Dian was the founding mother of Origins and one of Australia’s most courageous human rights activists for mothers, fathers, and children separated by forced adoption. At just sixteen, she lost her only child to a system that denied her even a glimpse of her baby’s face – an injustice that would define her life’s work.
In 1995, Dian connected with other mothers who had shared this experience and founded Origins—a support group that grew into a national voice exposing the illegal practices and lifelong trauma caused by forced adoptions. Tireless in her pursuit of truth, Dian built a vast personal archive of research and documentation, uncovering how vulnerable young women were exploited to meet the demands of infertile couples — part of what she came to see as a government-sanctioned social experiment.
Outraged and motivated to expose the truth of one of the greatest violations of women in this country, Dian set herself on a course that would take her voice across Australia and abroad into the minds of so many other mothers who were "asleep" - shamed into silence and stuck in a trauma that was blocked out by the catastrophic loss of their babies, and left to grieve alone.
Dian’s energy was breathtaking, and her determination and courage was dynamic. Her work inspired a global awakening, helping women across the world confront the myths surrounding adoption and reclaim their stories. For the first time in many of these mother’s lives, they were given permission to talk not only about their loss but to finally grieve openly for their child. In doing so, Dian empowered these mothers to take back their voice and openly speak of their pain and suffering, and to frame their grief not as weakness but as the universal pain of any mother who had lost a child through any other circumstance.
Motivated by love for her son and a desire for justice, Dian took the NSW government to court in 1996 and again in 2006, representing herself in powerful, if ultimately unsuccessful, legal battles. She also called for a parliamentary inquiry, which was eventually established following her tireless lobbying and a compelling appearance on ABC’s Lateline segment 'Birthbond,' where she presented her case with such clarity and conviction that even a seasoned adoption expert was left speechless. The report from the Inquiry confirmed the unlawful and unethical nature of past adoption practices in NSW, though it fell short of recommending a redress scheme.
Dian gave voice to silenced mothers and empowered them to speak openly and reclaim their dignity. Affectionately known as “Motherluv” online, she became a beacon of compassion and strength to countless mothers and adoptees worldwide.
Dian dedicated her life to Origins. Her courage, intelligence, and relentless advocacy laid the foundation for truth and justice. We honour her legacy and remain committed to continuing her work for those affected by adoption—across Australia and beyond.
Origins Founder
Dian Wellfare (1951 - 2008)
Origins CEO
Lily Arthur
"In order for adoption to be successful, you must first destroy the mother" — Dian Wellfare
"People unknown to me made decisions that altered my life and gave my identity as a mother to a stranger" — Lily Arthur
Lily Arthur became involved with Origins in 1997 as part of her community welfare studies—choosing to research an adoption support group with little prior knowledge of forced adoption. That choice changed the course of her life.
From her very first conversation with Dian Wellfare, then head of Origins, Lily was deeply moved and compelled to act. Though she had lost her son to adoption in Queensland, she joined Origins NSW, quickly becoming a prominent activist. Her early involvement included protesting outside NSW Parliament, demanding an inquiry into illegal adoption practices, and contributing to formal submissions.
When the 2000 NSW Inquiry failed to fully expose the systemic injustice, Lily and Dian co-organised the first national mental health conference on forced adoption in 2002—entirely self-funded and followed by two more in the years to come.
In 2004, Lily took a courageous legal stand against the state of Queensland in a landmark court case to expose the unlawful removal of her son. While the case was not won, it brought national attention to the broader issue.
After Dian’s passing in 2008, Lily became CEO of Origins and vowed to carry the mission forward. Under her leadership, Origins submitted to multiple Senate Inquiries and represented mothers and adoptees in national alliances, including the Forgotten Australians and the National Stolen Generations Alliance. She had been involved with the South West Sydney Stolen Generations Support Group since 2005, and later became the NSW state delegate, Co-Chair, and was honoured as an esteemed Elder in 2015.
Still, Lily believed that forced adoption deserved its own place in history. After over a decade of advocacy and ten separate Senate submissions, Lily and Origins successfully lobbied for a stand-alone Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoption, initiated in 2010 by Senator Rachel Siewert. This led to the historic national apology by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2013.
In 2025, Lily published her memoir Prisoner of the State, chronicling the personal and collective struggle of the estimated 150,000 Australian mothers and their children separated by forced adoption. It stands as both a powerful personal testimony and an enduring record of one of Australia’s most devastating human rights violations.
Now at 75, Lily continues to advocate through Origins SPSA. She remains deeply connected to the community of mothers and adoptees, contributes to the Origins Memoir Project led by award-winning crime writer Megan Norris, and tirelessly campaigns for justice, truth, and restitution—work that remains unfinished even after the national apology.
Lily is still walking the path of reunion with her son Tim, while embracing family life with her daughter Mandy, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and constant companion Puggy. Her enduring support comes from her husband Des, who has walked beside her every step of the way—sharing in the fight, the love, and the vision of justice for generations of women and their children.
