I was one of the forgotten Australians.One of the luckier ones, as i have made a decent,worthwhile life for myself and my family. Not without a struggle, i had no idea how to live a "normal" life when released from the institution.My children had a very strict upbringing as i raised them according to rules of the homes i had been in.I would even strip their beds if they weren't made with hospital corners. I believed i was unscathed until recently seeing some documentaries and reliving the hell i went through in those so called "caring" institutions.People are banding together now and asking for explanations and in some cases,compensation.The so called reform schools were the worst and they certainly reformed one.Usually you came out of those places beaten down and schooled in the art of survival, by learning how to get away with breaking the law from other inmates.Their would have been a hue and cry if animals had been treated as we were.Most of us were neglected or orphans and yet treated like criminals.Beaten,raped,starved and made to work like dogs.We didn't have a childhood and i for one feel like i was robbed.It wasn't only the aboriginal race that was the stolen generation,those places stole our innocence and gave us hell in replacement.Somebody must be made accountable.

Most certainly we ought do whatever is possible to help those who have been hurt by our various "caring" institutions.

Equally important we ought be absolutely sure that our current caring institutions are not perpetuating the travesties. I would like to know more about such things as: present-day regimes of life in our institutions, what methods are used to train and supervise staff in order that the care may be more benificent, what evaluations are conducted, what do contemporary residents say and feel about their care. Are their sources for this information?

Haygirl,

It's great to see you plugging away. Tenacity is one of your obvous strengths.

Fencepost,

For current practices, try The CREATE Foundation (http://www.create.org.au/index.php?sesid=17r5CEZrBnk75wMxqDV9lMs09PYNqk1Uvgd4rJXptE7LbAVVm5790CbCmpS01q2N)

or The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (http://www.cwav.asn.au)

or Berry Street Victoria (http://www.berrystreet.org.au/

However, I'd warmly encourage you to avoid the mentality found widespread among welfare types: "We've moved on from the bad old days; let's forget the past, there's nothing we can do about that."

There's plenty of former care leavers who know the truism, "a childhood lasts a lifetime". The recent survey by Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) demonstrates the serious longterm effects of institutionalisation. Many of the 500,000 institutionalised Australian children and their families are suffering acute problems decades after they left 'care' - a strange word to use in this context.

This article is a very clear summary of some of the main issues. The duckshoving by the Commonwealth, Victorian and NSW Governments is disgusting. Tasmania, Queensland, and, hopefully soon, SA and WA are taking the issues seriously by establishing redress schemes, but the more powerful Governments refuse to own up to their responsibilities.

What's needed? At least the following:

1. A national reparations fund with contributions from States, churches and charities who had a duty of care and failed to discharge it.

2. A gold card which gives care leavers priority access to State and Federal Government services especially in health, aged services and adult education.

3. Ongoing counselling accessed through care leavers' organisations which must be adequately funded by Government.

4. Inquiries at State level (Queensland, Tasmania and SA have done this already) to allow care leavers to tell their stories publicly, to expose the serial child abusers and to allow the Australian public to acknowledge the extent to which the trust that the nation's most vulnerable children should have expected was routinely broken.

i'm not sure how much use there is in searching out the people who ran institutions for retribution. most of them will say "i just did my job", and hard to prove otherwise.

all of society played a role in the failure as well, you might reasonably ask for an apology from the current minister, and even get one, as long as it's not john howard.

what sort of country? lot's of well-meaning people, but leash-trained to roll over, and fetch, whenever some politician whistles. there are no, that's no, not, none traditions of participating in politics as citizens because they are not citizens, they are subjects. people 'done to' rather than people who 'do'. british tradition plus colonial management has turned oz into a giant sheep station. pollies are the graziers, with total control over the management of the nation. one result is 'forgotten people', pollies never give much thought to people who don't vote for them.

this isn't going to change. so my advice, in the unlikely event you are interested, is to say: "i survived, those bastards are all dead, ha, hah!" and get on with enjoying your life as well as you can.

I was also one of the Forgotten Australians and know what it is like to start work at the age of 6 years. I worked until I left the home at 16 1/2 and was known as the orphanage bastard at work. During my incarceration we were used as slaves to the "Powers That Be" and were physically, mentally and sometimes sexually abused. The "mateship" was recognised by the inmates but soon forgotten on the "outside". We used to lift bags of pollard, bran and the like which were in excess of 180lbs. Now when I wish to talk about life in the home I'm told to forget it as it was in the past. I can't forget, and now in my twilight years I want the "caring" government to recognise our hurt of the past and give white Australians as well as indiginous a fair reparation for the suffering of the past.

DEMOS,

You use the word 'retribution' where others might use the word 'justice'.

Of course, some of the older sexual predators and abusers are dead now and, on that personal level, you're right to question the usefulness of pursuit of justice. But please understand that the crimes against vulnerable children and young people were committed in institutions run by Governments, churches and charities. They had a duty of care to set standards and to monitor and supervise the conduct of staff. They simply failed to carry out their legal and moral obligations. It's a cop-out to tell them that we, their successors, are not personally liable.

You might try for a moment to walk in the shoes of those who were sexually abused and exploited as children and whose stories were not believed at the time or who were too intimidated even to tell anyone. In many cases, their lives have been miserable - wracked with shame and guilt, as if they were at fault or brought it on themselves.

Many are also in poor health physically or mentally, or both. Institutional life did not include dental care, visits to the doctor were a rarety, and cruel even vicious treatment often caused disabilities like deafness (too many bashings about the head).

Many of these people are now getting quite old (unlike my aunt who died in the Ballarat Orphanage aged 13). Many were separated from siblings and lost contact with relatives so they do not have families for support, and the prospect of being institutionalised again at the other end of their life is a frightening outlook.

Let me assure you that the survivors do try get on with things and enjoy life as best they can. Many are wonderful citizens. But if you're frail, badly educated and suffering lifelong disabilities it's not as easy as it should be.

A helping hand from the authorities and a sympathetic voice would be appreciated.

Australian Criminal Plight
(1)


The picture of social oppression in Australia exposes ‘farce & hypocrisy’. The elites of the country might take offence in this comment. Yet ‘Intellectual Savagery’ needs to be highlighted.

Let me refer to social worker of WA-Elizabeth Sorrensen who used to have ‘children at her heart'. Acute cases of regular child sex abuse in institutions were referred to her. She was a familiar figure of PMH & SRC (Seniors’ Recreation Council, Department of Education of WA. Denis Martin is the principal officer).

The links lead to some Australian broadcasters, UWA Research Leaders, & others. Naturally Fiona Stanley(Telethon Institute)& of http://www.maths.uwa.edu.au/portal_memberdata/praeger would support ‘mandatory reporting system, WA'.
Barry Cable's mother Margot Fitzpatrick (COTA, and nominated senior of the year-1997-8?), “Polly” Farmer's mother were ordained as priests(St. Georges Terrace Cathedral Anglican Church, Perth-Joyce Polson & Ellen Newman). These lead to well-known figures(Gov/ NGOS, UN bodies).

Above footballers of multiple IDs (mining, http://www.maths.uwa.edu.au/portal_memberdata/praeger & http://law.wustl.edu/Faculty/index.asp?id=748)& their associates, (1998-2000) were engaged in the crimes.
The recent media in connection with www.abc.net.au/.../2007/08/15/2005853.htm refers to Ms Zampilas (Dr. Pam Sharpe of www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au?), with probable link to Dr. Fiona Stanley, Mrs. Hayward of Telethon Institute, and to Mr. Hayward (Business Franchise Manager of Real Estate Institute?) Cheryl & one Chinese woman (limp) took the franchise of KUMAN INSTITUTE ( Anglican Church, Kelmscott, WA), the crime spot and linked to Challis Pre-primary school, Armadale. The then Liberal minister Rhonda Parker (Family & Children Service, WA) stood down because she purchased six Christmas Gifts out of tax payers’ fund. One of the children confirmed six of them were selected for video session (Challis Pre-Primary School).

Graham “Polly” Farmer (Footballer) ID Charlie Wilson-Clarke (a reporter of The West Australian) advertised for a SCHOLARSHIP TEST for admission into St. Hilda’s Anglican School. Six students got it (2004-5?). This leads to the IDs of people who visited Southern India (mineral venture). Who are Joy Shepherd & Quansing Rowlands? And how do they link to http://valleyva.com/data/view_users.php ?

What is the significant role, to this regard, played by FBI?

sm. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get your post to make sense. What is it exactly you are trying to say.

FrankGol, thank you for giving those references, a few posts earlier, to some of the good work being done these days.

Fencepost.

There is a great deal of highly emotive language in this article and in some of the comments. It is obvious that many people suffered in these institutions but objectively speaking what is the difference between institutionalised abuse and non-institutionalised abuse?

The same level of abuse existed in many families and I would suggest that a great deal more than 500,000 people have been affected to the same extent. A government has a duty of care towards all of the country’s children and not just those who are more directly under its control in its institutions. This is why it sets up DOCS and welfare agencies to protect children from abusive parents. These groups did not exist in the era of the institutions that are the subject of this article

The government has moved on in recent decades and has worked towards humanising or completely eliminating these institutions. It has also begun to deal more caringly in regard to children abused in the home.

If the government needs to say ‘sorry’ to these ‘forgotten Australians’ then it also needs to say sorry to all those other Australians who were abused behind the closed doors of suburban homes. If taxpayers have to pay compensation for every child ever abused it will surely send the nation bankrupt. It is totally impractical to make these demands on governments and it is often a sign that the individual has not moved on with their life. Sure, feel the anger and sadness to the very core of your being but if it is impossible to achieve justice then you have no choice but to let it go or else you will always be a victim.

LISTEN and DOING SOMETHING TO HELP PROBLEM SOLVE COUNTS, is that what you are saying SM?

"...social oppression in Australia exposes ‘farce & hypocrisy’. .... ‘Intellectual Savagery’ needs to be highlighted. "

I think I do know what you are getting at in your outline.

I expressed the adversity in a United Nations Forum. Scroll-Down to second entry.

http://esaconf.un.org/WB/default.asp?action=9&boardid=39&read=2427&fid=424

The so called "Human Services" no matter which department are (often) either ignorant or so "numbed-out" - having NO COMMUNITY RESOURCES/powerless to refer, allocate, present... that they leave those needing "strategic" intergrated assistance, OUT COLD.

Tonite I heard a essay read by Frank Quinlan

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/perspective/stories/2007/2081997.htm#transcript

I thank ALL these authors who are working hard IN reality.

I think it is called working to "civilise society"?

Just today, I was insulted AGAIN by a new regional doctor who I tried to ask to help "bridge the gap" - build capacity on local community resources. Ignorant, young and handsome. This man, like the young resident doctor projects such discrimination, it is a knock-out.

Ya gotta grin and bare it. Ya gotta just keep telling it how it is. Ya gotta keep quoting those who get it right and work through them, one at a time....

EFFECTIVE-CULTURAL/ACCOUNTABILIY is what I mean by ADMINISTARTION REFORM.

My TRUE fear in Western society is that as we go public-private through services, that the HUMAN FACE will be stripped completely from the public system. Prevention of any kind needs public-private integrated servicing... YET when will we in Australia get-it?

We Promote BLANK CHEQUES TO ALL THOSE CLINICAL?

I have been engaged with Community and in Village Health in South Africa, Nepal, Vietnam, NZ, Central NSW, the NT and now Cape York. I have shoot films on the workers, citizens/politicans focusing on Human conditions in many cultures and; I am SHOCKED Australia.

How to you say FIRST CLASS COLONIALISM in ENGLISH?

How do you discribe STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE if you haven't experienced it?

This is something UNIVERSITY and BUSINESS SCHOOL CAN'T TEACH YOU.

IT is in the SOUL that investigates that's missing from work.

http://www.miacat.com
.

HI TO ALL FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS THEIR ARE STILL MANY OF US STILL ALIVE AND SURVING IN A SUFFERING WAY BY WHAT WE HAD SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF THE GOVERMENT EMPLOYEES OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND D.O.C.S ARE RESPONSABLE , WE ARE ARE NOT GIVING OUR FIGHT UP FOR JUSTICE AND AS TO SOME POST IVE BEEN READING THEIR ARE SOME OUT THEIR TELLING US TO GET ON WITH LIFE , WELL LISTEN HEAR YOU HIPPERCRITTS, OUR WELFARE OF SAFETY WAS ABUSED BY PEDOPHILES THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT EMPLOYED IN THESE AUSTRALIAN RUN INSTITUTIONS, ORPHANAGES,GIRLS HOMES, BOYS HOMES,REMAND CENTRES, FOSTER HOMES, OUT OF HOME CARE, AND ARE RESPONSABLE FOR THE PUBLIC WHO D.O.C.S HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT , WE SEE WHAT HAPPEND TO THE LITTLE GIRL THAT DIED RECENTLY, SHE HER SELF IS A FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN AS ITS THE WELFARE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT THAT WE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS WERE BEING CARED BY , SO ADMITT THE TRUTH MR HOWARD MR RUDD OR ANY OTHER POLITICIAN AS WE DO NOT WANT ANYMORE LIVES LOST SPECIALLY AT AGE 7 , KIND REGARDS MICHEAL ,ALSO WE ARE THE VICTIMS WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND STILL SUFFER, THESE INSTITUTIONS WERE RUN BY D.O.C.S OF WHICH IS THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT ,THEY ARE RESPONSABLE AND KNOW IT IS THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAS HAPPEND TO US FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND STILL TODAY ARE COVERING UP ALL THE ABUSE WE SUFFERED, OUR INNOCENES WERE STOLEN FROM US BY PEDOPHILES AND PEOPLE WHO DID AS THEY PLEASED FOR THEIR OWN PLEASURE ,WE WERE TO BE LOOKED AFTER NOT RAPED AND ABUSED AND I SPEAK OF THE TRUTH AND WHAT OCCURRED AND WHAT WAS DONE TO ME AND OF WHAT I SEEN OF MANY OTHER CHILDREN SUFFER WE WERE TOLD TO SHUT UP ,WELL WE WON'T SHUT UP NO MORE , WELL I WON'T BE ANYWAY,TAKE CARE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND GOD BLESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US KIND REGARDS MICHEAL EX DARUK BOYS HOME BOY THAT WAS RAPED AND ABUSED BY 2 PEDOPHILES THAT WORKED AT DARUK BOYS HOME SO TO YOU HIPPERCRITTS --UCK OFF

huffnpuff

Good on you! Well said.

phanto

You're perceptive to notice 'highly emotive language' on this topic, but why should you be surprised?

However, you're wrong to suggest there's no difference between institutionalised abuse and non-institutionalised abuse.

How can you claim that: "The same level of abuse existed in many families and I would suggest that a great deal more than 500,000 people have been affected to the same extent"? Has there been a Senate inquiry to document the level of abuse in non-institutionalised care?

You miss the crucial point when you say: "A government has a duty of care towards all of the country’s children and not just those who are more directly under its control in its institutions." No child in any situation should be abused. None. But children who were made Wards of the State had the State as their lawful guardian, the Government was their mother and father. Their direct duty of care could not have been clearer. They failed woefully and should not be let off the hook because abuse happened to other children too.

This is the argument for redress. Ireland has a national redress scheme - and a generous one - and the nation is not bankrupt. There are also schemes in Canada, England and the USA. No bankruptcy there either.

The Australian States should apologise (and some have); but, more importantly, the States should prosecute those who committed criminal offences. And there I agree with you that prosecution should occur whether the child was institutionalised or not.

When you say, "It is totally impractical to make these demands on governments and it is often a sign that the individual has not moved on with their life," you obviously don't know about the Forde Inquiry in Queensland and the redress scheme there and the one in Tasmania. Perhaps you also don't know about the SA Mullighan Inquiry. These things are not 'impractical'.

