The Australian Adoption Podcast

05/01/2026

When Jo’s son was just one or two years old, he would look up at her with pure adoration; the kind of love that sees you as safe, whole, and steady. And in those moments, Jo realised something powerful: if she didn’t face her own adoption wounds, she risked passing that pain "damage" on to him.

That moment became a turning point.

When Jo started working at Jigsaw Queensland she gained knowledge and support. Someone encouraged her to explore the work of Dr Jenny Conrick, a social worker and academic at the University of Melbourne whose research explores the lifelong impact of adoption- including what happens for adopted women when they become mothers. Dr Conrick’s work helped Jo understand why motherhood had cracked open so much, and why healing wasn’t optional. It was essential, for her and her son.

In Part Two of Jo’s story, she shares this moment of clarity, the courage it took to seek help, and how that step reshaped her journey as a mother and as an adoptee.

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/716494-jenny-conrick?utm_source=copilot.com

fil:///Users/nadialevett/Downloads/article_print_1773.pdf

04/01/2026

Part 2 with Dr Jo Sparrow cont...

For many adult adoptees, the transition to motherhood isn’t just a life milestone, it can be an emotional rupture point. Holding your own child for the first time can awaken layers of primal loss, questions of identity, and the deep imprint of early separation.

In Part Two of Jo’s story, she speaks openly about how becoming a mother brought long‑buried adoption wounds to the surface. What had been manageable for years suddenly felt overwhelming. The weight of rejection, the ache of not knowing, and the pressure to parent without a clear blueprint all collided, leading her to a breaking point she could no longer navigate alone.

Jo shares how this moment of crisis became the catalyst for seeking support through Jigsaw Queensland, and how that step reshaped her healing, her relationships, and ultimately her path into advocacy and leadership within the adoption community.

Her honesty is a reminder that adoption is lifelong and that motherhood can be both a mirror and a turning point.

09/12/2025

New Episode; Part 2 with Jo Sparrow ✨

In this second part of our conversation, Jo opens up about meeting her birth father, the complexities of that reunion, and the struggles she faced after becoming a mother for the first time.

She shares why she turned to Jigsaw Queensland for support, and how that experience shaped her path into advocacy and professional work in the adoption space.

Jo’s honesty and courage remind us that adoption is a lifelong journey, one of reunion, identity, healing, and the power of story.

🎧 Listen now on The Australian Adoption Podcast: My Unknown Truth

13/11/2025

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“Carrying a bag of sad” is a phrase that resonates deeply with many adoptees.

It speaks to the quiet, complex grief that often comes with adoption, grief that’s hard to name, harder to explain, and rarely acknowledged.

This sadness can stem from:
💔 Loss of birth family and history
💔 Ambiguous loss, people who exist but remain out of reach
💔 A fractured sense of identity and belonging
💔 Grief that’s unseen or invalidated by others

Adoptees may carry this “bag” without even realising it, feeling its weight in moments of confusion, anxiety, or loneliness. And because the outside world often sees only the surface, a loving adoptive family, the deeper ache can go unnoticed.

Thank you for your story. It's real. It’s layered. And it deserves space.

08/11/2025

Adopt Perspective A podcast for anyone affected by adoption.

Hosted by Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow for Jigsaw Queensland, Adopt Perspective shares real stories and deep conversations with adoptees, mothers, fathers, loved ones, and professionals.

They explore: Adoption loss, Psychological impacts, Forced & inter-country adoption, Searching, reunion & healing

📞 Need support? Call FASS on 1800 21 03 13 (nationwide) Or reach Jigsaw Qld: (07) 3358 6666 | [email protected]

🎙️ Help keep the podcast on air-donate via their website and mention “Podcast” in your notes.

https://www.jigsawqueensland.com/adopt-perspective

06/11/2025

In this two-part conversation, I sit down with Jo- adoptee, mother of two, President of Jigsaw Queensland, and host/producer of the Adopt Perspective podcast.

