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.
On the 16 November 2009 at 11.00am, from Parliament House in Canberra, the Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Kevin Rudd will issue a formal statement of acknowledgement and apology, on behalf of the nation, to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants concerning the abuse and neglect suffered by many children in institutional or other out-of-home care during the last century across Australia.
Assistance for Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants to travel to the Apology in Canberra is available through the Interim Service Tel: 9614 1577 or 1800 509 203 (freecall).
The Victorian Government is providing an opportunity for Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants to witness a televised broadcast of the apology as it is delivered via television broadcast from Parliament House in Canberra. The Minister for Community Services, the Hon Lisa Neville will attend the event which will take place at the State Library of Victoria. An invitation for the event is attached below.
Invitation - National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants [PDF 52kb]
National Apology events in Victoria include the following:
Event: Morning tea at 10.30am followed by a screening of the Apology at 11.00am.
At: Child and Family Services Ballarat
Address: 115 Lydiard Street, Ballarat 3350
Phone: 5337 3392 or 5337 3396
Contact: Sharon Guy or Annie Fell
Event: Morning tea at 10.30am followed by a screening of the Apology at 11.00am and then lunch.
At: MacKillop Family Services
Address: 237 Cecil Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 9699 9177
Contact: Jenny Glare or Catriona Milne
Event: A screening followed by lunch at a local restaurant
At: St Lukes
Address: 175-187 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
Phone: 5440 1100
Contact: For details contact John Bonnice
The Department of Human Services provides funding to the following agencies to enable care leavers to access support:
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:
The services to be provided through the new service for Forgotten Australians include:
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]