FROM INSTITUTIONAL CARE TO LIVING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA: INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION by BEVERLY ANN SCARVELIS BSW Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work by Research Deakin University December, 2012 Intercountry adoption from Thailand to Australia has been practiced for the past thirty years, but research of particular cohorts of Thai children is missing in the research literature. This thesis interrogates life histories to examine the lived experiences of children, aged between 4 and 9 years, leaving The Rangsit Children’s Home in Thailand and coming to South Australia during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Twelve adult adoptee participants were interviewed. These interviews provided qualitative data which were analysed using thematic analysis. This research investigated what the adoptees were confronted with and how they gave meaning to, in their lives in Australia despite the adversities they had experienced in Thailand. The findings reveal that intercountry adoption of older children is not without challenges for the adoptees or their families, butthe adopteeswere able to move beyond the orphanage experiences and embrace the lifestyle and opportunities afforded them in Australia. For some, Thailand remained in their memories as adults and returning and planning to return to Thailand came as a natural progression rather than an innate challenge to their identity. The adoptees possessed great resilience, which was demonstrated throughout their lives, and was displayed through strong attributes including self-determination, inner-strength, confidence, and self-worth. Researching adult intercountry adoptees enabled opportunities to voice personal experiences that may have otherwise been muted in the history of intercountry adoption in Australia. Implications for current intercountry adoption policy and practice are discussed. 2 This research study would not have been possible without the twelve individuals who participated in this study, and willingly shared their life histories. I am enormously grateful to ‘Biscuit’¹, ‘Cruso’, ‘Ducky’, ‘Dutchy’, ‘GN250’, ‘Jai’, ‘Kezza’, ‘Kia’, ‘Linz’, ‘Luma’, ‘Nike’, and ‘Surit’ for their display of great courage in articulating their triumphs and the many challenges with which they were confronted with. Their resilience, strength and self- determination were inspirational to the researcher. Their participation has contributed to the development of a firm knowledge base for future intercountry adoptions of older children. I extend a special thank you to my supervisor Professor Beth Crisp and my associate supervisor Dr Sophie Goldingay for their encouragement and support. It is really appreciated. A thank you must also go to Dr Selma MacFarlane, Dr Jane Maidment and Dr Uschi Bay who assisted during the early stages of this project. I thank Kristy for her dedication to detail and Gay and Jenny for their assistance. I am forever grateful to my husband, John and our children, Lisa, Stephen, Dale, Rika and Lu for their love, encouragement and support throughout this project and I sincerely thank them for this. Finally, I thank my friends and extended family for their interest and support shown throughout the duration of this project. ¹The names of study participants are pseudonyms, chosen by them. 3 For Our Children Lisa Ann Stephen John Dale Ross Sagarika Nimali Ann Luang Keng John 4 Abstract ........................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................3 Table of Contents .........................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 1.................................................................................................................8 Introduction..................................................................................................................8 Research aims...............................................................................................................9 Thesis overview ..........................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 2...............................................................................................................14 Literature Review.......................................................................................................14 The Structural level: the Changing Nature of Adoption in Australia ....................14 The Cultural Level: the Social Context of Adoption ..............................................25 The Personal Level: the Psychological Consequences of Adoption ......................34 CHAPTER 3...............................................................................................................48 Methodology ..............................................................................................................48 Critical Theory .......................................................................................................48 Using a Qualitative Approach for Research ..........................................................52 Life History.............................................................................................................54 Semi-Structured, In-depth Interviews.....................................................................55 Ethical Issues..........................................................................................................59 Recruitment of Participants....................................................................................64 Data Interpretation and Analysis...........................................................................66 CHAPTER 4...............................................................................................................70 Research Findings ......................................................................................................70 Introduction to the Research Findings...................................................................70 Transition from Thailand to Australia – reflection on their lives ..........................70 Leaving the Orphanage ......................................................................................71 Arrival in Australia.............................................................................................73 A New Family ....................................................................................................74 Language ............................................................................................................77 Primary School ...................................................................................................79 Racism................................................................................................................80 Growing up in Australia – reflection on their adolescent years ............................81 The Wider Community.......................................................................................81 Socialising with Other Intercountry Adoptees ...................................................82 5 Health Issues.......................................................................................................83 Adolescence........................................................................................................83 The most important things that assisted the adoptee..........................................84 High School........................................................................................................86 Racism................................................................................................................88 Adulthood – a reflection on their lives ...................................................................89 Employment .......................................................................................................89 Racism................................................................................................................90 Identity................................................................................................................92 Returning to Thailand.........................................................................................95 Intercountry Adoption ........................................................................................98 Assessment of their Own Lives........................................................................101 Conclusion............................................................................................................105 CHAPTER 5.............................................................................................................110 Discussion ................................................................................................................110 Strengths Gained from Institutional Life..............................................................110 Factors that Assisted Inclusion ............................................................................113 The Impact of Institutional Life............................................................................114 Experience of Racism, Exclusion and Inclusion ..................................................116 Hybridity of Identity .............................................................................................118