Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson is an Australian author who was adopted as a newborn in 1963 and ‘de-adopted’ in 2022. A social worker by profession, Penny achieved several qualifications from the University of Melbourne and worked for three decades in the child and family services sector. Penny’s PhD research explored Permanent Care Orders for children in Victoria’s child protection and out-of-home care system. From 2014 to 2019, Penny was Chair of VANISH Inc., a community-based organisation providing search and support services to people separated from their families through adoption. Penny lives with her partner and their adult son in inner Melbourne.
