Every child has the right to grow up in a family and with stable care. This is critical to children’s emotional security, their development, sense of belonging and overall wellbeing. However, there are many children both in Australia and overseas who do not have the benefit of stable family care.
National Adoption Awareness Week (NAAW) runs from 9 to 15 November and recognises that adoption can provide families for children who would otherwise live in institutions or without permanent and loving care.
NAAW focuses on celebrating the benefits that adoption offers for children in need of family care. Adopted children and their new families often require special support which is provided by the Relationships Australia (SA)’s Post Adoption Support Service. In addition to counselling, we offer a Therapeutic Parenting Course and a Mentor Program for young people aged 7-18 years to support each other with some of the complex issues that adoptees often face.
“During NAAW there will be many stories in the media in regards to celebrating family formation through adoption,” says Nikki Hartmann, Manager Post Adoption Support Services.
“It is also important to be aware that adoption can bring grief and loss with it, special weeks like this can be challenging time for some because they may be thinking about the family they lost through adoption.”
NAAW is also a time to reflect on the lessons learned from past adoption policies in Australia. These practices led to a national apology for the pain, grief and loss for the many people whose lives were negatively affected by coercive and forced adoptions.
For any kind of support or for further information, please contact the Post Adoption Support Services or call 8245 8100.
