Australia's Dark History Of Forced Adoptions

Australia's Dark History Of Forced Adoptions

Author: Mamamia Podcasts December 24, 2025 Duration: 44:21

For nearly half a century, Australia was engaged in a shameful and shocking practice that would tear babies from the arms of their mothers, sometimes before they ever even laid eyes on their precious little faces.

Today, Amelia Oberhart shares with us the journey of her discoveries about her mother’s life before she was born in her podcast, Secrets We Keep,  Shame, Lies and Family…and in the process of unveiling her own story, found the buried stories of women whose numbers will shock you. 

THE END BITS

Subscribe to Mamamia

CREDITS

Guest: Amelia Oberhardt

You can listen to her podcast Secrets We Keep here.

Host: Claire Murphy

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

GET IN TOUCH:

Check out our TikTok here.

Feedback? We’re listening! Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Gemma Bath hosts True Crime Conversations, a podcast from Mamamia Podcasts that delves into infamous criminal cases from Australia and around the world. Rather than just recounting facts, each episode is built around a direct conversation with someone who has a unique, often personal connection to the story. You might hear from a detective who worked the case, a journalist who covered the trial, a family member seeking answers, or a forensic expert who examined the evidence. This approach brings a tangible, human dimension to stories that can sometimes feel distant or sensationalised. The tone is engaging and thoughtful, focusing on the nuances and the people affected, rather than just the shock value. It’s for anyone who appreciates a deeper, more conversational entry into the true crime genre, where the emphasis is on understanding the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ from those who were actually there. Listening to this podcast feels like being part of a serious, yet accessible, discussion about some of the most compelling and complex crimes in recent history.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

True Crime Conversations
Podcast Episodes
UPDATE: Snowtown Murderer James Vlassakis Has Been Granted Parole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
In May 1999, two detectives followed a trail of suspicious missing persons cases to an old, red-brick bank in Snowtown, South Australia. As they head inside, they head straight for the bank’s vault where they find six la…
The Day Three Children Disappeared In Broad Daylight, Without A Trace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:57
On a scorching summer day in Adelaide, January 26, 1966, the Beaumont children—Jane, Arnna and Grant—left for Glenelg Beach and never came home. In a crowd of hundreds, they vanished without a trace, no evidence at all.…
Lisa McVey: In Her Own Words, On Surviving A Serial Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:50
Lisa McVey’s story is one of unimaginable pain and extraordinary power. At 17, after surviving years of abuse, she was kidnapped and assaulted for 26 hours by a serial killer. But Lisa didn’t just survive; she outsmarted…
Lisa McVey: Inside The Minds Behind The Viral Film 'Believe Me' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:13
At just 17, Lisa McVey was abducted by a dangerous man in Tampa, Florida. Over 26 long hours, despite unimaginable fear, Lisa stayed remarkably calm and sharp, leaving behind crucial clues that would help law enforcement…
Bradley Murdoch Takes Peter Falconio’s Whereabouts To His Grave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of Falconio’s murder in December 2005 and sentenced to life in prison. Now, there’s been a significant development. Murdoch died of throat cancer on July 15, 2025, at the age of 67. He…
The Killer Who Livestreamed His Mass Shooting On Facebook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:07
On March 15, 2019, New Zealand was shattered by a terrorist attack unlike any in its history. Fifty-one worshippers were murdered and dozens more wounded when a gunman opened fire inside two mosques in Christchurch, live…
Australia's Black Widow: The Story Of Dulcie Markham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:07
Dulcie Markham has been called Australia’s most beautiful bad woman. Underworld figures describe her as "Black Widow," like the spider known for sometimes killing its mate. A key figure in the underworld gangs of Sydney,…
"The Moment I Realised The Man I Loved Was A Serial Romance Scammer" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:05
When Heather let “Jace” into her Toronto condo to fix a kitchen cabinet, she had no idea she was opening the door to one of Canada’s most prolific romance scammers. Charming, confident, and seemingly genuine, Jason Porte…