As for 'moving on with their life', most have. But that doesn't mean that there is not important unfinished business which need to be attended to.

FrankGol
No I am not surprised that this is an emotive topic but that does not mean that it is an excuse to reject the norms of rational debate which are the basis for solving any problem. If the original authors have a good, logical argument then they will not need to resort to emotional language. There are many other equally emotive topics where people can maintain rational debate.

No there has not been a Senate inquiry into non-institutionalised care but there has not been a Senate enquiry into lots of things. That does not mean it did not exist. I think if you went looking for it you would surely find it just as the enquiries have found extensive institutionalised abuse. I have seen a lot of broken people some as the result of institutionalised abuse but a great number more have come from ‘normal’ families. You judge by the results and where there is smoke there is probably fire.

I think the government has a duty of care to all its children equally. When it comes to its attention that a child is being abused in the home its agencies must act as professionally as if the child is being abused in one of its institutions. In the past it did not act in relation to abuse in institutions or in relation to the home.

What I failed to make clear in my previous post was that it would be impractical to compensate every child that was abused. If you only compensate some then it may be practical but how do you decide who is more worthy of compensation? Is it only the victims of institutionalised abuse?

It would be quite logical in my opinion for children who were abused in the home to seek reparation from the government if it is given to those who were in institutions. If parents were abusing their children then it was up to the government to step in and save them. This should be applied retrospectively to all those who come forward with their stories.

Phanto

When the Senate Committee tabled "Forgotten Australians", several Senators wept openly, as did people in the public gallery. It was a highly charged event because what they were reporting was shameful and painful. Why be afraid of expressing our emotions when we are dealing with scandalous events like child abuse and maltreatment?

Expressing emotion does not have to be at the cost of rational argument, and I think this article managed the balance exceptionally well. As did the Senators in their report. (Judge for yourself: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/inst_care/report/)

The 39 recommendations in the report are logical and rationally argued.

I agree that the fact that there is no Senate report inquiry into non-institutionalised care does not mean logically that there was no abuse. I was merely trying to get you to substantiate your claim that: "The same level of abuse existed in many families and I would suggest that a great deal more than 500,000 people have been affected to the same extent."

The "Forgotten Australians" documented systemic and widespread abuse in institutions. That we know from 700 witnesses. Let's deal with that.

The fundamental point you've missed is that the State was the mother and father of institutionalised children, and so had a particular legal duty of care to discharge as well as a moral one.

In regular families the legal duty of care lies with the parents. If they abuse their kids, the full force of the law should be invoked. The law is available to deal with cases of child abuse in families and all perpetrators should be dealt with in every case where proper evidence is available.

Institutionalised kids had no-one looking out for them and had no means to protect themselves because the State, their parents, would have had to call itself before the courts. And that simply did not happen. The cover-up continues.

If you want to extend a reparations scheme to all abused children, you need to do more than say me-too. You need to argue the case, not just piggy-back on the case for institutionalised children.

Phanto,the majority of kids in those homes came from abusive families.That's why we were in them to start with.We were made state wards so the government took control and found a place for us to be CARED for.They cared for us alright,they let the staff starve,rape, beat and work us like dogs.Our point is,the govt were legally bound to care for us and they didn't.We effectively had two bites of the cherry as far as abuse went.Their are laws in place for kids and governments to prosecute abusive parents but just try and prosecute the government.If all of us were aboriginal we could take legal action as the statute of limitations has been lifted for them.It has not been lifted for former state wards.We spend billions on overseas aid,free drugs for drug addicts,rehab and pollies lurks and perks and yet the ones that were abused by the govt workers are entitled to nothing.Not every state ward is seeking compensation,some are so embarrassed that even their families don't know they were in care.I do not believe we would all sue the govt,i for one am not,but the ones who can prove the abuse should be entitled to try.Believe me,their is documented evidence(hidden back then)of some of the atrocities committed on those kids.If we can support all the human detritus who don't want to work or blow their brains away with drugs,then we can make fair reparation to those who are still suffering physical or mental anguish caused by the govt.

