A Qualitative Exploration of the Adult Intercountry Adoptee Experience in Australia

Abstract

Using a post-structuralist narrative approach, this article focuses on insights gained from a qualitative study with 11 Australian intercountry adult adoptees with particular reference to their adoption experiences and post-adoption support needs. From thematic analysis, six interrelated, overlapping themes are reported. These are as follows: connecting to the past, the ambiguous self, the experience of racism, being grateful, safe and unsafe zones, and post-adoption support needs. Key findings relate to the Australian experience of unmet need and support the importance of the adoptee voice in determining appropriate support.

Keywords:

• Intercountry adoption
• post-adoption support
• adult adoptees
• unmet need
• Australia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the adoptees who generously told their very personal stories, Ms Sue-Yen Byland for providing the impetus for this study, Ms Polly Chester for her assistance, and Griffith University for providing seed funding for this project.

Disclosure statement

This article has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere.