Bibliographies

The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the inter library loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Adoption

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A child to call my own: A study of adopted women and their experience of motherhood.
Masso, P; Whitfield, V
Bondi, NSW: The Benevolent Society, 2003, 64p, figures

This research was conducted with 190 adopted women to explore how adoption is related to pregnancy, birth and motherhood, and how becoming a mother impacts on adopted women's views of adoption and their family relationships. This report covers the project methodology and information about the participants. Discussion of the findings is in two parts: adopted women with no children; and adopted women with children. The authors explore the women's desire to have or not have children, the effect of adoption on this decision, the impact on relationships, the decision to make contact, the experience of having children, and the changing importance of adoption.

 

Adoption and family therapy.
Goodwach, R
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy v.24 no.2 Jun 2003: 61-70

The aim of this article is to sensitise family therapists to adoption. A major assertion of the paper is that adoptive families are different from biological families. The family therapy context is a natural framework for examining these issues, as adoption affects and alters both birth and adoptive families, and adoption-related problems occur within the context of the extended family system. The differences between intra-racial (socially-motivated) and inter-racial adoptions are discussed, as well as the differences between closed and open adoptions. The study of families affected by adoption provides a model for other family forms, such as stepfamilies, foster families and families who form through new birth technologies. (Journal abstract)

 

Adoption issues or just growing up?
Harding, Leith
Adoption Australia Autumn 2007: 5-8

Adopted children often use their adoption as a weapon against their adoptive parents when they start to express teenagers' rejection of family. This article discusses the psychology of this behaviour and then offers some strategies for dealing with it.

 

Adoptions Australia 2005-06.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2006, 72p, figures, tables (Child welfare no.39), and Online

Although the number of adoptions in Australia has declined over the last 30 years, there are still a considerable number of adoptions per year. This report presents the latest data on adoptions of children in Australia, comprising a record of all finalised adoptions since 1990 collected from state and territory community services departments. The report also identifies trends in the number of adoptions since the 1970s.

 

Bent but not broken: Building resilient adoptive families.
Paddock, Dee A
Adoption Australia Winter 2006: 13-16

Adoption is created out of profound loss for all parties, yet the reverse of this is the resilience of adoptive families. This article discusses the many issues and potential trauma that adoptive families often face, and the resilience that develops and helps overcome this adversity. It summarises some recent research on resilience among children, attachment in adoption and how parents can help develop resilience in their children.

 

Boys and girls.
Brown, Jane
Adoption Australia Autumn 2006: 12-14

Differences between adopted boys and girls are discussed, and a list of tips for adoptive parents of boys is provided.

 

Family membership in post-reunion adoption narratives.
Browning, Julee; Duncan, Grant
Social Policy Journal of New Zealand no.26 Nov 2005: 156-172, figures, and Online

This article reports original research conducted with 20 adoptees, adopted under closed - stranger protocols, who have been experiencing regular post reunion contact with their birth families for more than 10 years. It examines the themes of the mothering role, family obligation and family membership to uncover how adoptees navigate their family membership within and between their adoptive and birth family. The findings indicate that long term reunited relationships have no predictable pathways and are approached with varying levels of ambivalence and emotional strain; that no fixed pattern of family arrangements and relational boundaries emerges; and that the adoptive mother generally retains the primary role of mother. While closed - stranger adoptions and the subsequent reunions may eventually cease, this research may assist in understanding the issues surrounding the reunion between gamete donors and their offspring in the future. (Journal abstract, edited)

 

Grief and loss issues for adopted children: Caring adults can make a world of difference.
Paddock, Dee A
Adoption Australia Winter 2006: 17-18

Adopted children often feel different, at fault, angry, frustrated, sad and anxious. These responses can become a problem when they affect the child's emotional development. This article recommends that adults validate the adopted child's experience and explore their feelings.

 

The importance of maintaining adoptive family support groups.
Brown, Jane
Adoption Australia Spring 2005: 6-9

For adopted children, issues involving adoption and race may appear to be resolved at one stage, only to resurface and peak later on. This article argues the importance of remaining connected to adoptive family support groups through the middle childhood years and beyond. It considers what makes these groups work, identifies things to keep in mind when forming and sustaining these groups, and recommends seeking advice from younger members when organising groups.