FrankGol

There is nothing wrong with expressing emotion unless it is an attempt to manipulate others into a course of action. I am responding to the original authors of the article at the head of this thread who are trying to initiate a course of action to get an apology and compensation. Their article is full of emotive claims and very presumptive statements such as “an issue that goes to the heart of our national identity.”

No one needs to be convinced that systematic abuse took place and no one needs to be convinced that abuse is a bad thing and has had devastating effects on people. What taxpayers need to be convinced of is that compensation should be paid.

If it should be paid then the question remains did the government also have a duty of care to protect children in families. For instance, did it have a duty of care to make sure that people were fit to be parents in the same way it had a duty of care to check the credentials of the staff of its institutions? The fact that it was not legally bound to do so does not absolve it of the responsibility to do so. You could make a claim that it failed in its duty of care by not taking legal responsibility for children in families. Not everything is enshrined in law and many judgements are made based on natural justice.

‘Institutionalised kids had no-one looking out for them and had no means to protect themselves because the State, their parents, would have had to call itself before the courts.’ There are many different departments in government and one department will often expose the corrupt behaviour found in another department. It is a simplistic view of government to say it is its own judge and jury.

Just because the case for non-institutionalised children has not been argued does not mean that it does not exist. It has taken many decades for the case for institutionalised children to come to the fore. It may well be the tip of an iceberg.

HI TO ALL THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND IM SORRY THAT I DID NOT MENTION THE STATE WARD CHILDREN IN MY LAST POST ,AS THEY TOO ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AS OF ALL THE OTHER HOMIES I HAVE MENTIONED EARLIER WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT UNDER STANDING THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT IS COVERING UP ALL THIS ABUSE THAT WE SUFFERED AS CHILDREN BY THE PEDOPHILES THAT WORKED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN WELFARE DEPARTMENTS OF WHICH HAD CONTROL OF ALL JUVINILLE INSTITITUTIONS, IN EVERY STATE WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS ,,AND WE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN , AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE TO ALL YOU HIPPERCRITTS THAT WANT TO SIT ON YOUR PEDAL STOOLS AND DERGRADE US VICTIMS EVEN MORE ,I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT NONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SUFFERED AS CHILDREN EVER HAPPEN TO YOUR FREINDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS AS THEN YOU WILL KNOW HOW WE FEEL AND WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE TO LIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN NEVER ERASE FROM YOUR MEMERORY , THE EXCUSE THE GOVERMENT AND THE PEDOPHILES ARE USING IS THAT I CAN NOT REMEMBER WELL I REMEMBER AND SHALL NEVER FORGET THE ABUSE I SUFFERED AND THAT OF WHAT I SEEN OTHER CHILDREN SUFFER FROM BY THESE PEDOPHILES THAT WORKED IN THESE INSTITUTIONS , THE GOVERMENT IS WANTING US NOT TO BE HEARD BECAUSE IT IS DAMMING AND DAMAGING FOR THEIR MORE=RALE AND TO ALL YOU SICK MOTHER -UCKERS OUT THEIR THAT COULDN'T CARE AS TO WHAT HAPPEN TOP US VICTIMS WELL YOU HAVE A TO UNDERSTAND IN LIFE, AND YES THEIR ARE FAIMLYS OUT THEIR THAT ARE ALSO UNDER CONTROL OF D.O.C.S. OF WHOME ARE THE SAME ORGANISATION THAT HAD CONTROL OF ALL CHILDREN IN THE STATES CHILDRENS HOMES RIGHT ACRROSS AUSTRALIA THE SURPRISE COULD BE THAT THEIR ARE AND COULD BE MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THEIR THAT ARE ABUSING THEIR OWN FAIMLYS THAT ARE UNDER D.O.C.S SUPERVISION,AS FOR US FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS STILL LIVING TODAY WE WILL NOT STOP OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE NORE SHOULD ANYONE ELSE ,WE ARE THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN KIND REGARDS MICHEAL

