Adoption is multi-faceted and complex. As many affected by adoption grapple with this throughout their lives, it’s important to acknowledge these experiences and help those impacted process them.
The Benevolent Society has supported those impacted by adoption for over three decades. The Post Adoption Resource Centre (PARC) in NSW has been operating since 1991. Based on its success, Post Adoption Support Queensland (PASQ) was also founded in 2009 to support Queenslanders affected by adoption separation, trauma and loss.
Comprised of social workers, qualified counsellors, advanced and senior practitioners, the PARC has supported over 80,000 people including people who are adopted, parents, siblings, partners and others who have been separated from family by adoption.
PARC support
A typical day for the PARC team involves individual counselling sessions via phone, online or face to face sessions to address issues such as grief, loss, identity, relationships and the impacts of trauma. The team also assists those looking to access records and family tracing through intermediary support to help with search, reunion, and approaching relatives.
The PARC team also regularly hosts Adoption Connections Meetings, both virtually and in-person, in rural and regional NSW towns. During these events, the PARC team provide resources to support locals affected by adoption, and a safe space to connect with others who have gone through similar experiences.
“We have increased the number of groups we run in recent years to meet the demand for many to connect with others with an adoption experience, and to build a sense of belonging and connection for many who have felt isolated by their adoption experience,” said Sarah Burn, Manager of the PARC at The Benevolent Society.
“Many have never met another person who is adopted or impacted by adoption prior to attending our groups, so these events are an important space of healing and reflection."
Sarah Burn - Manager of the Post Adoption Resource Centre
DNA tracing websites
DNA tracing websites are one way that Australians impacted by adoption are using to examine family trees. The PARC recommends Australians tread gently when looking to connect with newfound family connections and seek out support from the team as they approach this.
“For those with gaps in their adoption records, DNA websites can help them find and connect with family members. However, we do advise caution with this. For example, reaching out to a distant cousin identified through these services, instead of using the information to help pinpoint a more direct family member, may impact the success of connection to the person you are truly hoping to connect with,” added Sarah.
Providing relief and understanding
“The intermediary services we deliver provide a lot of heartwarming outcomes. While we can never guarantee a positive outcome for people, we always prepare and support individuals through whatever the outcome may be,” said Sarah.
“It’s always rewarding to be able to share with our clients that we have found, made contact with the person they are seeking, and their family member is interested in connecting with them.”
For those seeking the PARC’s counselling support, it’s always a positive outcome when they let the team know that they are okay and no longer need ongoing support. It often means they are feeling more settled with what brought them to the service, and that they feel equipped to get back into their everyday lives.
“The impacts of adoption are lifelong, and people will return as needed to work through different issues at different points in their life. Many clients have let us know they feel the PARC is a safe place to call and connect with when life is feeling hard, and we’ll continue to find the best ways to deliver this support for those in need.”
If you, or someone you know, needs support related to adoption, call The Benevolent Society at 1800 236 762 or visit our Post Adoption Services page here.