Victims to help word adoption apology

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PEOPLE directly affected by past forced adoption practices are being asked to help the federal government frame its national apology.

Some 150,000 unwed mothers had their babies taken against their will by churches, hospitals and adoption agencies in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

A Senate committee which investigated the commonwealth's involvement recommended in February that the government formally apologise to victims.

The national apology will follow similar acknowledgement of wrongdoing to the indigenous Stolen Generations and former child migrants known as the Forgotten Australians.

"It's important the people who have been directly affected by forced adoption have the opportunity to have their say about the apology," Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said in a statement on Friday.

"I can't even begin to imagine what these mothers, fathers and their now adult children have endured, but what I can do is provide an opportunity for them to have a say in how the government frames the apology."

A reference group working on the wording of the apology held its first meeting in Canberra on Thursday.

People wanting to get involved can email the group at forcedadoptionsapology@ag.gov.au.