 

The inner world of the adopted child.
Alexander, Christopher J
Adoption Australia Autumn 2006: 7-9

Adopted children often manifest a range of psychological disorders and behavioural problems that differ from those of other children, and are over represented in mental health and correctional facilities. This article reviews developmental factors, aspects of family life and the role of anger in the emotional and behavioural problems of adopted children.

 

"I want to be just like their real dad" - Factors associated with stepfather adoption.
Lamb, Kathleen A.
Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 28, No. 9, 1162-1188 (2007)

 

Reflections on the complexities of the adoption family.
Kane, H
Link: Newsletter of the Adoptive Families Association of Victoria no.2 Aug 2002: 5-8

In her address to the 2002 Annual General Meeting of the Adoptive Families Association of Australia, the author describes her personal experiences over the last 30 years as a social worker at the Mercy Hospital dealing with the issue of adoption. She raises many aspects of adoption in her discussion, including the counselling of women who are pregnant and looking to adopt their child out, as well as how to raise adopted children and the issue of whether or not the children should be told. She discusses how attitudes have changed over time and how the Mercy Hospital service has changed to meet the needs of different women, including women with disabilities, with drug and alcohol issues, and migrant women.

 

Talking about adoption in elementary school.
Brown, Jane
Adoption Australia Winter 2006: 28-30

The author of this article, the mother of a nine year old trans racially adopted child, explains why she chose to talk to her daughter's school class about adoption. She discusses the attitudes of her daughter's peers prior to addressing the class, and the reaction of the children and parents when she did speak to the class.

 

Talking with children about difficult history.
Van Gulden, Holly
Adoption Australia Autumn 2007: 11-13

Some adoptive parents have potentially painful information about their children's history and birth family, and find it difficult to know when or whether they should share the information with them. This article raises the dilemma, describes some scenarios, and provides guidance on how to tell adopted children about the circumstances and history surrounding their births and early lives.

 

Intercountry adoption

Adopting overseas: a guide to adopting from Australia, plus personal stories that will inspire you.
Burns, Lucy; Burns, Ailsa
Double Bay, NSW: Rockpool, 2007, 260p, tables, figures, illus.

This book is a resource for people considering adopting a child from overseas. It includes chapters on the history and statistics of overseas adoption in Australia; laws and the assessment process; child development and child rearing issues; travel advice; government contacts and support groups; and a bibliography of further reading. The book features personal stories from parents on their feelings and experiences of the adoption process, and the reactions of their new child.

 

An unfinished identity project.
Simmons Thomas, L
Dulwich Centre Journal no.2 and no.3 2001: 11-21

In the hope of shedding different light on questions of identity and culture which could be relevant to the field of therapy and community work, the author offers stories involved in constantly creating and negotiating an identity as a woman with Vietnamese heritage living in a white dominant culture. She also addresses several themes in relation to adoption.

 

The colour of difference: journeys in transracial adoption.
Armstrong, S, ed.; Slaytor, P, ed.
Annandale, NSW: The Federation Press, 2001, 200p, illus.

Increasing numbers of Australian adoptions are transracial, where the child and the adopting family are from different cultures, races or countries. The aim of this project was to draw together the experiences of both Australian born transracial adoptees and intercountry adoptees. It provides the stories of 27 transracial adoptees, and tells of their journey of self discovery, of going back to their roots in search of a more complete understanding of themselves, sometimes to the country of their birth.

 

Overseas adoption in Australia: Report on the Inquiry into adoption of children from overseas. (PDF 2.59 MB)
Australia. Parliament. House of Representatives. Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs
Canberra, ACT: House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services, 2005, 256p, tables, figures, and Online

This report is about the policies and practices governing overseas adoption (referred to as intercountry adoption) in Australia. Chapter one covers the history and statistics of intercountry adoption. Key findings were that support for adoption in many government departments is generally low at best, and that intercountry adoptions can greatly improve outcomes for overseas children that cannot be raised in a family in their home country. Chapter two outlines the legal framework for intercountry adoptions which involve a large number of legal systems, including international treaties, legislation in the country of origin, state and territory adoption laws, visa requirements and more, to culminate in an adoption order. Chapter three covers the inconsistencies between the state and territory approval processes for intercountry adoptions, including the eligibility criteria for parents which was one of the more contentious issues in the inquiry. Chapter four discusses the inconsistencies between the benefits and entitlements provided to birth families and adoptive families. These differences not only relate to government payments, but also to citizenship rights and leave for adoptive parents. Chapter five covers the remaining issues that come under the committee's general term of reference, which was to better assist Australians who are adopting children from overseas. This discussion includes the limited role of nongovernment organisations, the establishment of new programs overseas, media restrictions on adoption and a comparison of the performance of the different states and territories. Recommendations are made, one being that the Commonwealth, rather than the states and territories, should establish and manage new programs with overseas countries.

