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| National Adoption Awareness Week (NAAW) was launched in 2008 and will be held annually in November. NAAW 2009 will be held from November 16 to 22.
NAAW aims to acknowledge and learn from all adoption-related journeys and experiences in a bid to develop a foundation for Australia to achieve world's best practice in adoption.
NAAW 2008 created significant groundswell, and NAAW 2009 will build on this momentum.
NAAW 2009 will strive to create even more connections between Australians who are touched by adoption, to help increase awareness of its complexities, challenges and opportunities.
Education initiates change. And a positive change can only be achieved from a greater understanding of the past practices and experiences of birth mothers, adoptees and adoptive families.
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| Although adoption has been practiced in almost every country and culture throughout history, it is too often misunderstood, stigmatised and marginalised in Australia. Other Western countries have forged ahead in embracing adoption as a legitimate way of forming a family.
There is a perception that Australia has been reluctant to advocate adoption as an option for crisis pregnancies, children stuck in foster care drift, or as a way of keeping siblings together. Adoptees continue to be discriminated against in some of our immigration laws and policies, and in some states with regard to access to information. We also need to explore ways of better supporting birth mothers, our young and adult adoptees, and our existing and future adoptive families.
NAAW creates opportunities to openly communicate with Australians who have been touched by adoption, through a wide variety of mediums. It will help to increase insight and empathy, remove the stigma, and work towards a more positive adoption environment.
A more constructive attitude to adoption will flow through to policy making, support services, education etc, and will positively impact all parties to adoption.
There are simply too many children around the world (including Australia) without families. Ethical, transparent adoption will enable some of these children to have a family and a brighter future.
| (Photos with Deborra-lee Furness courtesy of The Sunday Telegraph)
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Our Patrons and Supporters
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| The Hon
Tanya Plibersek MP
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| The Hon
Bronwyn Bishop MP
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| The success of National Adoption Awareness Week in 2008 was as a consequence of the hard work of our Patrons, our volunteers, our individual advocates and companies who supported our mission.
In 2009 already:
Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute will assist and support this event with their research and expertise.
In New South Wales National Adoption Awareness celebrations will include "Ministers Picnic at Government House " Sunday 22 November 2009 - SAVE THE DATE !
Our Youth Ambassador, Roshani Priddis, will be encouraging ongoing discussion about adoption in our schools for the coming year.
| YOU are invited to be involved !
"...be the change you want to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
| WORK individually or collectively with collegues or a group and become adoption awareness advocates yourselves during the week.
TALK to your family and friends about adoption in your school, your club, your church, your library and increase understanding. Have a conversation and open the debate to all the complexities and emotions of adoption.
Use the week to increase awareness of issues you, personally, believe are important in your own communities.
GET INVOLVED !
If you need assistance or wish to be more actively involved or to register an event.... email us at:
| enquiries@adoptionawarenessweek.com
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