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Care Leavers (Forgotten Australians)

In 2003/04, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee held an inquiry known as Children in Institutional Care. A report containing 39 recommendations and titled Forgotten Australians- a report on Australians who experienced institutional or out of home care as children was tabled on 30 August 2004.
The Victorian Government's submission to this inquiry estimated that more than 100,000 children were placed in care in Victoria between 1928 and 2003. The report reveals neglect, physical and sexual abuse and criminal assaults perpetrated on vulnerable children in care last century. These children did not have the benefit of growing up within their own family and some did not even know their family or the existence of other family members (including siblings) until they were adults.

Existing Services

The Department of Human Services provides funding to the following agencies to enable care leavers to access support:

  • CLAN, a national network and advocacy group for care leavers.
    PO Box 164, Georges Hall, New South Wales 2198.
    Tel: 1800 008 774 (freecall)
    Website: www.clan.org.au
    Email: support@clan.org.au

  • British Child Migrants Trust, provides advice, assistance searching for records and support for people who came to Australia as part of the British child migrant schemes after World War II.
    228 Canning Street, Carlton North VIC 3054
    Tel: (03) 9347 7403
    Website: www.childmigrantstrust.com

Forgotten Australians Interim Service

Interim Services for Forgotten Australians will operate from the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (the Centre) from 1 July 2009 until the Department of Human Services' submission process is completed and the new service for Forgotten Australians begins later in 2009. The Interim service is located at the Centre at level 5, 50 Market Street Melbourne, telephone (03) 9614 1577 and is staffed by Ms Maureen Cleary and Ms Caroline Carroll. The services includes:
  • Brokerage counselling: Forgotten Australians who were in care in Victoria can have counselling arranged in their local area, and attend at no cost. Arrangements will continue for people who are currently seeing a counsellor.
  • Support groups: these will continue to be held from 12 noon until 4pm on the third Saturday of the month (15 August and 19 September 2009) and lunch will be provided. Support groups will be held at the Centre's offices at Market Street, Melbourne.
  • Life Skills Program: financial assistance for Forgotten Australians to attend a course or class to develop or improve life skills.
  • Access to records: assistance provided to help Forgotten Australians access records from their time in care.

As of 30 June 2009, Vanish no longer provide a range of services for Forgotten Australians; however, Vanish will temporarily continue to help Forgotten Australians to search for family members pending the commencement of new service arrangements later in 2009.
As well as these agencies, the Adoption and Family Records Service (AFRS) in the Department of Human Services provides assistance in records search and support for care leavers.

There are a number of other agencies that provide support to care leavers and these include:

New Care Leaver Service

The Minister for Community Services, the Hon. Lisa Neville announced on 15 September 2009 that Berry Street and Relationships Australia, Victoria, would provide the new specialised services for Forgotten Australians and their families. The new service is currently being established and will be launched later this year. The Interim Service will continue to operate until the new service commences.

The services to be provided through the new service for Forgotten Australians include:

  • Professional counselling for care leavers and their families;
  • Assistance to access community services including health, housing, education and employment services;
  • Search services to help former wards find their records and family members;
  • Legal information and support to assist care leavers to make legal compensation claims and general support in during the claims process;
  • Financial assistance;
  • Community Education to promote services, and build community awareness;
  • A peer leader education program to develop care leavers skills in involvement in advocacy, build community awareness and decision making activities; and
  • Meals program to assist in life skills development and social interaction.

The Minister also announced that a memorial for Forgotten Australians would be constructed at Southbank as a lasting recognition of the experiences of care leavers. The establishment of specialist support services and memorial grew from the Commonwealth Governments Forgotten Australian's Report. Ms Neville said the new service, the memorial, and the 2006 Government apology and acknowledgement of the pain and hurt experienced by children in care were key elements of the Brumby Labor Government's response to the report also released today.

The Press release about the new service or a download is available. Forgotten Australians Media release [pdf 32kb]
The Victorian Government's response to the Senate inquiry. Victorian Government's response [pdf 144kb]

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