I to am a forgotten Australian and want to ask the question as to why in the early 1970s the Sisters of Nazareth were found unfit to care for children resulting in them having to close down all thier homes ect...
But the scariest thing is that now they are caring for the elderly who are just as, if not more helpless than children.
I ask how it is possible that this could even happen after they were found unfit to care for children let alone the elderly, so the question is now, who is looking after the elderly, checking in on them and thier needs ect..
I know i would never ever want to be in the care of these nuns when i am old and disabled and unable to protect myself against the nuns regime.
ALJAY

I TO WAS A FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIAN, I STILL SUFFER MY PAST AFTER MANY
YEARS BEING TOLD I WAS AND ALWAYS WOULD BE NOTHING IN THIS WORLD.
THEY SAY THE DRUGS ON THE STREET MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, BUT THE DRUG THAT MANY OF US FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS DEAL WITH FOREVER IS ALWAYS TEARING AT OUR HEARTS AND YOU ARE NOT THERE TO SUPPORT US IN ANY WAY.
COME ON THIS IS AUSTRALIA AND WE NEED HELP DEALING WITH OUR PAST SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FUTURE AND BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.

I am also a forgotton australian, I am 58 years old was in institutions from 4 till 18 years I cant let go of the past cause its haunting me, even more now that we have to deal with it. I cry on a regular basis I have night mares I smell I see I hear, I feel alone inside myself with my preditors, but who cares,this country doesnt give a damm so who r we kidding

I was greatly surprised and deeply disappointed by this article. It reads as classic, ideologically-driven rhetoric in which blame for a given social evil, in this case child abuse, is shifted away from individual perpetrators and onto “institutions”; a strategically useful political target for the time being (note the pre-election timing). The authors do not seem to have any empathy whatsoever with actual victims of abuse, but are instead concerned to use our sorry plights as missiles directed at governments they consider flawed. I am a victim of chronic and prolonged child abuse. I am not a football to be used ideologically. I deeply resent the approach of Prof Wilson, Ms Sdrinis, Dr Hil and Mr Rose.

A majority of the abuse I suffered was not institutional but was at the hands of a close family member. I have read the “Forgotten Australians report” and recognised completely the repeated pattern of the perverted need to dominate embodied via myriad forms of suppression, violence and coercion. In what way are the hundreds of thousands of abused Australians whose principal perpetrators were not employees of institutions better remembered than our institutionalised sisters and brothers? But of course I understand - if the authors included all victims of abuse in their alleged concerns they would lose ideological edge and political purpose, clearly the primary aim of the article.

Where are the individual perpetrators in the article by Prof Wilson, Ms Sdrinis, Dr Hil and Mr Rose? Absent. I urgently refer the authors, and all readers of this, to pages 194, 203-204, 212-213 and 225 of the report. Justice against institutions is a poor replacement for justice against perpetrators. This is where justice begins, and if achieved at this level can go a very long way towards healing the painful wounds. Each hateful, violent and dominating action was undertaken by an individual, an evil individual. Victims don't lie awake at night with the face of a faceless institution playing like a horror movie in front of our eyes, victims dreams aren't filled with nightmares of institutions raping them, threatening them . . .

and then simply lying with impunity to escape justice the authorities might have provided if the individual perpetrator had not been such an effective liar.

Yet, the saddest aspect of the article by Prof Wilson, Ms Sdrinis, Dr Hil and Mr Rose is that it generously provides succour to perpetrators desperate to offload their guilt rather than facing either truth or justice. My suggesting that ill-considered ideology such as this article in fact comforts and emboldens abusers is not merely speculative. I have recently become aware, through personal experience, of a growing phenomenon of known as “Perpetrator Reappearance” wherein perpetrators seek out their victims, maybe 10, 20 or even 40 years after the original abuse has ceased, in order to assuage their guilt. (A form of this type of meeting is described at page 237 of the Forgotten Australians report. While meetings of this kind do have a healing potential, this is only if the perpetrator is genuinely willing to accept responsibility for their actions, if the meetings are mediated by trusted professionals, and are held at the request of the victims).

