Under the provision of Section 62 of the Adoption of Children Act (Victoria, Australia) 1964, inspection of records of adoption proceedings is restricted, and Regulations 35 and 36 of the Adoption of Children Regulations 1965 prohibit or restrict access to birth entries relating to adopted children. In November 1976 the Attorney-General of Victoria requested the Statute Law Revision Committee to examine whether these restrictions should apply to an adoptee who has attained the age of 18 years or to the natural mother of an adoptee. The Committee reported in October 1978 and recommended, inter alia, that in any new adoption legislation adoptees should have only a qualified right to access to original birth records on application to a judge. Moreover, any changes in the law should not be made retrospective to cover those already adopted.

Adequate Parenting and child rearing are learnt through experience — the parents own experience of being parented. It is not a skill easily gained from instruction in classes! I once read that kids need three things — “love”, “limits”, and “letting go”, and from my years of experience in working with families who manifested their distress through the abuse and neglect of their children, I believe that these parents are unable to love, limit and let go. I found that these three L's were also important in looking at ways of helping the parents themselves.

The term Homemaker has been used to describe roles which range from a friendly visitor, to a teaching role, to that of a domestic or nursing aide (Canadian Council of Social Development, 1971). To avoid any confusion the Homemakers referred to in this article are essentially support workers with a teaching orientation. Their role is to prevent breakdown in the family unit by acting as a resource to the parent in a range of problem areas, but with a specific focus on child rearing. They aim to protect, restore or improve family functioning in the area of physical, social and emotional health. In some situations they may perform practical tasks to help improve the quality of life in the home, but generally their main task is to assist the parent to acquire the necessary skills.

To see the twins, Jimmy and Wayne Grant, together — on one of our home visits — is to understand something of what the paediatric term ‘failure to thrive’ means. Jimmy is a chubby, rose-cheeked boisterous two-year old. He appears to be a happy, mischievous boy, running, playing, talking and laughing. He comes to his mother for help and comfort and cuddles up to her spontaneously. He responds readily to her attention and affection. She smiles at him, picks him up, sits him on her lap, plays with him, answers his questions, watches his movements, warns him when he is in danger.

On the edge of the room, like a stranger, stands Wayne — posture rigid, staring fixedly at us. He isasad, lethargic looking child, very small and extremely thin. His pale face throws into relief the dark shadows under his eyes. He remains in one spot, as if at attention; by now he is gazing unswervingly at his mother. She takes no notice of him. When asked to call Wayne over to her she looks in his direction; as she does so her face hardens and her eyes are angry. She addresses him with a dry command; when he hestitates she shouts at him.

In the past couple of years, Dinkmeyer and McKay's (1976) Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) has become very popular in Australia. It is currently being used in public schools, Department of Children Services and other social agencies. As the use of STEP increases, it seems appropriate for STEP users to share their ideas in order to promote a better understanding of the programme. In this paper, the author

(i) describes his early experiences with parent education;

(ii) identifies the theoretical origins of step, and

(iii) describes some guidelines for a STEP leader.

Over the last few years the Australian family has again become a focal point for inquiry and intervention. Scholars and researchers, as well as the government, have suggested there has been a breakdown in Australian family life. This has brought in its wake a concomitant increase in divorce and separation, a surge of single parent families, and a decrease in the marriage rate. A broad range of activities has been initiated to both understand the parameters and substance of the subject, as well as to develop means of supporting and strengthening the family.

The number of children placed for adoption in Australia (and in virtually all other countries) in the 1970's was infinitesimal compared with the number placed in the 1960's. Nevertheless, we enter the 1980's with adoption remaining a major subject for public scrutiny and discussion. Several factors contribute to this interest. Adoption in the one “welfare” activity that touches the lives of the “non-welfare” public, in that it is still seen (unrealistically) as the first alternative for childless couples wanting a family. The decrease in babies needing adoption reduces the number of couples who can look to adoption as a means of having a family and increases the public interest in this “rare commodity”. Two Australian Conferences on Adoption (1976 & 1978) brought together for the first time in this country the various parties involved in the adoption process, generating intense and ongoing examination, discussion and debate. The secrecy of the adoption process has been called into question, particularly by adult adoptees deprived of any information at all concerning their origins.