Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Scheme

The Victorian Government has established a historical forced adoption redress scheme to acknowledge the impact of forced adoption practices.

The scheme provides financial support to the many mothers who continue to live with the ongoing effects of their experience of forced separation. It is open to mothers who gave birth in Victoria, or were a Victorian resident but gave birth interstate, and who were forcibly separated from their newborn babies prior to 1990. You can also apply to this scheme if you received funding through the Forced Adoption Exceptional Circumstances Fund.

Redress outcomes provided by the scheme include a one-off financial payment of $30,000. The scheme also offers access to counselling and psychological support, and apology processes.

The scheme is currently open for applications

Forced Adoption Exceptional Circumstances Fund

The Forced Adoption Exceptional Circumstances Fund closed on 23 June 2023. New applications are no longer being accepted. Set up in July 2022, the Forced Adoption Exceptional Circumstances Fund provided one-off discretionary payments to mothers affected by forced adoption policies and practices in Victoria prior to 1985 who were experiencing exceptional circumstances. This includes:

• Terminal illness
• Critical illness
• Other exceptional circumstances.

Existing applications
If you have submitted your application and it has been acknowledged by the department for processing, it will be finalised. If you are unsure or would like to check the status of your application, please email forcedadoptioninquiry@justice.vic.gov.au 

Make an enquiry

If you have any questions, please email forcedadoptions.redress@justice.vic.gov.au

For more information, please visit the Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Scheme webpage