The Australian Adoption Podcast

13/07/2025

*
For eight years, Michelle has worked as a nurse visiting kids living in out-of-home care. Hotels, motels, caravan parks with staff on a roster. Places that are meant to be temporary but too often become long-term.

She steps into those spaces not just to run health checks, but to bear witness: to trauma, to displacement, to the quiet resilience of children navigating broken systems.

"The trauma for them is real and it affects their brain and their growth and development and their well-being and their mental health and their education, it affects every part of them".

Michelle sees what being taken from family does to children, but never saw that she was affected by trauma in herself.

It was through this work, face-to-face with the raw edges of abandonment and survival, that Michelle started to turn inward. Her care for others sparked a deeper realisation with her own adoption story, eventually leading her into breath work, nature, and healing modalities that would transform her life.

For those working in care settings or navigating systems that separate families, we recommend this insightful read- Trauma Trails, Recreating Song Lines: The Transgenerational Effects of Trauma in Indigenous Australia by Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson - a powerful exploration of trauma, displacement, and healing within Australian contexts.

Listen now to Michelle’s story on The Australian Adoption Podcast

12/07/2025

Today, we’re sitting down with Michelle. A mum, a midwife, a nurse, and someone who has walked the winding path of adoption and healing.

Adopted at six weeks old, Michelle grew up in southern Sydney with her brothers and a whole lot of freedom, never really thinking adoption was a big part of her story. But like many of us, life has a way of inviting us deeper.

In her forties, Michelle started to ask new questions, about identity, belonging, and the layers we carry without realising. Her story takes us through heartache, discovery, nature, breathwork, and a whole lot of inner work. She’s now raising her four kids in a home she built herself on a mountain near Wollongong; living a life filled with joy, reflection, and purpose.

Michelle’s story is one that stays with you, a gentle reminder that sometimes, what we think is no big deal turns out to be a doorway to deeper truth. Through all the shifts and realisations, she’s found her way back to joy, to self-love, and to a quieter kind of knowing.

We’re so grateful she brought her voice, her warmth, and her honesty to this conversation.

Lets Dive In!

You can find us on all podcast platforms :)

27/06/2025

*
Grief has cracked me open. This little podcast of mine (i'm gonna let it shine) helped gently stitch the pieces back together.

What started in 2021 was born from loss and a spark of an idea, I was clueless at first, but now i'm feeling a bit more grounded, a bit more settled, more honest, and more purposeful.

Big love and hugs to everyone who’s tuned in, shared an ep, lifted me up when I needed it, or just quietly sailed alongside. You know who you are! You’ve helped make this ride a meaningful one. Grateful for this little tribe in the world to connect with.

26/06/2025

*
NEw Ep: "WInging It With Jo Sparrow"

Hey everyone, welcome to this special bonus ep of The Australian Adoption Podcast. This one’s a bit different, I’m flipping the mic and sharing an interview I did with Jo Sparrow on Adopt Perspective. We get into most of it, early care, family, reunion, identity, and what healing really looks like over time.

Jo asks the kind of questions that get under the surface, and I reckon this chat might hit home if you’ve ever wondered where you fit, or how to make sense of a story that doesn’t follow a neat line.

If this conversation strikes a chord or makes you feel a little less alone in your own story, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me here on socials or send me a message. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, give us a follow or leave a review as it helps the right people find these stories.

Anyways Let’s get into it. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

16/06/2025

As we enter into season 4, we begin with a story that doesn’t fit neatly into expectations. Shane is sharing his truth—honest, raw, and unapologetic.

His journey reminds us that some stories are not meant to be softened for comfort. They exist to be spoken, to be heard, and to stand on their own.

🎨

31/05/2025

*
"The Fire of Belonging: A Journey Through Loss and Sovereignty"

"Welcome to Season 4, epi. #37 of The Australian Adoption Podcast, with your host Nadia Levett, where truth is reclaimed, stories are given a voice, and silence is broken.

Today, we are privileged to hear from Shane Bouel, a man whose life was shaped by adoption—not as an act of love, but as a theft of identity. In his own words, he recounts the journey of a life unwoven and stitched together again, through pain, reunion, and ultimately, sovereignty.

Through his recorded poetic piece, Shane invites us deeper —into the fractured circle of belonging, into the fire that has shaped his reclamation, and into the unbreakable spirit that refuses to be defined by loss. This is not just his story—it is a call to witness, to listen, and to understand what it truly means to reclaim one's name and place in the world.

