There are estimated to be over 500,000 children who were placed in institutions and out of home care around Australia between 1920 to 1989. They are known by various names including Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers, these also include Former Child Migrants and the Stolen Generation.
Many Forgotten Australians suffered abuse and neglect whilst residing in these facilities including Churches, Orphanages, Children’s homes, Group Homes, Youth Detention Centres and Adult Mental Health Facilities. As well as being denied access to health care, education, love, and affection, there have been innumerable reports of mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Due to these conditions, many Forgotten Australians continue to face an array of complex issues which include mental and physical illnesses, homelessness, substance abuse, relationship issues, and poor literacy.
While there have been sizable improvements to the treatment and awareness of persons who as children experienced institutional and out of home care, there are still significant changes that need to be made including reform, redress and acknowledging mistakes of the past.
Advocating for Change
To this purpose, the National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians has assembled a national community group committed to improving the aged and community care system currently in place for Forgotten Australians.
The National Roundtable brings together Forgotten Australians and other Care Leavers along with specialist services, aged and community care providers and researchers committed to improving the access, appropriateness and quality of support and care for Forgotten Australians who are ageing or ageing prematurely. The group aims to spotlight the need for people with lived experience of institutional child abuse themselves as they age, or are ageing prematurely because of the neglect and abuse they received in care as children.
Global Community Resourcing takes the secretariat lead for the National Roundtable and coorindates the activities of this important group.
Action for change
To this effect, the National Roundtable will be hosting the Enabling Better Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians National Forum in April of 2022, in conjunction with International Care Experience History Month.
This international series of activities was established in 2021 and gives global recognition to the experiences of those who have been in care as children. The upcoming Forum provides an opportunity for people with lived experience and service providers to access national and international research and resources.
The Forum will showcase what the future could hold in aged and community care for Forgotten Australians and will spotlight the need for co-design new models of care, what the evidence is telling us, the need for change approaches and service models, international experiences, and the need for skilled and capable workforces across all types of care.
The Enabling Better Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians National Forum will be held on 4 April 2022 in a Hybrid Model.
The in-person event will be held at My Horizon, 1-15A Runnymede Road, Capalaba, Queensland.
The virtual event will be held on Zoom Webinar.
To register your interest in the Enabling Better Aged and Community Care for Forgotten Australians National Forum, please email contact@communityresourcing.com.au.
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