Exclusive: About 3,500 women eligible under $138m state program, Australia’s first redress scheme
Sheryl Johnson and Glen Rattenbury are among an estimated 3,500 Victorian mothers whose babies were taken in forced adoptions.Sheryl Johnson and Glen Rattenbury are among an estimated 3,500 Victorian mothers whose babies were taken in forced adoptions.More than 50 years have passed since Glen Rattenbury’s baby was taken away from her at birth, but that memory is “as clear as day”.
Under the $138m scheme, to be announced by the state government on Thursday, mothers affected by historical forced adoption practices prior to 1990 can apply for $30,000 in financial compensation. They can also receive counselling, psychological support and individual apologies under the program.Network for Information and Self Help will also receive $530,000 in extra funding to support those using the scheme.
“My parents and the powers to be decided I will finish year 10 by correspondence. The baby will be taken at birth and that was that. No more conversation,” Johnson said.“In fact, it wasn’t referred to as a baby or a pregnancy. It was the ‘time I was off school’. Four weeks later, I went back and started year 11, and didn’t talk to anybody about it for years.
“They were young women, hidden away, not given their rights and opportunities to raise their child and in many cases not even see them.”
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