 

My journey back ... .
Creswick, Jenna Kim Eun
Adoption Australia Spring 2004: 6-8

The author, an intercountry adoptee who was raised by an Australian family, tells of her childhood in rural Australia and her search for her birth parents. She describes how she made contact with them and visited them in Korea and how she became part of two families and two cultures.

 

New dimensions to old identities.
Williams, Indigo
Adoption Australia Autumn 2004: 6-8

Inter country adoptions into Australia have added to the nation's diversity, the author says. She describes her experiences as an orphan in Saigon and her adoption in Australia in 1972. Inter country adoptees often face racism and social exclusion, and can be confused if they lack knowledge and exposure to their birth cultures. The author explains how she pursued adoption related research and community activities in order to make sense of her experiences. She encourages inter country adoptive families to get involved in community activities in order to help the adoptees and to break down cultural barriers.

 

Promoting a multiracial Australia: Population policy and intercountry adoption.
Gerhmann, Richard
AQ: Journal of Contemporary Analysis v.77 no.4 Jul-Aug 2005: 13-18

Why have rates of intercountry adoption by Australians decreased in recent years? This article considers government policy on intercountry adoption in various Australian states and contrasts this with related policy in the United States. It discusses the particular slowness of the Australian process, misconceptions leading to an anti adoption culture, and punitive financial costs and the adoption triangle of birth parents, adoptive parents and child. It outlines a proposal for reforming intercountry adoption.

 

Return to the unknown.
Matthews, Analee
Adoption Australia Spring 2004: 11-16

This article is the first of a two part story in which the author tells of her experiences travelling back to Vietnam, her birth country. She describes how, growing up in an Australian country town, she always felt a sense of embarrassment about looking Asian and how, on her return to Vietnam, she began to feel a sense of pride. She tells of the difficulties of the first few days, when she felt she did not fit in in Vietnam either, how she gradually became happy to be there, and how she felt visiting the orphanage in which she spent the first ten months of her life.

 

Returning to the homeland: Why, when and how did it go?
Matthew, Analee
Adoption Australia Winter 2004: 10-12

Inter country adoptees may want to return to their homeland for many reasons. The author considers when the optimal time to take the trip might be, why they should return, search and reunion issues to consider, and general considerations for adoptees and parents. She discusses several case studies of adoptees who returned to their birth countries.

 

Safeguards in intercountry adoption.
Pati, J
In: One child's reality, everyone's responsibility: proceedings, 8th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Melbourne, Vic: Department of Human Services, 2001, CD-ROM, 12p

There is wide agreement that before intercountry adoption is chosen, sufficient consideration should be given to alternatives for the child within the country. The author discusses international conventions dealing with safeguards pertaining to intercountry adoptions that have been ratified by the Government of India. Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) in India has been working as a central authority in the matter of adoption since 1999. The author highlights various activities taken by CARA in streamlining the adoption scenario, in promoting the cause of adoption through various training initiatives, in issuing circulars to states on various policy guidelines, in conducting joint inspections with the states at regular intervals and on carrying data on adoptions. Particularly, the author highlights various provisions pertaining to safeguards for children placed in intercountry adoptions. (Author abstract, edited)

 

Talking about adoption in elementary school.
Brown, Jane
Adoption Australia Winter 2006: 28-30

The author of this article, the mother of a nine year old trans racially adopted child, explains why she chose to talk to her daughter's school class about adoption. She discusses the attitudes of her daughter's peers prior to addressing the class, and the reaction of the children and parents when she did speak to the class.

 

Thoughts from an adult Vietnamese adoptee, Lynelle Beveridge.
Beveridge, L; Rollings, J
Adoption Australia Winter 2002: 6-9

A Vietnamese adoptee in a an Anglo-Saxon Australian family and her adoptive parent offer their perspectives on how to assist an adoptive child deal with adoption issues.

 

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