More than 250,000 people have been impacted by forced adoption
But many Australians remain unaware of this part of our history and the lifelong impacts it has had on many individuals and families. The forced removal of babies from young, unmarried mothers was common in a peak period of the 1950s to 1980s and, as people from this era get older, it’s increasingly important that service providers are aware of the impacts on people and know how to take particular care and avoid causing further harm.
Portable was contracted by the Department of Social Service (DSS) to design and develop online training resources for aged care and community services professionals to raise awareness of past policies and practices of forced adoption in Australia and provide practical, trauma-informed care principles. Many workers in these sectors were unfamiliar with the specific needs and sensitivities of individuals affected by forced adoption, which often led to unintended re-traumatisation or inadequate support.
Partnering with PUR Production, the Blue Knot Foundation and NGNY, Portable collaborated with DSS and a specialised Advisory Group – comprised of people with lived experience, specialised Forced Adoption Support Services (FASS) representatives and industry experts – to create accessible, engaging and practical learning resources for people supporting individuals affected by forced adoption.
The training was tailored to the needs of a diverse audience, taking into account their general level of knowledge on the topic (low), the amount of time available to devote to learning (limited) and the subject matter (complex, nuanced). We aimed to create resources that are quick and easy to digest, provide an authentic first impression of forced adoption and offer practical steps people can take.
Ultimately, the goal of the training is to improve care and support outcomes for individuals and families affected by forced adoption. By extension, it has the potential to raise awareness of the impacts of forced adoption in the wider community.
The project aimed to:
Support aged care and community services
Provide trauma-informed resources tailored to the needs of aged care workers, Forced Adoption Support Services (FASS) providers and general community services professionals to support individuals affected by forced adoption.
Raise awareness
Increase awareness among aged care and community service professionals of the history of past forced adoption policies and practices.
Address specific trauma-related issues
Highlight areas where people with lived experience may face barriers or require specialised support, such as family breakdown, isolation and sensitivities in medical and personal care.
Key outcomes
The project incorporated a high level of engagement with people with lived experience of forced adoption, individuals who advocate for people affected by forced adoption and professionals in the aged care, community services and allied health sectors. The engagement was instrumental in the design and development of eight training modules, which were complemented by animations created by PUR Production, downloadable resources and interactive content. These modules were designed to be completed in a short, 10-15 minute format to minimise time constraints on busy workers.
The training was tested across multiple platforms, including the Aged Care Learning Information Solution (Alis) and DSS's website, to ensure accessibility. Testing confirmed that users found the content engaging, empathetic and relevant, with an intuitive online learning environment that incorporated visual, auditory and interactive elements to accommodate various learning styles.
Positive feedback from participants highlighted that the training increased their understanding of forced adoption and equipped them with practical skills for supporting affected individuals. High levels of engagement were noted, indicating a successful alignment with the project’s objectives. The modules also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the project’s Advisory Group.
“I am writing to express my admiration and thanks for the work done by all of you at Portable…I regarded my role as being the content. I think you nailed it - really well done.
– The Honourable Nahum Mushin AM, Advisory Group Member
Project Approach
The project approach incorporated four main domains. They were:
- Collaborative development: Portable worked closely with DSS, Blue Knot Foundation and the project Advisory Group. Together, we were able to incorporate a broad range of needs from the target audience and important insights from the perspective of lived experience, while providing a foundation of trauma-informed care principles.
- Iterative testing: The project included three main stages of testing:
- Module topics and learning outcomes.
- Animation scripts to ensure historical and emotional accuracy.
- Draft modules, which included complete content for review and refinement.
- Feedback was continuously integrated from diverse stakeholders, including aged care workers, community service providers and advocates for people affected by forced adoption. Testing sessions were designed to validate engagement, understanding, and motivation levels among users.
- Trauma-informed design: From initial discovery interviews to the final content delivery, the project applied trauma-informed principles. This approach guided our session design, and testing protocols to ensure sensitivity to participants’ experiences.
- Digital Accessibility and Compliance: The modules were optimised for multiple devices and designed to meet WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards. Interactive components were also refined for seamless user experience across devices, including mobile, tablet and desktop.
Quotes from user-testing
This project aimed to bridge workforce knowledge gaps by providing accessible, trauma-informed training. The training has been designed to equip professionals with the skills to recognise and respond to the unique challenges faced by people impacted by forced adoption, ultimately fostering a more compassionate and supportive care environment.
Occupational Therapist after testing the modules:
“I think this may come across the wrong way, and I don't intend it to, but it is an interesting topic. So apart from having the desire to learn more about it and integrate that into the care that I give to my patients, it also is really important for me to consolidate my learning.”
Lived Experience Advocate, Mother, and Adoptee:
“You're touching on something really important for us to heal…it's not lost on us this span of time…we will have people who are mothers entering into aged care and we will also soon, if not already, have forced adoptees entering into aged care in that era as well.”
Meals on Wheels Coordinator:
“My initial thought was gosh that was good. I felt like I was connected to the clients and that I understood their difficulties.”
Testimonials and reflections
From the client
We feel like we hit the jackpot with Portable. The timeline was extremely tight and the pressure was immense but the quality of the product is amazing. It’s such a sensitive and complex topic and every one of you nailed it. We’re so grateful.
- Megan Larder, Department of Social Services
From a team member
This project has had a deep and profound affect on me. The generosity and trust our team received from people with lived experience and their advocates is something that will stay with me. We were careful to carry this trust with us into every aspect of this project: every word, every picture, every piece of information that will help learners understand this dark part of Australian history and then translate it into trauma-informed care. Ultimately, I hope this training leads to more compassionate care for individuals and families affected by forced adoption.
- Dr Willhemina Wahlin, Portable
Project team
- Beth Hyland, Lead Design Strategist
- Willhemina Wahlin, Senior Design Strategist
- Adam Corcoran, Principal Design Strategist
- Emma McCann, Design Operations Lead
- Tess Waterhouse, Senior Producer
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