Category: Australia

Love, Relationships, and the Impact of Adoption

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Intimate Relationships, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Attachment, Adoption questions, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Gratitude in Adoption, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Survival mechanisms, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti reflects on how adoption trauma shaped his relationships, emotional reactions, and journey toward growth.

Emaye Adoptees Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Support, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Ethiopia, France, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Peer support, Peer Support, Post Adoption Support, Return to Birth Country, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Therapy, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Beti Skehill, Ethiopian adoptee raised in Australia, returns to her homeland and shares about the wonderful support from Emaye Adoptees Home.

Australia’s History and Silence on Illicit and Illegal Intercountry Adoptions: A Record of Inaction

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoption Agencies, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Adoptive Country, Advocacy, Australia, Birth Parents Searching, Chile, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Ethiopia, Forced separation, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Justice Routes, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Romania, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, VietnamLeave a comment

Australia’s silence on illicit and illegal intercountry adoptions and ICAV’s 20-year fight for truth, justice, and recognition of adoptee rights continues

Intercountry adoptees taking legal action and reclaiming our rights

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption policy, Adoption questions, adoption reform, Adoptive parents, Advocacy, Australia, Belgium, Birth Parents Searching, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Citizenship in Adoption, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Deportation of Adoptees, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ethiopia, Forced separation, France, Generational trauma, Germany, Gratitude in Adoption, Guatemala, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, intercountry adoption investigation, Is adoption the best option, Italy, Justice Routes, Korea, Legal Action taken by Adoptees, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, New Zealand, Norway, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, UK, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, USA, Vietnam, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Intercountry adoptees worldwide are taking legal action to expose illegal adoptions, demand truth, and push for justice, accountability, and human rights reform.

Adoptee Advocacy

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee Activism, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, adoption reform, Advocacy, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Lived experience leadership, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle's reflection on turning pain into purpose through adoptee advocacy—healing, empowerment, and transforming systems with collective lived experience.

Grief, Loss and Finding My Way Back

On By Guest BloggerIn Adjustment and Transition, Adoptee Support, Adoptee vulnerability, Australia, Birth family trauma, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ethiopia, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Peer support, Return to Birth Country, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Meseret shares about the lifelong grief and loss associated with losing her Ethiopian family and being sent to Australia to start a new life.

What I’ve missed out on in being adopted internationally

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee vulnerability, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Jonti shares his journey of exploring what his losses have been in being intercountry transracially adopted from Sri Lanka to Australia.

Racial Abuse & Hatred

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Adoptive parents, Alcohol and drug addiction, Antiracism Education, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Diversity in Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Peer Support, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti, adopted from Sri Lanka to Australia shares about racial hatred and abuse and how it impacts.

The need for a national investigation into the role of the Australian governments in our intercountry adoption history

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoption Agencies, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Australia, Birth family trauma, Chile, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, DNA Searching, Forced separation, Generational trauma, Grief and Loss, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, Importance of Connections to Origins, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Origins Search, Philippines, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Return to Birth Country, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC, Vietnam, What is an Illegal and Illicit Adoption?Leave a comment

Lynelle discusses why its time to investigate the past of Australia's intercountry adoptions and look into the role our governments have played.

The importance of engaging adoptees in the design and ownership of post adoption support services

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Lived experience leadership, New Zealand, Post Adoption Support, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle shares on the importance of engaging adoptees in the design and ownership of post adoption support services, presented at the Hague forum in Nov 2024

Letter to Adoptee Youth

On By Guest BloggerIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Peer Support, Post Adoption Support, Racial Mirrors, Racism in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Jonti reflects, looking back over what has shaped his life as an adoptee and how he's ended up incarcerated, in prison, for a serious crime.

The most invisible adoptees

On By lynellelongIn Abandonment and Rejection, Adoptee Anger, adoptee in prison, Adoptee vulnerability, Alcohol and drug addiction, Australia, Citizenship in Adoption, colourblindness in adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Deportation of Adoptees, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Generational trauma, Importance of Connections to Origins, incarcerated adoptee, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Multiple Identities, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Racism in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, Sense of Belonging, Sri Lanka, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in AdoptionLeave a comment

Lynelle raises awareness of those intercountry adoptees who are incarcerated, an unheard voice.

Addressing Sexual Abuse in Intercountry Adoption

On By lynellelongIn Abuse in Adoption, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee vulnerability, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Discharge Annulment, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, adoption reform, Adoption Research, Adoptive parents, Alternatives to Adoption, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Gratitude in Adoption, Is adoption the best option, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Philippines, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Puerto Rico, Racism in Adoption, Religion and Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Romania, Russia, Sense of Belonging, Sexual Abuse in Adoption, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suicide, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper on Sexual Abuse experiences of intercountry adoptees helping to elevate their voices and advocate for much needed supports.

What do I want from my adoptive parents?

On By lynellelongIn 1993 Hague Convention, Adoptee Activism, Adoptee Anger, Adoptee support provided by adoptees, Adoptees Educate, Adoption Agencies, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, adoption reform, Adoptive parents, Adoptive parents silence on illegal adoptions, Australia, Belgium, China, China, Compensation to Victims in Adoption, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Denmark, Difficult discussions in adoption, France, Illegal Adoption, Illicit Adoption, Impacts to Biological Families, India, Is adoption the best option, Italy, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Norway, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Politics of Adoption, Post Adoption Support, Reparation in Adoption, Rights in Adoption, Search and Reunion in Adoption, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Therapy, Transracial Adoption, Trauma in Adoption, UN Joint Statement Illegal Adoption, Uncategorized, USALeave a comment

Lynelle shares what she would have wanted from her adoptive parents in response to the fraud and human rights abuses in her adoption.

Cut Chilli Play: Adoption Community Events and Feedback

On By lynellelongIn Adoptee vulnerability, Adoption Community Event, Adoptive parents, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Critical Thinking in Adoption, Difficult discussions in adoption, Exploring adoptive parent journey, Grief and Loss, Grief and Loss for adoptive parents, Illegal Adoption, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Not Knowing in Adoption, Origins Search, Sri LankaLeave a comment

Lynelle shares about the recent Cut Chilli events which ICAV hosted for the adoption community.

Tips and Suggestions for Returning to Birth Country

On By lynellelongIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, Importance of Connections to Origins, India, Iran, Korea, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, New Zealand, Norway, Origins Search, Peer Support, Return to Birth Country, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Transracial Adoption, UK, USA, VietnamLeave a comment

ICAVs newest Perspective Paper offering global tips and suggestions for those considering returning for the first time to their birth country.

Returning to Homeland

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptees Educate, Adoption Education for Adoptive Parents, Adoption Education for Professionals, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Ethiopia, Grief and Loss, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Older Age Adoptions, Origins Search, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Meseret shares some tips and thoughts for intercountry adoptees considering returning to homeland or birth country, her perspective as an Ethiopian adoptee.

Afrocentric

On By Guest BloggerIn Adoptee Artists, Adoptee Artwork, Adoptees Educate, Australia, Complexities in Adoption, Haiti, Importance of Connections to Origins, Lifelong Impacts of Adoption, Origins Search, Racial Mirrors, Return to Birth Country, Sense of Belonging, Transracial AdoptionLeave a comment

Ebony Hickey, a Haitian Australian intercountry adoptee performed in Afrocentric at the Victorian Gallery of Victoria. We share her voice performance and photos