Adopt Perspective

Today’s guest is one of those extraordinary humans who travels off the beaten path, and lives a life filled with adventure. Heather Kinang is a Himalayan climber, trekker, yoga teacher, espresso lover and late discovery adoptee. In this episode, Heather shares her experience as a late discoverer and her adventurous life. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today's guest is an adoptee from Newcastle, Australia who says the internet, social media and DNA has been a game changer in her search for her biological family and connection. Louise Gleeson utilised all three during her search and is using them again now to help others. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

This year we commemorated the 10th anniversary of the federal apology for past forced adoption policies and practices. The apology was a direct result of tireless advocacy by those affected, which led to a senate inquiry and resulting report. Today's guest has been a powerful ally of those affected by forced adoption and was an integral part in how the apology came about. Claire Moore was elected to the Australian Senate for Queensland in 2001 and retired at the expiration of her final term in 2019. During her distinguished career, she acted as Deputy Chair of the Community Affairs and References Committee Inquiry into Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices. Today we're talking to Claire about her experience, how far we've come and what is left to be accomplished. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Joining us in this episode of Adopt Perspective is a Queensland mother who lost a daughter to adoption in 1976. Kathryn Rendell was also a member of the National Council for Single Mothers and Their Children (now Single Mother Families Australia Inc.) and was a member of the national Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group and the Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group – formed in 2013 to provide key advice to government on services and projects to improve support for people who have been affected by these practices. Kathryn shares with us her personal story and her experience of serving in these two important groups. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

On 21st March 2013, the Australian Government delivered a formal apology to people affected by past forced adoption policies and practices. The apology was delivered by then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard in the Great Hall at Parliament House. The apology acknowledged the experiences of those affected, which created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering. Today is the 10th anniversary of the apology and states and territories around Australia are commemorating with events. We know that not everyone can make it to an anniversary event, so we’re dedicating this episode of Adopt Perspective to reflect on the apology and are joined by none other than the woman who delivered it, The Honourable Julia Gillard. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Today’s guest is Sarah Dingle, a dual Walkley Award-winning investigative reporter and presenter with the ABC, working across radio and TV current affairs, news and documentary. Her work has won the UN’s Media Peace Prize and the Voiceless Media Prize and her radio documentaries have been recognised by the Australian Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the National Press Club. Sarah is the author of the incredible book we’re talking about today, Brave New Humans: The Dirty Reality of Donor Conception published by Hardie Grant Books in 2021. The book is an astonishing real-life whodunnit and investigative expose revealing the uncomfortable realities of assisted reproduction and its human fallout. It also chronicles Sarah’s experience as a donor conceived person. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Today's guest is an adoptee born at Crown Street Women's Hospital in Sydney in 1953. Jill Rodger is a tenacious amateur detective who managed to track down her mother in 1984, years before New South Wales legislation was amended to allow access to identifying information and even before the common use of the internet and social media. More recently, Jill has managed to track down her paternal family through a commercial DNA test and has had a beautiful outcome. Jill joined us from Ballarat in Victoria. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

For some adopted people the search for their biological parents ends at a gravestone. This abrupt ending can create an overwhelming sense of grief and sadness made worse by a lack of answers and a profound sense of guilt for a search left too long. Sometimes our search leads us not to a gravestone, but to complex family dynamics or severed family relationships that can make it challenging to learn about and connect with our biological roots. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations such as Link Up have a process for these cases, known appropriately as a “Graveside Reunion”.  These special types of reunions allow the returning child to grieve the loss of their parent (or in some cases, child) while at the same time being given the opportunity to reconnect with their extended family, community, and country. Today, Jo & Caroline discuss what the broader adoptee community can learn from this to allow graveside endings to become reunions that comfort grief and loss with connection and being part of something larger and more grounded than that one relationship. Jo recently had her own graveside experience in Sydney and talks about why she travelled south, how she planned out her experience and what she gained from it.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Natalie Lewis is an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander woman who was adopted in Queensland in 1974. Her adoptive parents were originally from Germany and India. Because Natalie was adopted in Queensland in 1974, she falls outside the Australian states currently offering redress to the Stolen Generations and the criteria for states that do offer redress. This leaves Natalie in somewhat of a no-man’s land as she seeks recognition of the loss that her adoption caused to her culture, community and family. In this episode, Natalie shares her personal story of adoption. We also talk about the trauma that has been caused by the removal of Aboriginal children from their families. We recognise that this could be distressing to some listeners, however, we believe that these conversations need to be had to increase the understanding of the hurt and ongoing harm caused by these policies. To those who were affected, we are sorry. Thank you to Caroline Slade, FASS Team Leader, for her assistance in putting together this episode.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Today’s guest is an adoptee born in the late sixties under the closed adoption system and a cloud of secrecy. Tracy Shand searched for and reunited with her mother and sister at the age of twenty-four, finding the relationships complex to maintain over time. At the age of forty-five she did a commercial DNA test to find her father and 3 years later found success. Tracy is sharing her personal story with us today and how her experiences have led her to research adoption as part of her Psychology Honours degree. She joins us from Launceston in Tasmania. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Today’s guest is a Canadian born adoptee who has lived in Australia for more than two decades. I first had the pleasure of meeting Angela Irving at a workshop I facilitated in Perth for Jigsaw WA back in 2018 and her story has changed so much since then. Today she will share how the internet and DNA have helped her solve an international mystery and connect her with her maternal and paternal families...during a pandemic. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In the final episode of Season 3, Jigsaw Qld's FASS CEO Dr Trevor Jordan joins Jo to discuss a topic you’ve likely heard a bit about in recent months…redress. With an ageing cohort, the clock is really ticking on this issue. With only weeks remaining until the Queensland apology 10th anniversary event, we explore a number of issues, including Jigsaw Qld's recent message to the Minister, the Victorian Govt's redress announcement and how things might be explored and take shape as the Queensland government considers reparation. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Darryl Nelson first shared his personal experience of discharging his adoption in Queensland with us in our Jigsaw Queensland newsletter, Bits & Pieces Summer 2020 edition. Darryl was born in Brisbane in 1964 during the closed and forced adoption eras. He first discovered he was adopted when he was 14 years old, and uncovered further information about his adoption later, when records were unsealed. Darryl’s discharge was successful in 2020, however, it wasn’t an easy road to get there. Working on his own, it took Darryl 18 months to build a case that took only 20 minutes to hear.  Each person undertaking this process experiences it differently. If you are considering pursuing a discharge of your adoption, we recommend that you have as many supports in place as possible.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

