Ms Sue Austin
Expertise
I'm a post-graduate researcher, exploring the experiences of people who were separated from their siblings when they were adopted from local authority care. For 10 years I was a social worker in a local authority adoption service.
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Research interests
Adoption and contact between separated birth siblings.
My PhD research study is about listening to the experiences of adult adoptees, who were separated from their birth siblings in childhood through adoption from local authority care, in the UK.
Following the introduction of the Children Act 1989, there was a duty on courts to give due regard to, children’s “wishes and feelings” before making decisions that affect their lives and, where possible, to place siblings together. The introduction of this legislation in 1991 altered the approach to adoption, intending to make it more open and increasing the need to consider ongoing contact with birth relatives, including siblings.
My study aims to learn about the lived experiences of people whose lives are affected by adoption and decisions made for them in childhood. How do their sibling relationships develop over time? What might be done well and what could be improved?
If you would like to know more about the study, please contact me on the email address above. Thank you.