Adopt Perspective Adoption Podcast

What happens when an adopted person discovers that the story they were told about their beginnings wasn’t true?In this episode of Jigsaw Queensland’s Adopt Perspective, Jo speaks with Brazilian-born adoptee Erika Gitsham about her extraordinary search for her biological family - a search spanning more than 20 years, two countries, DNA testing, family trees, Facebook groups, lawyers, a private investigator, a police officer and countless dead ends.Adopted at birth in Brazil, Erika grew up believing that her biological mother had died during childbirth. It wasn’t until adulthood, as Erika began thinking about having children of her own, that her adoptive mother revealed the truth: her mother had not died and there was a document containing her name.That revelation began a search that would test Erika’s persistence and take an enormous emotional toll. Along the way, she confronted missing adoption records, misinformation, failed leads and even the heartbreak of believing she had found her mother, only for DNA testing to prove otherwise.Then, after decades of searching, everything changed.Erika finally received DNA confirmation connecting her to both sides of her biological family and travelled to Brazil, where she met her mother, siblings and extended family.This deeply personal conversation explores international adoption, identity and belonging, adoption search and reunion, DNA testing, the emotional cost of searching for biological family, relationships with adoptive parents, and what it means to finally see yourself reflected in the faces of people to whom you are biologically related.It is also a remarkable story of persistence, human kindness and Erika’s determination to answer one of the most fundamental questions many adopted people carry: Where do I come from?Keywords: adoption, reunion, DNA testing, intercountry adoption, family search, perseverance, identity, emotional journeyKey topics: Intercountry adoption challenges, DNA testing and family confirmation, Emotional impact of reunionChapters00:00 Introduction to Erica's Journey04:31 Childhood and Early Adoption Experiences08:47 The Complex Search for Biological Family13:18 The Emotional Toll of Searching17:19 DNA Confirmation and Family Connections22:36 Reunion with Biological Family29:45 Reflections on Identity and Belonging32:31 A New Chapter Begins This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠⁠⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠⁠⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠⁠⁠) Connect with us: Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

In this episode, Jo speaks with Helen Harrison, a New Zealand-born adopted person whose story is one of identity, loss, grief and the long journey towards finding a sense of self. Helen grew up as one of ten children in a large, multicultural family, with seven of the children adopted from different cultural backgrounds. As she grew older, she became increasingly aware of feeling disconnected from herself and learned to adapt, people-please and become what she describes as a "chameleon" in order to feel safe and accepted. Helen shares her experience of searching for her biological mother, being prevented from accessing identifying information for almost a decade, and the profound impact of later experiencing rejection in reunion. She also reflects on motherhood, relationships, hypervigilance, addiction and the devastating loss of two of her siblings to suicide. Through years of personal work, Helen came to understand that what she had spent much of her life searching for outside herself was something she ultimately needed to find within. It's a deeply reflective conversation about adoption, grief, belonging, self-trust and what it can mean to finally cone home to yourself. Keywords: adoption, identity, loss, resilience, self-trust, multicultural family, personal growth, emotional well-being, reunion, griefChapters00:00 Childhood in a Multicultural Family02:24 The Impact of Scarcity and Survival05:03 Adoption Dynamics and Family Changes07:58 The Journey of Self-Discovery10:43 Understanding Grief Through Adoption13:17 Searching for Biological Roots15:33 Navigating Rejection and Loss18:19 Motherhood and Its Challenges20:33 Connecting with Biological Family23:36 Coping with Profound Loss25:55 Unpacking Anger and Emotional Regulation27:28 The Impact of Adoption on Relationships31:07 Grappling with Addictions34:16 Searching for Biological Roots38:08 Reconnecting with the Adoptive Mother42:44 Finding Self and Belonging48:24 Empowerment and Self-AwarenessHelen wrote a book about her experience titled, "Inner Wealth: From Pain to Purpose". You can purchase it here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Inner-Wealth-Purpose-Helen-Harrison-ebook/dp/B0DLLKKJHR/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠⁠To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

Born in Ontario, Canada in 1965, Bill Stewart always knew he was adopted. What he didn't understand until much later was how profoundly that separation and the abuse he experienced growing up would shape his identity, relationships and sense of belonging.In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Bill reflects on growing up in a home where adoption couldn't be spoken about, surviving physical and emotional abuse, searching for his biological family before the internet, and navigating reunion with both of his parents. He speaks candidly about addiction, suicidal ideation, healing through nature, and the enduring impact of relinquishment throughout his life.One image stays with you long after the conversation ends: Bill describes himself as a branch grafted onto a tree that never quite grew as it should. It is a powerful metaphor for his experience of adoption and one that many adopted people may recognise.Before Bill's story begins, Jo also briefly explores Canada's history of forced adoption and the ongoing calls for a national apology and meaningful redress.This episode contains discussion of child abuse, addiction and suicidal ideation that some listeners may find distressing.Keywords: adoption, personal story, childhood trauma, identity, family, loss, resilience, Canada, search for roots, mental healthChapters00:00 Introduction to Bill Stewart's Story01:35 Growing Up Adopted: Early Experiences06:17 Family Dynamics and Abuse08:52 The Search for Biological Family12:26 Meeting Biological Family: Expectations vs. Reality14:31 Reflections on Identity and Belonging17:52 The Impact of Adoption on Mental Health20:51 Conclusion and Hope for the Future22:17 NEWCHAPTERFor more information go to ⁠⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠⁠To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠⁠) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-AdoptionCentre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's ForcedAdoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In everyother state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients nowlive on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and theirunique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

