Department of Communities
The Department of Communities Policy and Program Unit for Forgotten Australians can be contacted on:
(07) 3224 8862, or Freecall: 1300 769 291
Lotus Place
The State Government funds a number of community-based support services specially targeting the needs of Forgotten Australians who were in care in Queensland. These support services operate from Lotus Place.
Forgotten Australians Support Service
Provides practical support and advocacy, support to the Historical Abuse Network, and operates a 'drop in' centre and related activities.
Telephone: 1800 035 588 (toll-free within Australia), or (07) 3844 0966
or +61 7 3844 0966 (international)
Esther Centre/Redress Services
Provides support and advocacy for Forgotten Australians to process complaints of historic abuse through internal church protocols, professional bodies or organisations and criminal justice processes.
Telephone: 1800 035 588 (toll-free within Australia), or (07) 3844 0966
Historical Abuse Network
Provides formal and informal peer support opportunities for people who identify as having experienced abuse in institutions, detention centres or foster care in Queensland.
Telephone: 1800 035 588 (toll-free within Australia), or (07) 3844 0966
Email: han@merivale.org.au
Aftercare Resource Centre
Provides face-to-face counselling, telephone counselling and limited financial assistance for records searches, family reunification and victim impact statements.
Further information is available in the Aftercare Resource Centre brochure.
Telephone: 1800 501 560 (toll-free within Australia)
Email: aftercare@relateqld.com.au
The Forde Foundation
Established as a charitable trust to provide grants to former state wards and residents of children's institutions in Queensland. The fund is administered by the Public Trustee of Queensland who is guided by the recommendations of a Board of Advice.
Telephone: 1800 674 256 (toll-free within Australia)
Email: fordefoundation@communities.qld.gov.au
Link-Up
Link-Up (QLD) Aboriginal Corporation reunites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of eighteen years who have experienced enforced separation from their families and communities through adoption, fostering, removal and institutionalisation.
Telephone: (07) 3034 8444
Email: contact@qld.link-up.org.au
Create Foundation
Create is a national not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of children and young people in the care system.
Telephone: (02) 9267 1999
Post Adoption Support Queensland
Post Adoption Support Queensland is a program of the Benevolent Society and funded by the Department of Communities (Child Safety) to provide counselling support and intermediary services (including search and reunion) to people affected by past adoptions.
Telephone: (07) 3170 4600 or 1300 914 819 (regional QLD)
National Services
Child Migrants Trust
The Child Migrants Trust was established to address issues surrounding the deportation of children from Britain in the post-war period. The Trust provides a range of social work services, including counselling and support for family reunions.
Telephone: (03) 9815 2022 (Melbourne), or (08) 9472 7582 (Perth)
Alliance for Forgotten Australians
AFA is an umbrella or peak organisation that aims to promote the needs of Forgotten Australians through cooperative advocacy and projects.
Email: policy@familiesaustralia.org.au
Care Leavers of Australia Network
Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN) is a support and advocacy group for people brought up in care away from their family as state wards or children raised in children's homes, orphanages or other institutions, or in foster care. The network is also for anyone who has a close family member who was placed in 'care'.
Telephone: (02) 9709 4520 or 1800 008 774 (toll-free within Australia)
Email: support@clan.org.au
New South Wales
Wattle Place: Support Service for Forgotten Australians
Wattle Place is a service to support those people who grew up in orphanages, children's homes, institutions and foster homes in NSW from the 1920s to the 1990s, regardless of where they live.
Telephone: 1800 656 884 (toll-free within Australia)
Victoria
Open Place: Support Service for Forgotten Australians
Open Place is a support and advocacy service that co-ordinates and provides direct assistance to address the needs of people who grew up in Victorian orphanages and homes during the last century.
Telephone: 1800 779 379
Email: info@openplace.org.au
South Australia
Attorney-General's Department
Former residents in State care who experienced sexual abuse as children can apply to the Attorney-General's Department for an ex-gratia payment. Organisations that can assist with this application process are listed below.
Commissioner for Victims' Rights
The Commissioner for Victims' Rights assists individuals through the application process for ex-gratia payments through the Attorney-General's Department.
Telephone: 08 8204 9635
Email: voc@agd.sa.gov.au
Post Care Services - Families SA, Department of Families and Communities
Post Care Services is an information, advocacy, referral and support service for adults who as children were in State or out of home care in South Australia. The service also provides assistance with the application process for ex-gratia payments through the Attorney-General's Department.
Telephone: (08) 8207 0060
Email: postcare@dfc.sa.gov.au
Western Australia
Redress WA
Redress WA was set up by the Western Australian Government to acknowledge and apologise to adults, who as children, were abused and/or neglected while they were in the care of the state. Redress also provides access to support and counselling services and an ex-gratia payment for eligible applicants.
Telephone: (08) 6217 8720, or 1800 617 233 (toll-free within Australia, charges apply from mobiles)
Email: info@redress.wa.gov.au
Tasmania
Aftercare Support Service (Department of Health and Human Services)
People who were abused while in State care in Tasmania are eligible to apply for an ex-gratia payment and access a limited number of counselling sessions.
Telephone: (03) 6233 2273
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