
Cuthbert explains this as
Fifty years ago adoption
was an unspoken secret of
many Australian families. 4
This also removed the social
problem of illegitimate
ProfessorIan Jones, Therese Hawken, Kerry Saint and
babies being born and
Victoria Fitzpatrick. 4th March. 2013.
being able to be given to
more deserved families
who were a married
couple. This veil of secrecy compounded the shamefulness of this practice towards mothers,
and left long term effects upon the children.
Many mothers had their children taken in alarming circumstances. Coerced in some cases,
many were not so fortunate. Reports of drug induced adoption rights being signed away
have come to light with the ABC reporting Hospitals pushed adoption consent forms on

Bastard Nation: Forced Adoption in Australia.

Brett Kable

women, which most do not even remember signing5. Usually high on painkillers from the
birth, not only do many not remember, many couldnt spell correctly in a drug induced state
and some even were strapped down to the bed. The fact to adopt a child out requires the
consent of both mother and father was as equally overlooked as the practice of forced
adoption itself. In fact in many cases fathers were not recorded upon birth certificates at all
or as Hartmann records It was common practice to not record the names of fathers if the
couple were not married.6 So while mothers were treated in an abhorrent manner, fathers
were largely ignored and deemed insignificant.
After years of petitioning and
politicising change eventually came.
Therese Hawken, Kerry Saint and
Victoria Fitzpatrick met with
ProfessorIan Joneswho was the head
of obstetric medicine
aRoyalBrisbaneWomen'sHospitalin
2009.After hearing their stories, and
reading some testimonies he
apologised on behalf of the Royal
Brisbane Womens Hospital on June
10th, 2009. This was not only the first
apology from the medical profession
in the world but also the first recorded
formal apology in Australia on the
issue of Forced Adoptions. This
instantly made national news and
brought the issue into the public light
overnight and startling many
Australians had no idea that this had
ever happened. Upon meeting with
Marg Hamilton, Jan Kashin and
Therese Hawken in 2014, he
Honourable Senator for Queensland
Claire Moore says I have to admit,
when I first met them, I was at a loss to
understand a lot of the issues
they came to me with because I could
not believe what they were telling
me7 . Her sentiments were echoed
across the country as Australia was
stunned. Whilst issues such as the
Stolen Generation of Indigenous
Australians had surfaced and become

The Queensland State Apology.

Signed by Premier. Hon. Campbell Newman, Hon. Peter
Wellington M.P. , Hon.Tracey Davis M.P. Hon. Desley C.
Scott. M.P.

Bastard Nation: Forced Adoption in Australia.

Brett Kable

part of the Australian collective history and shame, almost nothing had permeated into the
public domain about this Lost Generation.
The resulting public outcry to the same practice was heard across the entire country and a
cascade of apologies from Hospitals and Churches around Australia began before the
eventual Federal Government of Australia apologised. Prime Minister Julia Gillard formally
apologised on behalf of the Australian Government 21 March 2013, to people affected by
forced adoption8 . More over, the Australia National History Archives recorded many
stories, photos and videos to etch this dark passage into the Australian story forever.
Offering both an online record as well as a national tour entitled Without Consent of
physical evidence that began upon 30 March 2015 and at the time of writing, was still
touring.9
This dark section of Australian history is often overlooked and forgotten still as the those

that were effected and those that perpetrated the practice are in many cases still alive. With
that, facing this on a personal level makes this incredibly difficult for all involved. Many
adopted children could be completely unaware that they were a forced adoption and many
birth parents remain unaware of what happened to their children due to current legislation.
Whilst the Federal Government of Australia apologised as well as all States, many affected
remain with the effects of this practice. Children as well as mothers and fathers remain in
their life sentence of issues related to this, both psychological as well as emotional
relationships. Nor is it forgotten the adoptive parents of these children who themselves have
had to come to terms with this practice. This lack of identity and heritage, as well as lack of
self worth, abandonment and intimacy issues are things that the children who were the
centre of this practice are issues that remain. At the time of writing this, Psychological
studies are still being done to assess the impact upon all parties.

Bastard Nation: Forced Adoption in Australia.

Brett Kable

1Swain,

Shurlee, and Renate Howe. Single mothers and their children: Disposal, punishment and survival in
Australia. No. 20. Cambridge University Press, 1995. pg.1
2Kenny,

Pauline, Daryl Higgins, Carol Soloff, and Reem Sweid. "Past adoption experiences: National
research study on the service response to past adoption practices." Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family
Studies (2012). pg. 99.
3Feeney,

Judith A., Nola L. Passmore, and Candida C. Peterson. "Adoption, attachment, and relationship
concerns: A study of adult adoptees."Personal Relationships14, no. 1 (2007): 129-147.
4Quartly,

Marian, Shurlee Swain, and Denise Cuthbert.The market in babies: Stories of Australian adoption.
Monash University Publishing, 2013.
5

Brown, Sally. ABC News. 30 Jul 2015,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-28/mothers-call-for-forced-adoption-royal-commission/6652790.
Accessed. 19th Oct. 2016.
6

Hartann, Nikki. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/article/2016/06/27/father-unknown-how-birth-fathersbecame-invisible-early-adoptions 28th June. 2016. Accessed 19th Oct. 2016.
7Moore,

Claire. Hon. http://www.clairemoore.net/01_cms/details.asp?ID=789 2014. Accessed 0ct 19th 2016

8Gillard,

M. P., and Hon Julia. "National apology for forced adoptions."Australian Journal of Adoption7, no. 1

(2013).
9National

Archives of Australia. http://forcedadoptions.naa.gov.au/. Accessed Oct 19th 2016