When Rachel Tham set out to understand her mother's past, she uncovered a family history that changed everything she thought she knew about herself.What began as a search for her mother's origins became the discovery of hidden siblings, family secrets spanning generations, informal adoption, DNA revelations, and the profound intergenerational impacts of adoption.Although Rachel was never adopted herself, adoption shaped her identity in ways she could never have imagined. Through Ancestry DNA, historical records and extraordinary reunions, she pieced together a story that had been hidden for decades - one that reveals how adoption doesn't affect just one person or one generation. Its impacts ripple through families, relationships, identity and belonging for generations to come.In this deeply moving conversation, Rachel and Jo discuss:• The lifelong impact of family secrets and silence• Intergenerational trauma and adoption loss• Informal adoption and hidden family histories• Discovering three previously unknown brothers through DNA testing• Reunion, identity and belonging• The healing power of truth and lived experience• Why listening to those affected by adoption mattersRachel's story is a powerful reminder that adoption is never a single event. Its effects continue long after the legal process ends, shaping lives across generations.If this conversation resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode to help amplify lived experience voices.Keywords: adoption, adoption trauma, intergenerational trauma, adoption reunion, ancestry DNA, family secrets, informal adoption, identity, genealogy, hidden family history, adoptee voices, adoption podcast, Jigsaw Queensland.Chapters00:00 The Intergenerational Impact of Adoption02:54 Uncovering Family Secrets06:23 The Journey of Discovery08:54 Exploring Ancestry and Family History12:07 Connecting with Lost Family14:49 The Unraveling Truth20:29 Processing the Emotional Impact23:09 Confronting Family Dynamics26:59 Navigating Emotional Support in Adoption Processes28:03 Uncovering Family Secrets: The Adoption Records29:46 Identity Crisis: The Collapse of Family Narratives31:06 Connecting with Siblings: The Journey of Discovery36:06 Meeting Family: The Emotional Reunion38:34 Exploring Maternal History: Unraveling the Past43:43 Intergenerational Trauma: Understanding the Impact46:06 Finding One's Voice: Healing Through Storytelling48:59 Future Aspirations: Advocacy and Community EngagementThis episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connectwith us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook -Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or youcan call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to cultureand the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

What happens when lived experience becomes art?In this powerful episode of Adopt Perspective, we explore Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives – an original musical testimony that brings the hidden stories of Australia’s Forced Adoption Era to the stage through music, performance and truth-telling.Host Jo Sparrow speaks with Louise Kirk, a mother impacted by forced adoption who, as a teenager in the 1970s, was coerced into the adoption of her six-month-old son. Louise shares her deeply personal story of love, loss and lifelong grief, as well as her journey into advocacy and peer support for other mothers affected by adoption separation.They discuss how Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives is transforming lived experience into theatre, amplifying voices that have too often been silenced, and creating opportunities for healing through storytelling.The production team is also seeking more men affected by forced adoption to become involved by sharing their experiences and potentially performing as part of the project.Listen now and discover how creativity can honour memory, challenge silence and foster understanding.To find out more email: [email protected] Chapters00:00 Introduction to Broken Bonds Fractured Lives01:17 Louise Kirk's Personal Journey11:23 The Impact of Forced Adoption16:03 The Struggles of Reunion and Identity17:38 Advocacy Through Art and Music20:04 The Birth of a Song: Tiny Hands21:04 From Concept to Performance: The Journey Begins23:17 Emotional Resonance: The Power of Storytelling25:27 Expanding the Narrative: Including Fathers and Male Perspectives29:01 The Right to Know: Advocating for Adoption Awareness30:29 Sharing Truths: The Importance of Lived Experiences34:28 Invitation to Participate: Engaging Men in the ConversationKeywords:Adoption, forced adoption, storytelling, theatre, advocacy, mental health, trauma, reunion, public truth-telling, music, community supportThis episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption. If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

What happens when the story you were told about your conception begins to unravel?In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Jo Sparrow speaks with Katherine Dawson, creator of Origin Archives, about her experience as a donor conceived person, the shocking discoveries she made about her donor, the growing number of siblings she has found, and the serious questions her story raises about fertility clinics, records, health information, genetic identity and accountability.This conversation explores donor conception in Australia, Assisted Reproductive Technology, family secrets, biological truth, systemic failure and the power of lived experience to create change.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Donor Conception and Personal Stories06:36 The Complexities of Identity and Family14:35 Marketing and Perceptions of Donor Conception24:14 Navigating Medical Concerns in Donor Conception29:27 The Search for Identity and Siblings33:22 Health Implications and Genetic Awareness38:45 Creating Change Through Origin ArchivesResourcesOrigin ArchivesDonor Conceived Australia This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Did you know that behind every adoption story, there’s a painful truth that’s rarely discussed? In this episode of the Adopt Perspective podcast, Jo Sparrow interviews Bev Shipway, who shares her harrowing experience of being coerced into giving up her son for adoption in Western Australia at the age of 17. Bev recounts the trauma of her pregnancy, the pressure from her family and the system, and the long-lasting effects of her adoption experience. She discusses the challenges of consent, the emotional turmoil of reconnecting with her son, and her journey towards healing. This conversation sheds light on the complexities of adoption, the impact of societal norms, and the importance of personal agency.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Bev's Story03:36 The System of Coercion and Secrecy06:52 The Experience of Pregnancy and Birth09:58 The Impact of Institutional Practices12:49 The Aftermath of Adoption16:28 Reflections on Consent and Freedom23:27 The Weight of Silence24:27 The Struggle for Connection25:54 The Journey to Revocation29:38 Reconnecting with the Past32:51 Moments of Joy and Reflection35:52 Defining Healing37:13 Advice to the Younger SelfThis episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  SUBSCRIBE! If this conversationresonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your hostis Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or youcan call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to cultureand the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In this episode, Jo Sparrow speaks with Caroline Liesegang about her journey of discovering her adoption at the age of 27. Caroline shares her experiences growing up in a family where all siblings were adopted but none were told the truth. The conversation delves into the emotional impact of secrecy, the complexities of trust in relationships, and the challenges of navigating family dynamics after such a revelation. Caroline reflects on her reunion with her biological family and the ongoing struggles with identity and belonging, offering insights for others who may find themselves in similar situations.Chapters00:00 The Journey of Discovery04:39 The Impact of Secrecy09:48 Navigating Trust and Relationships15:17 Conversations with Adoptive Parents20:07 Reunion with Biological Family25:15 Reflections on Identity and Belonging30:20 Understanding the Wider ExperienceThis episode will resonate with adopted adults, late discovery adopted people, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption. If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

