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.
A key part of the ongoing support delivered by the PARC are its Adoption Connections Meetings. These are hosted virtually and in-person, in regional NSW towns and in the ACT.
The PARC team will be hosting their next Adoption Connections Meeting in Canberra on Saturday 2 May.
Spaces to connect and learn
Adoption Connection Meetings are free for anyone affected by adoption to attend – adopted persons, parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members.
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. These meetings help people meet others who have gone through similar experiences and learn more about the resources and support available to them."
These events also sometimes feature a guest speaker sharing their own lived experience of adoption.
Providing relief and understanding
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 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.
“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.