The State Government has announced its response to the Report on the Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia and welcomed its recommendations.
On 22 August 2024, the Inquiry Report into past forced adoptive policies and practices, ‘Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives: Report on the Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia' was released.
After undertaking a considered review of the findings and recommendations of the final report, the Government is pleased to support (or support in-principle) 19 recommendations.
Among the supported recommendations is the establishment of a Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group which will include people with lived experience such as mothers, fathers, adopted people, adoptive parents, and representatives from community sector organisations and peer-support advocacy groups.
A public Expression of Interest process for the Reference Group is now open and will close on 31 January 2025.
More information can be found on the Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group webpage.
Other supported recommendations include improving access to adoption information and records, the introduction of integrated birth certificates, improvements to public awareness, service design improvements and the repeal of contact and mediation licenses.
The State Government acknowledges the extraordinary courage and determination of the many mothers, fathers, adopted people and their families who shared their experiences throughout the Inquiry as well as the many people who were unable to participate in the Inquiry but continue to carry the trauma of their experience with them.
View more information and the State Government’s Response to the Report on the Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia on the Historical Forced Adoptions webpage.