In this episode, Ben Straker shares his journey of self-discovery as an adopted person. He reflects on his childhood, the complexities of family dynamics, and the impact of adoption on his identity. Ben discusses the trauma associated with his birth experience and how it resurfaced during the birth of his own child. He explores the concept of the primal wound and the emotional turmoil of searching for his biological family. Despite facing rejection and unanswered questions, Ben emphasises the importance of finding peace and connection within himself and his family through ritual.Chapters00:00 Ben's Adoption Journey09:00 The Impact of Adoption on Identity18:34 Trauma and the Birth Experience22:10 Discovering the Primal Wound28:15 Searching for Roots and Original Identity30:53 Unpacking Identity and Adoption33:37 Discovering Birth Family: The Search37:31 The Emotional Impact of Discovery & Using ritual for healing40:19 Navigating Silence and Rejection50:12 The Search for Father: Challenges and Obstacles56:08 Finding Peace in Unanswered QuestionsThis episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption. If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Jeannot Farmer is from Glasgow, Scotland, although she is joining us today from Melbourne Australia where she is holidaying with family. In 1978 she lost her son to forced adoption. Thirty-one years later they were reunited. In more recent years, Jeannot has become a powerful advocate in Scotland’s forced adoption space.Jigsaw Qld first connected with Jeannot in 2023 when she reached out while undertaking a Churchill Fellowship. Her research explored what happened in Australia following our 2013 National Apology for Forced Adoptions so that Scotland could learn from our experience after its own national apology, delivered a decade later in the Scottish Parliament on 22 March 2023.Jeannot travelled to Australia in September 2023, meeting with advocates, support organisations and stakeholders across Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, including Jigsaw, and published her findings in 2024. In this episode she shares her personal story of losing her son to forced adoption and their reunion and how it led to her to stepping into the advocacy space, and what she learned about Australia's post national apology response. This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, policy makers, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jeannot Farmer's Journey04:58 The Birth Experience and Hospital Treatment10:34 The Aftermath of Birth and Adoption Process15:42 Reunion After 31 Years34:58 The Journey of Connection41:56 Isolation and the Power of Shared Stories47:54 Advocacy and the Path to Apology55:41 Insights from Australia: Adoption Policies and Support🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  (scroll down)Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Felicity Lawson is an adopted person born at Hornsby Hospital, NSW in 1975. Over the past 32 years, she has searched for and reunited with both her mother and father - a long and complex journey marked by hope, heartbreak, and identity shifts.In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Felicity shares her lived experience of adoption reunion in Australia, reflecting on growing up adopted, navigating adoptive family dynamics, and the emotional realities of searching for biological parents.We also explore the broader legacy of the Forced Adoption Era (1940s–1980s) and the ripple effects of reunion - not just for adopted people, but for mothers, fathers, adoptive parents, siblings, partners and extended family members.Felicity is currently writing a resource book focused on adoption reunion in Australia, documenting lived experiences across the adoption community. In this conversation, she shares what reunion has taught her and how others can contribute to this important project. To find out more, you can email Felicity at [email protected]. If you are an adopted person, parent of loss, adoptive parent, sibling or child of an adopted person, or someone navigating search and reunion, this episode offers insight, validation and practical wisdom.Chapters 00:00 Felicity Lawson's Adoption Journey08:57 The Impact of Reunion on Identity15:51 Navigating Relationships with Birth Parents22:51 Understanding the Forced Adoption Era30:53 The Importance of Documenting Experiences🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Paul Sunderland is a renowned addiction specialist and psychotherapist. With over 35 years of experience, Paul's groundbreaking work has illuminated the deep and often-overlooked links between adoption, trauma, and addiction. His powerful presentations, shared widely by the adoption community, have resonated with thousands around the world. In this episode, we explore the lifelong impact of early maternal separation, how adoption shapes identity and mental health, and why adopted people may face a heightened vulnerability to addiction. Whether you're an adopted person, a parent of loss, an adoptive parent, or a professional working in the therapeutic or community services space, Paul's wisdom offers invaluable understanding and hope. This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. TitlesUnderstanding Adoption and AddictionThe Intersection of Trauma and AddictionChapters00:00 Meet Paul Sunderland: Addiction Specialist01:25 Exploring Adoption, Trauma, and Addiction07:24 The Impact of Adoption on Mental Health11:10 Understanding PTSD and Complex PTSD14:26 The Primal Wound and Addiction Vulnerability18:01 Coping Mechanisms and Self-Soothing Patterns23:10 The Role of Shame in Adoption Experiences26:16 Types of Addiction Beyond Substance Abuse32:05 Understanding Codependency in Adoption39:19 Identity and Emotional Regulation Challenges43:39 The Importance of Psychoeducation47:49 Effective Therapy for Adopted Individuals53:53 Self-Help Strategies for Adopted People58:49 Supporting Adopted Individuals: The Role of Families01:01:10 Professional Support for Adopted People01:02:55 Final Thoughts on Recovery and Healing

