Jigsaw Queensland is proud to host the 12th Anniversary commemoration of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions on Friday, 21 March 2025. If you can attend in person, we recommend arriving anytime from 9am. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements. If you prefer to attend online, the event will be live-streamed. Please keep an eye out on our Facebook page, where we will post the link for virtual attendance, closer to the date. We hope to see you on 21 March 2025 for this important event.

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Where: Victoria Park Function Venue (Quartz Room), 309 Herston Rd, Herston

When: 21 March 2025 from 10am to 12pm

RSVP by: Tuesday 11 March 2025

Email: support@jigsawqld.org.au or phone (07) 3358 6666

Bookings are essential

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To view the full invitation, click here.

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​The Small Grants Program is a component of funding for the Forced Adoption Support Service (FASS). FASS was established in 2015 and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services following the 2012 Senate Report on The Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices and the Australian Government's National Apology for Forced Adoptions on 21 March 2013. Small Grants funding can be used for a range of activities that promote well-being for people impacted by forced adoption, such as:

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• Capacity-building opportunities focussed on healing, such as training that is appropriate and relevant to assisting people affected by forced adoption.

• Retreats, including facilitation costs, materials, activities, accommodation and meals for participants and facilitators.

• Forced adoption-related group facilitation costs, including the cost to engage a facilitator.

• Forced adoption-related group therapy costs, including the cost of engaging a therapist.

• Workshops and group activities to support healing and peer support.

• Production of memorials, statues, plaques and exhibitions, editing and publishing of books (where there is no profit made by the author, publisher or organisation), cataloguing and digitising of records, development of online material and videos including temporary hire of professionals.

• Venue and group meeting costs for support and information activities.

To find out more, email us at support@jigsawqld.org.au and we can send you a copy of the Small Grant Guidelines.​​

​We've partnered with Axis Clinic to deliver a tailor-made group program for people impacted by forced adoption: Overcoming negative self-talk and learning self-compassion. The program aims to help participants develop their personal practice in self-compassion to address difficulties associated with shame, self-criticism, relational and attachment trauma. It has been created by a team of experienced psychologists, and adapted to meet the specific needs of people impacted by forced adoption. Two separate programs will be delivered from February to April 2025. One is face-to-face and the other is online.

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The face-to-face group will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm from 19 February to 9 April inclusive. The venue is our office at 505 Bowen Terrace New Farm. The online group will be held on Thursday evenings from 6.00pm to 8.00pm from 20 February to 10 April inclusive. We will prioritise people who reside outside south-east Queensland for the online group.

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This exciting opportunity for group healing is funded by the Department of Social Services so participants do not need to pay any fees. However, you will need to participate in an intake process and make a commitment to attend all eight sessions. You are eligible to participate in this program if you are an adopted person, or mother or father who lost a child to adoption during the forced adoption era (1950s to 1980s) in Australia, who resides in Queensland or for whom the adoption took place in Queensland.

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If you're interested in completing this program, please contact Axis Clinic on 07 3254 0333 (between 8.00am and 5.30pm) or email admin@axisclinic.com.au

Listen to the latest episode of Adopt Perspective podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, Overcast or here.

Jigsaw Qld runs regular support groups in Brisbane. They include groups for adoptees and mothers who lost children to adoption and a mixed group for adopted people & their siblings & mothers and fathers separated from their children by adoption and their support people. For 2025 dates and venue information click here. (Note there is a change of venue for the Mixed Group).

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For more information contact us at (07) 3358 6666 or support@jigsawqld.org.au 

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Note: For updates, check our Facebook page. 

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Please arrive before the scheduled start time as doors are locked once the meeting begins to ensure the safety and privacy of participants.

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New online training for workers who support people impacted by forced adoption.

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The Australian Government has launched new online training to help workers who support people impacted by forced adoption. Forced Adoption: Practical Skills and Awareness is an introductory, non-accredited online training course that aims to help workers in the aged care workforce and community service sector to mitigate the risks of triggering people with past trauma. 

For more information and to register for this training click here.

We are delighted to welcome Helen Angela Taylor as the Chief Executive Officer of Jigsaw Queensland.

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Helen is committed to continuing the proud Jigsaw Queensland legacy of support, connection, information, and advocacy.​ Please join us in welcoming Helen.

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Learn more about Helen here. Or listen to Helen's episode on Adopt Perspective Podcast S5 E12 - 4 December 2024 on your favourite podcasting app or here.

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Click here to read the latest Jigsaw Bits and Pieces newsletter!
 

Former Prime Minister, The Hon. Julia Gillard joined us on Adopt Perspective Podcast (21 March, 2023) to reflect on the 10th Anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, Overcast or here.

In Australia, persons affected by adoption score significantly lower than the general population on physical, psychological and social well-being. They are twice as likely to suffer from mild and moderate mental disorders and, over time, are more likely to suffer from a severe mental disorder. Find out more about the accessible, affordable and adoption-specific pathways that are available to get support here.

Dr Trevor Jordan spoke to ABC Radio's Richard Fidler on Conversations. If you missed the live broadcast, you can listen to the podcast at the Conversations website.