In 2021, a series of morning teas aimed at highlighting adoptee mental health were held during Qld Mental Health Week, under the banner of AdopTEA. All up, four peer-supported gatherings of adopted people were registered across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and regional Queensland. This year, the AdopTEA events will again take place again during Qld Mental Health Week running from 8 – 16th October. The AdopTEA events increase awareness and understanding of the impacts of adoption on adopted people and reduce the stigma associated with reaching out and seeking support. In this episode we are joined by the creator of AdopTEA, Judy Glover. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

There was barely a dry eye on the Qld GOMA balcony when Allan Hill and his son, Chris shared the emotional story of their reunion at this year's national apology anniversary event. As we approach Father's Day, Allan again shares his story with our listeners; of losing a son to forced adoption in the early 1970s, their reunion and the impact this loss had on his life.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Many adopted people report that their adoption experience has impacted their parenting. Today's guest is a social worker and academic at the University of Melbourne who has researched the mothering experience of adopted women - an area she hopes to continue to explore in the future. Prior to becoming an academic, Dr Jenny Conrick had thirty years practice experience as a social work clinician, manager and educator in the non-government and health sectors, providing services across the life cycle to those with an adoption, out-of-home care and trauma experience. She is a qualitative and mixed methods researcher and her current areas of research include the impacts of legislative change on people in the child and family welfare domain. In this episode we discuss her research findings on the impact of adoption on the mothering experience of adopted women. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Benjamin Kelleher was adopted from Brazil in the city of Belo Horizonte and was brought to Australia in 1989 at the age of 13 months. He was one of 5000 children in the orphanage at the time of his adoption. Benjamin grew up on the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast in Queensland and recently shared his experience of intercountry adoption in a series of educational video resources produced by InterCountry Adoptee Voices in partnership with Relationship Matters. In this episode, Benjamin shares more of his experience with our listeners. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Even if you're not quite sure what it is, chances are you've heard of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a form of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many people affected by adoption have attributed the therapy with helping them. While there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to seeking help, we will be exploring a number of therapeutic options over the coming seasons. In today's episode, we'll be discussing EMDR with Fiona Mawson, a Counselling Psychologist and registered and accredited EMDR Consultant with the EMDR Association of Australia. Fiona also has an EMDR focussed practice in Victoria. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Evelyn Robinson is a mother who was separated from her first child through adoption in Scotland in 1970. She later emigrated to Bermuda and then South Australia in 1982, where she still resides. Evelyn has a wealth of knowledge and experience in relation to the long-term outcomes of adoption separation and has experienced post-adoption services from every perspective - as a client, a volunteer and as a professional counsellor. She holds undergraduate and post-grad qualifications in social work and education. In 2017, Evelyn was named in the Australia Day Honours List and received an Order of Australia medal for her service to the community, in particular to family members separated by adoption. She is the mother of five children and has written several books about adoption. In this episode, Evelyn and Jo talk about grief and loss and adoption. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland Inc. (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Evelyn Robinson is a mother who was separated from her first child through adoption in Scotland in 1970. She later emigrated to Bermuda and then South Australia in 1982, where she still resides. Evelyn has a wealth of knowledge and experience in relation to the long-term outcomes of adoption separation and has experienced post-adoption services from every perspective - as a client, a volunteer and as a professional counsellor. She holds undergraduate and post-grad qualifications in social work and education. In 2017, Evelyn was named in the Australia Day Honours List and received an Order of Australia medal for her service to the community, in particular to family members separated by adoption. She is the mother of five children and has written several books about adoption. In part one of two episodes with Evelyn she shares her personal story of loss and reunion. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland Inc. (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.