In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Jo Sparrow speaks with Phil Kenwood, a father who shares his deeply personal story of losing a daughter to forced adoption in 1970. The conversation explores the emotional impact of adoption on fathers, the stigma surrounding men's mental health, and the importance of support groups. Phil discusses his journey of healing, the challenges of reconnecting with his daughter after many years, and the need for men to share their stories and seek help. The episode highlights the often unheard voices of fathers in the adoption narrative and emphasises the significance of empathy and support in the healing process.This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption. TakeawaysJigsaw Queensland has launched a men's support group for those affected by forced adoption.Phil Kenwood emphasizes the stigma that prevents many fathers from sharing their experiences.The coercive nature of the adoption process in the past left lasting emotional scars.Phil's experience illustrates the profound impact of losing a child to adoption.The reunion with his daughter brought both joy and emotional turmoil for Phil.Phil's journey highlights the importance of mental health support for fathers.Yoga and therapy have been crucial in Phil's healing process.The need for men to openly discuss their grief and experiences is vital.Phil believes that just one supportive person could have changed many adoption outcomes.The episode aims to raise awareness about the emotional struggles faced by fathers in adoption.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Men's Mental Health and Support Groups02:03 Phil Kenwood's Journey: A Father's Perspective on Adoption10:35 The Impact of Forced Adoption on Lives18:07 Reunion and Its Emotional Toll21:13 Healing and Support: Finding Peace27:46 The Unheard Stories of Fathers in Adoption"If just one person had been supportive...""I suffered from anxiety for years.""Men need to talk and not hold onto grief."🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In this episode, Jo Sparrow speaks with Tracy Graham, an adopted adult who shares her lived experience of adoption trauma, identity and reunion across the lifespan. Tracy reflects on growing up in her adoptive family, the silence and emotional harm she experienced, and how adoption loss shaped her sense of self. The conversation explores adoption identity, motherhood, and the emotional labour often carried by adopted adults, as well as the realities of adoption reunion. Tracy’s story highlights the power of truth-telling, reconnection, and the role of narrative in healing and meaning-making. 00:00 Tracy's Early Life and Adoption Experience08:16 The Impact of Adoption on Identity16:34 Moving to Australia: A New Beginning18:34 Navigating Motherhood and Family Expectations22:03 The Search for Biological Family33:57 Discovering the Truth About Her Origins36:10 The Impact of Early Separation37:52 Navigating Relationships with Biological Family40:15 Understanding Silence and Emotional Barriers42:52 The Risk of Asking About the Past45:22 Serendipity in Family Connections49:53 Building Relationships with Siblings52:34 The Complexity of Family Dynamics58:30 Releasing Emotional Burdens01:02:27 Leaving a Legacy for Future GenerationsThis episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to ⁠http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast⁠ To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (⁠www.jigsawqueensland.com⁠) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Adoption trauma, adoption identity, and adoption reunion are lifelong experiences for many adopted adults. In this episode of Adopt Perspective, Clare Cochrane shares her lived experience of adoption, reunion, and dual belonging. Clare was born in Perth in 1966 and adopted at just two weeks of age. She grew up knowing she was adopted and describes her experience as a “good adoption.” Yet, like many adopted adults, Clare has come to understand that good does not mean uncomplicated - and it does not mean without cost. Raised as the youngest of four children and the only adopted child in her family, Clare speaks about growing up feeling different, living across continents and cultures, and carrying both belonging and loss. As an adult, Clare experienced adoption reunion with her biological parents, who had married and raised other children...revealing the complex reality of biological connection without shared history, and shared history without biology. This conversation explores adoption trauma beyond simplified narratives, the shaping of adoption identity across the lifespan, and why reunion is a process rather than a moment. Clare reflects on guilt, divided loyalties, emotional walls built for survival, and the deep work of learning later in life to feel safe enough to be vulnerable.  This episode will resonate with adopted adults, parents who lost children to adoption, siblings, adoptive parents, practitioners, and anyone seeking a deeper, more honest understanding of the lifelong impacts of adoption.  Episode Chapters: 00:00 The Journey of Adoption and Identity 10:02 Navigating Dual Belonging and Family Dynamics 20:10 Reunion and the Complexity of Relationships 29:55 The Emotional Landscape of Adoption 40:09 Finding Self and Healing Through Vulnerability  🎧 If this conversation resonates, subscribe for more honest discussions about adoption, identity and the lived experience of adopted adults, mothers and fathers who lost children to adoption and therapists, researchers and policy makers in this space. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/podcast To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form you'll find on the podcast page of the website.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, Australia, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 3358 6666. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state of Australia, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Welcome to Adopt Perspective, a podcast for anyone affected by adoption. This podcast is a production of Jigsaw Queensland Inc., however the views expressed are those of the people participating, and not necessarily Jigsaw Queensland. The podcast discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland  If you'd like to find out more, go to the podcast page on www.jigsawqueensland.com and you'll find a wealth of information and resources. To be considered for interview on the podcast, fill in the prospective guest form on the podcast page of the website.  If you are looking for support and reside in Queensland, you can reach Jigsaw Queensland's Forced Adoption Support Service on toll-free 1800 21 03 13, or you can call Jigsaw on 07 33 58 66 66. If you live in another state of Australia, you can still call the Forced Adoption Support Service number and your call will be answered by the Forced Adoption Support Service in the state that you're calling from. In every other state, Relationships Australia operates this service. A big thank you to Matt Sparrow for composing and recording our original theme music.  We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.  Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland

Today’s conversation is one that takes us across continents, cultures, and the complex search for identity that so many adopted people navigate. Ryan Anderson is an intercountry adoptee who now lives in Scotland. Ryan was born in Morocco and adopted at six months old after being found on the streets of El Jadida. He was fostered by a Moroccan family prior to being adopted at 3 months of age and came to live in Scotland with his adoptive parents in 1990 when he was 6 months old—but it wasn’t until he was 18 that Ryan even learned he was adopted. For 13 years, he kept that secret to himself, carrying the weight of shame, confusion, and longing.Today, Ryan is an advocate for adoptees and mental health awareness. His journey has taken him around the world—literally walking the streets of Morocco, appearing on Moroccan television in hopes of finding his biological family, and facing some very precarious situations along the way. Ryan is open about his struggles with identity, mental health, and substance use, and the steps he’s taken to heal.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Born in 1972 in Toowoomba and adopted into a family in Boonah, Tammy Richie’s story is one of heartbreak, resilience and rediscovery. In this episode, Tammy shares her remarkable journey — from learning she’d lost her twin at birth to finding her biological family decades later.A veteran of the Australian military, mother and advocate, Tammy speaks with depth and honesty about trauma, love, and the spiritual threads that connect us across time and loss.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today on Adopt Perspective, we're joined by South Australian filmmaker, writer, adoptee and advocate Heather Waters. Heather’s work explores the lasting impacts of adoption on identity, family, grief and belonging and one of her films will be showcased at an AdopTEA event at Carindale on 11 October 2025.Her films include The Lost Souls, You Should Be Grateful and You Were Chosen: Secrets of Closed Adoption — powerful projects challenging myths, secrecy and the expectations placed on adoptees. Heather has just released a companion book to You Should Be Grateful (2024), expanding on her interviews with adoptees.In this episode, Heather shares her journey, her creative work, and why giving voice to adoptees is essential for changing how society understands adoption. And we talk about Mental Health Month and the AdopTEA events that are scheduled to run throughout October.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre QueenslandWe acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

This week on Adopt Perspective podcast, we’re joined by Kim Rankin, who was born and adopted in Sydney in 1973. It would be another 27 years before Kim reunited with her mother, Karen Chaston — who shared her side of the story in our previous episode.Since that reunion, Kim and Karen have navigated the many highs and lows that adoption can bring. In this conversation, we’re honoured to hear Kim’s perspective on adoption, identity, and the long journey of building connection.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. #jigsawqueensland #josparrow #forcedadoption #fass #kimrankin #brisbanepodcast #queenslandpodcast #adoptionpodcast #adoptiontrauma

Today’s guest, Karen Chaston, was just 16 years old when she lost her daughter to adoption in Sydney in 1973. Nearly three decades later, after 28 long years, they were reunited. In this special two-part series, we’re privileged to hear from both mother and daughter as they share their perspectives on separation, reunion, and what it means to rebuild connection after adoption.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today we're joined by Professor Daryl Higgins, Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University. For nearly 30 years, Daryl has researched child abuse impacts and prevention, family violence, and family functioning, with a focus on public health approaches to keeping children safe and building child-safe organisations. A registered psychologist and author of more than 250 publications, Daryl’s work spans child protection, out-of-home care, family law, disability and family care, welfare reform, jobless families, past adoption and forced family separation practices, and community development. Before ACU, he was Deputy Director (Research) at the Australian Institute of Family Studies, where he co-authored the Past Adoption Experiences study and later led the Forced Adoption Support Services scoping study—research that continues to shape service design and policy today. He is also a contributor to the landmark Australian Child Maltreatment Study. In May 2025, the Queensland Government announced an inquiry into the child safety system and linked it with a review of Queensland’s adoption legislation. Prior to his election, Premier David Crisafulli called to “bring back adoption” as a solution to youth crime. In this episode, we explore what the evidence really says:- Is adoption the answer to challenges in child protection and youth justice?- What are the risks of framing it this way?- And what evidence-based alternatives exist for supporting children, families, and communities?This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre QueenslandWe acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. #adoptionlawreform #adoptiontrauma #davidcrisafulli #amandacamm #jigsawqueensland #forcedadoption #forcedadoptionsupportservice #josparrow #darylhiggins #childsafetyinquiry2025 #Qldchildsafety #adoptionact2009 #adoptionactreview #brisbanepodcast #queenslandpodcast #australianadoptionpodcast

Today’s guest is someone whose work is reshaping how we think about adoption, identity, and intimacy. Anna Linde is an adoptee, a Dance & Movement-Therapist, a Sexology researcher, and the founder of The Adopted Sexologist. Her work focuses on the often-unspoken intersections between adoption, sexuality, race, and belonging — exploring how adopted people, especially transracial adoptees, experience the body, desire, and self. (The Adopted Sexologist)Anna's writing is rich, provocative, and deeply grounded in lived experience. Whether you’ve read her article “Unfolding Our Sexual Identity as Black Adoptees”, discovered her through The Adopted Sexologist platform, or come across her research in scholarly journals, you'll know she is bringing vital — and often invisible — conversations into the light.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notesYour host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

While adoption stories often share familiar threads, each one is deeply personal and unique.In this episode, we're joined by Brett Kable, who was born in Nambour, Queensland in 1975 and adopted at six weeks of age into a family with an adopted sister. It wasn’t until reuniting with his mother that Brett discovered just how different his story was from most.Brett shares his adoption journey and reflects on his recent pilgrimage to Spain, where he walked the Camino Trail—a test of physical endurance and a chance for deep personal reflection. He’s not the first adoptee I’ve spoken with who has felt drawn to the Camino, and after hearing his story, you may understand why.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In this episode, Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow is joined by Professor Nahum Mushin AM—former Family Court Judge and Chair of the Forced Adoption Apology Reference Group—for a timely conversation as Queensland reviews its Adoption Act 2009 and ties it to the Commission of Inquiry into the Child Safety System.With Premier David Crisafulli calling to “bring back adoption” in response to youth crime, Jo and Nahum explore whether this move risks repeating painful mistakes of the past.Topics include:Adoption as a trauma-laden, lifelong experienceAlternatives to adoption that preserve a child’s identityThe risks of oversimplified permanency thinkingPlenary vs. simple adoption modelsWhy lived experience must shape policyIf you're affected by adoption, Jigsaw Queensland offers monthly peer support groups and a welcoming community. Visit www.jigsawqueensland.com to learn more.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.  

At Jigsaw Queensland, we’re excited to be offering another exciting project made possible through our Forced Adoption Support Service Small Grant Funding. We’ve partnered with Axis Clinic to offer a powerful new 10-week online group therapy program designed specifically for adopted people impacted by Australia’s forced adoption era - starting 21 August 2025. It’s called How Attachment Styles Affect Adopted People, and it offers a safe, trauma-informed space to explore the lasting impacts of adoption on identity, relationships, and how we connect with others.To tell us all about it and how you can get involved, we're joined by two wonderful guests: Helen Angela Taylor, CEO of Jigsaw Queensland, and Anna Lanyon, a Mental Health Social Worker from Axis Clinic.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.  

Back in Season 2, (21 April 2021), we spoke with Vivienne Timmermans — a much-loved and well-respected voice in the Queensland adoption community. In 1980, Vivienne was an Australian Champion Figure Roller Skater from Inala when, at 17, she became pregnant and lost her daughter — whom she named Sheree — to adoption.Vivienne went on to write about her experience in her memoir You Named Me Sheree and now facilitates a support group called You Gave Me a Voice.Today, we are privileged to hear another perspective of that story — from Vivienne’s daughter, now known as Tash Hope, who lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notesYour host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

DNA testing has become a powerful tool for many people impacted by adoption — whether it’s used to search for family, confirm relationships, or update legal records. But with so many types of DNA testing now available, it can be difficult to know which option is right for your needs.In this episode, we're joined by Kate Pippia, Director of identilab — an Australian-owned and operated DNA testing laboratory based in Brisbane. Identilab specialises in accredited legal DNA testing, including paternity, maternity, kinship, and peace of mind testing — all of which can play a vital role in post-adoption discovery and reunion.We discuss the differences between legal and genealogical DNA testing (such as through AncestryDNA), what to expect from the testing process, and how DNA can help clarify family connections and support legal recognition.On a personal note, our host, Jo Sparrow used identilab in 2024 to confirm legal paternity and was able to add her father’s name to her pre-adoption birth certificate — a meaningful and validating step in her adoption journey that she hopes will lead to a future application for an integrated birth certificate (IBC) showing the truth of her parentage if legislative reviews are successful in Queensland.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today we’re joined by a very special guest—renowned addiction specialist and psychotherapist, Paul Sunderland.With over 35 years of experience, Paul’s groundbreaking work has illuminated the deep and often-overlooked links between adoption, trauma, and addiction. His powerful presentations—shared widely by the adoption community—have resonated with thousands around the world, especially his insights for Life Works and the Adult Adoptee Movement on YouTube.In this episode, we explore the lifelong impact of early maternal separation, how adoption shapes identity and mental health, and why adopted people may face a heightened vulnerability to addiction. Whether you're an adopted person, a parent of loss, an adoptive parent, or a professional working in the therapeutic or community services space, Paul’s wisdom offers invaluable understanding and hope.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notesYour host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre QueenslandWe acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today’s guest is Geraldine Hunt, whose story offers a deeply personal and layered look into the experience of being adopted. Born in Melbourne in 1974, Geraldine spent her early weeks in foster care before being adopted at around eight weeks old.Her journey has since led her to reconnect with both her biological mother and father, as well as with siblings on both sides. Now living in Brisbane, Geraldine describes her story as unique — and after hearing it, we’re sure you’ll agree.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today we're joined by Melanie Dunstan, founder of The DNA Connection. Melanie is a trained Genetic Genealogist, Private Investigator, and Skip Tracer, with an extensive background in Nursing—who has five university degrees including a Master of Nurse Practitioner. She is passionate about using DNA to help solve mysteries, rebuild connections, and bring people back to their biological families.Jigsaw Queensland is excited to be hosting a free online DNA 101 Workshop with Melanie on Saturday 28 June 2025—a special session designed for people impacted by adoption who want to learn more about using DNA testing as part of their personal search or family discovery. This episode offers a preview of the workshop--what DNA can offer, why its such a powerful tool for adopted people, and how you can join us for this valuable session. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In this episode, we're joined by someone whose story weaves through early foster care, complex family connections, and the enduring search for belonging and identity. Nadia Levett was born in 1982 and adopted at the age of five after spending her early years moving between foster homes and biological family members. Her story is unique, layered, and incredibly moving—and there was so much to explore that we’ve decided to bring it to you across two episodes. Some of you might already know of Nadia, who launched her own podcast, the Australian Adoption Podcast, back in 2021.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notesYour host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre QueenslandWe acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

