At the Association of Relinquishing Mothers (Victoria), we believe that there is a better way to handle relinquishment of a child or children.

We believe that other options such as guardianship (or access adoption) must replace (traditional) adoption as a means of caring for children unable to be parented by their natural parents.

Guardianship is a preferred legal alternative because, unlike adoption, it continues to recognise the natural parents as having given birth to the child.

Ideally, the child has the right to continue his/her relationship with his/her natural parents and their natural parents have the right of relationship with their child/children.

Societal standards and adoption practice haev made victims of natural mothers, and as survivors we must reclaim our dignity and our rights in the following ways:

We believe that by;

• supporting each other as natural mothers,
• being aware of and exercising our rights,
• refusing to be victimised,
• obtaining the name, address and information about the welfare of our children and ultimately contacting if that is wished,
• sharing knowledge, skills and information with each other,
• lobbying for equal rights for natural mothers with adopted persons by actively working towards political and policy changes in adoption legislation,
• monitoring and reviewing policy and practice in the permanent care field,
• educating the community on the issues and concerns we have about adoption and why guaradianship must replace adoption,