Listen as we step into the untold, the unspoken, and the undeniable."*

Shane has shared his truth—honest, raw, and unapologetic.
His journey reminds us that some stories are not meant to be softened for comfort. They exist to be spoken, to be heard, and to stand on their own.

05/05/2025

In today’s episode—number 36—I’m joined by the inspiring Emily Hikaiti. Emily is an Australian-born Māori woman with a powerful story and a deep commitment to youth advocacy. Drawing from her lived experience in Australia’s out-of-home care system, Emily has become a passionate voice for change, working both nationally and internationally to shape policies and improve outcomes for young people in care.

From becoming a mother in high school to representing youth voices at the highest levels—as a director with International Foster Carers Organisation, a board member with CREATE Foundation, brand ambassador and change-maker with Adopt Change—Emily’s impact is extraordinary.

Join us for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation as we explore Emily’s journey, the challenges within the care system, and the vital work being done to create a brighter future for young people.

21/03/2025

*
Season 3 episode 35, we're honoured to introduce Peter, an 81-year-old adoptee from New Zealand and brother of Jan Peart, who shared her journey in Episode 16. Peter’s story is one of love, resilience, and the transformative power of family.

As both an adoptee and an adoptive parent of two, alongside two biological children, Peter’s unique experiences shine a light on the beauty of unconditional love and its ability to shape lives. From his childhood surrounded by an embracing "whanau", to becoming a counsellor in his 60s, Peter’s wisdom will leave you reflecting on the essence of love, kindness, and the bonds that make us who we are.

Through his life as an adoptee, adoptive parent, and therapist, he’s shown us that genes don't define us—it's the nurturing we receive and the values we pass down that truly matter.

Peter’s lessons: that love creates joy and peace, kindness enriches generations, and discipline, rooted in care, helps us grow.

27/02/2025

24/02/2025

*
"Operation Babylift" was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to many countries across the world, including Australia.

On 22 March 1975, the Saigon Post newspaper reported that the United States was beginning to airlift 10,000 refugees a day from the central Vietnam city of Da Nang. Australia also began airlifting orphans from April 1975.

Sadly, the first plane bound for the United States crashed only 12 minutes after take-off. Some 143 babies and volunteers were killed, including 2 Australians from Adelaide, who had volunteered to help with the children. This tragedy, however, did not deter the operation from continuing.

Some saw Operation Babylift as a humanitarian act, while others were concerned about the future of the children in Australia.

Unfortunately it was not all smooth sailing for the children after their arrival in Australia. While en route to Australia, a lot of the children, had their identification tags removed. This made it hard for the authorities to identify which child belonged to which family.

The orphans that were transported from Saigon to Australia were being given to families that were already approved for adoption overseas.

Once the orphans arrived in Australia, they were immediately taken to hospital where they were checked for any health issues. Many of the children had to be admitted, due to severe health issues. Others were admitted for less serious issues, and some were able to continue on their journey to their new homes. For the adoptive parents it was a long wait once their child arrived in Australia, as they were not allowed to have contact with the children until they were released from hospital.

Tragically there were some children who were too ill and did not survive for very long after their arrival in Australia.

Approximately 3000 orphans were evacuated from Vietnam during April 1975.

https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/immigration-and-citizenship/migrant-stories/vietnam/operation-babylift

05/01/2025

Ban on housing children in motels is a big win for child protection sector
September 3, 2024

Sydney, Australia: Adopt Change is thrilled by the NSW Government’s announcement that alternative care arrangements (ACAs) will be phased out within six months.

ACAs include temporary accommodations such as motels, caravan parks, holiday rentals and serviced apartments, where children are placed with workers on shift.

CEO Renee Leigh Carter says the news is being widely celebrated throughout the sector, after significant advocacy and multiple reports into the matter leading to this moment.

“There’s a sense of relief of reaching this outcome that is so vital for children in care, mixed with a focus on how to ensure there is investment into ensuring enough family-based homes for children,” Ms Leigh Carter says.

“Our top priority is to see children and young people placed in stable homes, where they can receive the support and care they need to experience a positive childhood and heal over time. “

“None of this can occur when they are subjected to life in a caravan park or motel room under the watch of shift workers who are often unqualified for the job. “

“We applaud Minister for Families and Communities and Disability Inclusion Kate Washington for taking this vital step and look forward to the next steps.”

https://www.adoptchange.org.au/ban-on-housing-children-in-motels-is-a-big-win-for-child-protection-sector/