About

Origins is an organisation that has been in existence for over 30 years. It was founded in 1995 by a Dian Wellfare and a group of mothers who lost children to past adoption practices from the 1950s through to the later periods right up to the 1980s.

Origins was formed to research the legal, historical and the social and psychological implications and side effects of adoption, such as, mental health disorders and other issues associated with child separation.

We also provide support services to all people affected by adoption. This includes providing support services to assist people in searching for their biological heritage. Our weekly memoir writing groups assists people affected by adoption to take their power back in writing and sharing their story, and listening to others' experiences in a supportive environment.

Our research also comprises other elements: foster care; institutional care; and Aboriginal child removal. Origins is an international organisation with branches in the USA, Canada, UK, and Ireland.

Origins has for many years had the opportunity at a representative national level to observe the issues of most aspects and effects of family separation.

Origins believes that as an organisation it was fortunate to be in a position to be able to do that due to its commitment to advocating and studying the effects of adoption and child removal, based over the past two decades Origins has contributed to many Senate and Parliamentary inquiries, departmental consultations, academic research projects and exhibitions to name a few, and our extensive library focused on adoption and child separation issues.

Origins strives to meet the following Aims And Objectives:

Support: To provide frontline counselling and support services to people affected by forced adoption. This includes confidential support and information through:

• a telephone service available to people separated by adoption and

• regular support meetings where mothers have the freedom to speak and be heard in a safe place.

Healing: To promote the process of healing the emotional damage caused by adoption separation and and secrecy.

Reunion: To assist in the reunion of family members separated by adoption.

Awareness: To promote community awareness and understanding of the lifelong consequences and social issues associated with adoption separation.

Research: To encourage and promote research in to the mental health consequences and social issues associated with adoption.

Redress: To seek acknowledgement, validation, accountability and redress for negligent adoption practices.

Reform: To encourage and promote legislative, social and administrative reforms that address the needs of the people already separated by adoption, and which promote systems of secure, alternative child care that respect the ongoing needs and dignity of both mother and child as an alternative to permanent separation

Liaison: To liase with any Government departments or other agency, body or individual who may assist in promoting the aims and objectives of Origins.

Newsletter: To offer our members a quarterly newsletter.

Mission

Our Organisation