In Part Two, Nadia Levett continues her story. Nadia's experience weaves through early foster care, complex family connections, and the enduring search for belonging and identity. She was born in 1982 and adopted at the age of five after spending her early years moving between foster homes and biological family members. Her story is unique, layered, and incredibly moving—and there was so much to explore that we brought it to you across two episodes. Some of you might already know of Nadia, who launched her own podcast, the Australian Adoption Podcast, back in 2021.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Lisa Preston returns to Adopt Perspective with the next chapter of her extraordinary adoption journey — including her recent solo trip to the UK to spend time with her father, Richard. You can also catch Lisa on SBS Insight tonight (13 May 2025 at 8.30pm) in the episode 'DNA Doesn’t Lie', or watch on replay via SBS On Demand.Born in England in 1970 and adopted at six weeks old, Lisa’s early life spanned continents. Her adoptive family emigrated to Australia when she was two, later welcoming a biological daughter. In her first appearance on the podcast (13 March 2024), Lisa shared her decades-long search for her birth family — a story of persistence, courage, and the belief that sometimes a “no” doesn’t stay a no.In this follow-up episode, Lisa reflects on her recent solo trip to spend time with her father, Richard in Scotland, the emotional aftermath of reunion, and her continued hopes for connection. If you haven’t already, we recommend listening to her first episode before diving into this powerful update.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

One of the voices we hear from least often on Adopt Perspective is that of fathers who lost children to adoption. It’s a perspective that is vital but often left untold, and so we are deeply grateful whenever a father feels ready to step forward and share his experience. In this episode, we are joined by Bill Esman, who is the father of Tracy Shand, a previous guest on our podcast. You may remember Tracy’s story — we first spoke with her in July 2022, and again in the previous episode in April 2025. Bill only discovered he had a daughter when Tracy reached out to him after taking a commercial DNA test. Their reconnection has been an extraordinary journey — one that we are privileged to explore a little further today.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

You’ll often hear us at Jigsaw Queensland speaking about the lifelong issues of adoption. How we feel about our experience or where we find ourselves in our lives can vary greatly over the passage of time. Today’s guest, Tracy Shand, is an adopted person who has undergone many transitions in her adoption story and her life since we last spoke to her on 22 June 2022. We welcome her back today to share more of her story and updates. If you haven’t already, we'd recommend listening to her previous episode before this one. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.  

On March 21, 2013, Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a formal apology on behalf of the Australian Government to people affected by forced adoption. At the 10th anniversary commemoration in Canberra in 2023, The Hon. Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Social Services, announced $700,000 in funding to strengthen support services for those impacted by forced adoptions. This additional funding led to the development of the Forced Adoption: Practical Skills and Awareness online training, which launched in November 2024 - an online course designed to support those who work with adults impacted by forced adoption, helping them better understand its history and lifelong impacts.Today, I’m speaking with representatives from the two organisations responsible for developing the training, to learn about the intricate process of creating an outstanding and deeply valuable resource—one that has the potential to educate far beyond its intended audience - Beth Hyland, Strategy Design Lead from Portable and Patrick Beggs, Founder and Managing Director of PUR Production.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Dorothy Peel or Dot as she likes to be known, was just 18 years old when she lost her daughter to adoption in Perth in 1973. At the time, she was sent from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia to an unmarried mother’s home in Perth, just six weeks before giving birth. Since then, Dot has struggled with memory gaps regarding her experience, particularly surrounding her time in the hospital during and after her daughter's birth. These lost memories left her with many unanswered questions, until she applied for her files from the unmarried mother’s home and the hospital where she delivered her daughter. What she discovered in the files was chilling—and it may hold the key to some of the answers she has long been searching for.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised.  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Sharlene Vonhoff was born and adopted in Brisbane in 1977. She was the first of two girls adopted into a farming family in regional Queensland. Today, she continues to farm with her husband, a third-generation farmer on the Darling Downs, where they have raised four children. Growing up adopted in a close-knit farming community has shaped Sharlene’s experience in unique ways. As someone who still lives in regional Queensland, she has faced additional challenges in exploring her adoption experience, without easy access to adoption-specific services. Sharlene is here today to share her story and how she began to truly navigate her adoption experience in her 40s. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notesYour host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

At Jigsaw Queensland, we have some really exciting plans for this year, and we’re kicking things off with something especially designed for people impacted by forced adoption. We’ve teamed up with Axis Clinic to offer an 8-week program called Overcoming Negative Self-Talk and Learning Self-Compassion.To tell us all about it and how you can get involved, we’ve got two very special guests —Helen Angela Taylor, the CEO of Jigsaw Queensland, and Anna Lanyon, a Mental Health Social Worker from Axis Clinic.This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Dr. Alison Ingram is an actor, theatre director, a researcher of adult adoptees’ lived experience and an adopted person. She recently completed her doctorate in theatre and performance at Monash University in Melbourne, focusing her research on a group of adult adoptees working as a performing ensemble—that is, actors telling their own stories. In 2022, the culmination of Alison’s research premiered as Infans, VOIC’D: A History Play in Five Acts at Monash University’s Clayton campus, presented as both an audio play and a live theatre event. In this episode, Alison discusses her motivations, research and what she's working on now. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes  Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Please share this episode and leave us a review. Email us at [email protected] to let us know what you think.  Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.