Jo shares her journey from closed adoption in 1971 to reunion, advocacy, and building a national archive of lived experience. We talk about being emotionally un-mothered, reconnecting with her birth father, and how storytelling became a tool for healing.

This one’s honest, layered, and full of vulnerability. Listen now on The Australian Adoption Podcast: My Unknown Truth.

01/10/2025

A shout-out some of the many quiet heroes behind the scenes...

While riding 310kms across the Central West Cycle Trail for Adopt Change... I took a moment to recognise some of the incredible people and organisations doing the invisible... tireless work to support kids in care...

From ... to .bags in Perth... and the team at Adopt Change... from Jigsaw Qld... and the in NSW... thank you... Your work may not always be seen... but it absolutely deserves to be recognised... celebrated... and supported more broadly in our communities...

This ride was tough... especially with no training... but doing something challenging is always worth it when the cause is this important... Every child deserves a safe... permanent... and loving home... That’s why we ride...
To everyone who’s already donated... thank you... You’re helping shine a light on the work that matters most...

👉 If you haven’t yet... please consider supporting Adopt Change

Let’s keep raising awareness... sharing stories... and backing the people who make change happen...

30/09/2025

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🎥 Day 1 on the road recap - me, my bike, and a camera strapped to my face 😅

No training, just a big heart and a bigger reason to ride.

310kms across the Central West Cycle Trail for Adopt Change, because every child deserves a safe, permanent, and loving home.
This ride was tough, but doing something challenging- especially when you’re not “ready” is always worth it. The views, the laughs, the cause… it all pays off.

Huge thanks to everyone who’s already donated. Your support means the world and helps make real change happen. 💛

👉 If you haven’t yet, please consider donating. Link in bio

Every pedal stroke counts. Every dollar helps.

28/09/2025

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Just on our way home from an unforgettable adventure on the Central West Cycle Trail.

310kms of pure magic for

The weather was perfect, the canola fields were showing off, and every stop along the way added its own flavour to the journey.

Huge thanks to David Allworth for your guidance and maps, we couldn’t have done it without you. To Sally at Ellismayne, thank you for setting the tone with your rustic shearing shed charm- we felt right at home. Anna at Anna’s B&B, your breakfast was legendary and your warmth even better. Ballimore Pub, that burger of the lot hit harder than a headwind- epic feed after a big day. Hair of the Dog Inn, thanks for the warm welcome and your fabulous Hump Day Rump Day special- we smashed it! Budgalong Lodge, Nick, your paddock-to-plate hamper was divine and the lodge was pure luxury. And to Sue at Mayfield Farm, your cottage, home cooking, and hospitality were the perfect finale to our four-day ride.
We laughed, we posed, we ate like queens and we rode with purpose.

Until next time… legs are cooked, hearts are full, and the memories are golden 💛🚴‍♀️🌾💛

It’s not too late to donate. Link in bio!

28/09/2025

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From incredible scenic views, brushing teeth with retro flair to feeding horses, jumping through canola fields, dodging cows, and fixing flat tyres like blonde bush mechanics, we’ve laughed, leapt, and pedaled our way through the Central West Cycle Trail.
Every photo and video tells a story. Every kilometre supports , helping give kids the safe, permanent homes they deserve.
We’re riding for change, powered by pies, coffee, and a whole lotta heart. If you’ve smiled at our chaos or felt the breeze from our turbine chats, please donate or share the ride.

Link to donate is in bio 👌

25/09/2025

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We’re riding the Central West Cycle Trail with heart and purpose! Every kilometre we pedal is for Adopt Change, to help give every child a safe, permanent, and loving home. We’ve faced flat tyres, sore legs, and wild weather, but nothing will stop us from pushing forward for this incredible cause.

Support the ride. Share the mission. Donate if you can. Let’s make change happen, one km at a time.

Link to donate is in my bio 🙌

23/09/2025