In the final episode of Season 5, 2024, we have the pleasure of introducing Jigsaw Qld's CEO, Helen Angela Taylor. Helen has been in the CEO seat since July and has been an absolute gift. She is an adoptee who discovered Jigsaw in 1991 following a move to Brisbane from Sydney. A few years later, she reunited with her mother and father and attended her first peer support group at Jigsaw in 2019, realising the power of the adoption community to support her healing. Helen has considerable experience in frontline social justice service delivery in the Queensland Government with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Department of Corrective Services and the Office of the Adult Guardian. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

We often receive feedback from people who have listened to a particular episode that has deeply resonated with them, changed the trajectory of their experience or helped them stay the course. Today’s guest, Phil Kenward contacted us after listening to Alan Hill’s episode of the 31 August 2022. Phil is a Brisbane father who lost a daughter to adoption in 1970. He shared with us that he reached out after listening to Alan’s episode because he felt that more men needed to talk about their experiences, and we couldn’t agree more. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

When people affected by adoption embark on an exploration of their experience and perhaps find their biological relatives, the support network around them plays a crucial role in navigating this deeply emotional process. Family members, including partners, children, siblings, extended relatives and even friends often experience a complex mix of emotions themselves. They may feel pride, anxiety, and sometimes insecurity as their loved one searches for their biological roots or begins to figure out how adoption has impacted them. On top of this, they themselves are affected by adoption. For family members, part of their family tree is missing too. Their support can be invaluable to adopted people and mothers and fathers who have lost children to adoption, providing a stable emotional foundation and offering practical assistance such as research help or moral support. In this episode we speak to host, Jo Sparrow's husband, Baden and son, Sam about their perspective. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today’s guest is an adopted person and photographer from Newcastle in New South Wales. Kathryn Blake was born and adopted in Bathurst in 1970 as the eldest of two adopted girls. She has since gone on to connect with her brother, who was also placed for adoption, and more recently with her father. Her reunion stories are filled with incredible near misses and moments of serendipity. Kathryn has experienced many of the joys and heartbreaks that can come along with reunions, and that we can all relate to, and she is still exploring whether a 'no' always remains a 'no'.  This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today’s guest is a mother who lost her son to adoption in Melbourne in 1967. Rosemary Brooks is also an artist who walks to her own beat and at 51 was able to finish the university qualification that was interrupted when she was a teenager navigating the forced adoption era. Rosemary has reunited with her son and from experience understands that reunions don’t always follow a straightforward path. She also recently submitted forms for the Victorian Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Scheme which opened in February 2024 and shares a little about how she found that process. This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing

Alison Willoughby was born at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Carlton, Melbourne in 1965. She was the first of four children adopted by her adoptive parents, who were unable to conceive naturally. Alison has since connected with her mother, father and biological siblings and has written a book about her experience called Forced Adoption, A Memoir. You can purchase Alison's book here: www.alisonwilloughbyadoption.com This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Arie Baker was born in Brisbane in 1974 at the Corinda Private Hospital where she was adopted at 3 weeks of age. In this episode of Jigsaw Queensland's Adopt Perspective Podcast, Arie will share with us her experience of adoption and searching for her biological family and how her desire to make sense of that experience led her to write a book that is a mix of fiction and non-fiction.   This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Today’s guest, Gemma Chudzinski is an Australian Intercountry adoptee and PhD candidate from the School of Health Sciences and Social Work at University of Queensland, who is undertaking important research in the area of the mental health of intercountry adoptees and is calling for participants. To find out more about the research, email [email protected] This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com) Connect with usInstagram - adopt_perspective_podcastFacebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing. 

Brendan Watkins was eight years old when his parents told him he was adopted. When he was in his late twenties, he started searching for his biological parents and eventually discovered the identity of his mother: he was later told that following his birth, she’d become a Catholic nun, and she wanted nothing to do with him. For the next thirty years, Brendan had no clues as to the identity of his father. In 2018, a DNA test provided the answer: he was the son of a priest. His father had studied in a Trappist monastery in Ireland, had returned to Australia and become a celebrated outback missionary. Brendan wrote a memoir about his experience called Tell No One that not only explores his own experience, but also the wider issue of cover ups by the Catholic Church. He’s joined us to share his story, and also some of his writing process. For more information about Brendan and Tell No One, go to www.brendanwatkins.com.au This episode discusses adult themes and listener discretion is advised. For more information go to http://www.jigsawqueensland.com/episode-notes   Your host is Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow - President of Jigsaw Queensland (www.jigsawqueensland.com)   Connect with us Instagram - adopt_perspective_podcast Facebook - Jigsaw Post-Adoption Centre Queensland   We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and the many lands that our clients now live on and we wish to acknowledge and show our respects to Elders past and present for their continuing connection to culture and the contributions they make to community. We acknowledge how much we have to learn from them and their unique understanding of connection and adoption and their recognition that at the base of every change is truth telling and healing.