However, much more frequent than any structured and mediated meeting is the isolated tracking down of the victim by the perpetrator. They typically seek contact on a false premise of contrition; most often but by no means always, it is fathers seeking out estranged daughters. Yet, when in the company of the victim they seek to have the victim agree with them that others are really to blame for the abuse. Often commensurate with this blame-shifting is the re-establishment of a relationship of coercion and abuse; the renewed abuse is typically of a non-violent psychological kind, but can also involve complex strategies of exploitation and suppression via financial and other means. In extreme cases the victims’ children are drawn into this abusive web of blame, lies and exploitation.

From my perspective the one positive aspect of this article is that it has inspired me to discuss and publish my own experiences of chronic childhood abuse, and to join in support of justice for other victims of Perpetrator Reappearance

Dr Justin Rose says this article is “…classic, ideologically-driven rhetoric in which blame for a given social evil, in this case child abuse, is shifted away from individual perpetrators and onto ‘institutions’…”

He introduces the classic diversion. Why is the article only about children abuse in institutions when there were many who were abused outside institutions, Rose asks.

He answers his own rhetorical question: “…if the authors included all victims of abuse in their alleged concerns they would lose ideological edge and political purpose, clearly the primary aim of the article.”

He offers no evidence of political motivation except the timing of the publication. Should OLO cease publication during an election or publish only articles that are to Rose’s liking?

The more obvious, and correct, answer is that the article is about the Senate report on the ‘Forgotten Australians’ which was confined to children who experienced institutional or out-of-home care. That was their task.

On the one hand, Rose berates the authors for not including people like him who were victims of abuse in families. On the other hand, he ‘deeply resents’ that the authors are using people like him as ideological footballs.

As if to lend authenticity to his argument that the focus should be on individual perpetrators rather than on institutions, Rose refers us to specific pages of ‘Forgotten Australians’. I have just re-read these pages and can find nothing there that supports his proposition.

Page 194 is about the competing views on apologies to victims.

203-204 discusses statutes of limitations on prosecution of offenders, the reasons why victims take a long time to come forward, and how the delays prejudice trials.

212-213 summarises the difficulties applicants have in making a case.

225 is about monetary compensation issues.

It’s ridiculous to expect the authors to deal with individual perpetrators. The courts do that – and some perpetrators are serving long sentences. More should follow, without question. Guilty individuals should be punished to the full extent possible.

But why exonerate institutions which failed to supervise evil individuals or bring them to account when children complained? Liability is shared.

I found this site quite by accident. I have been on a six year journey in seeking retribution/compensation for children of child abuse suffered whilst in domiciled in institutions from the 1930 to 1980's - Salvation Army, Church and/or Government Institutions. I wasn't abused as a child. I was not brought up in an institution. My quest is in my mother's name. Her estate left some funds to a "charity" that was involved with abuse to children whilst domiciled within their homes. My mother would abhor that any of her funds were bequeathed to ANY "charity" that abused children. I sent a letter in support to the Senate Enquiry in abuse of children conducted in 2004. We now have a new Government. Most people say to these victims "get over it". My comment being - "walk a mile in their shoes" for what they have endured. These children didn't ask to be born, these children deserved the best care available - did they get it - no they didn't. These children deserved love, care and affection - did they get it - no they didn't. I will continue in my mother's name in seeking retribution/compensenation for all children abused whilst institutionalised. This is a national shame.

SAINTS

It's good that you've stumbled over this site.

Do you know about CLAN (Care Leavers of Australia Network)?
www.clan.org.au
1800 008 774

They were instrumental, with Senator Andrew Murray, in getting the Senate to investigate the experiences of children who grew up in orphanages and other forms of out-of-home 'care'.

CLAN is pushing in each State to have redress and compensation for those whose lives were wrecked by the way they were abused as children. They need all the support they can get because Governments, churches and charities duck for cover when these matters are raised.

FrankGol

Thank you for feedback. I am aware of Clan and the great work they did in order for the Senate Enquiry to happen, they continue to fight for justice our children (now adults)- I sincerely applaud their efforts. My quest is for Statute of Limitations to be lifted in all States to enable criminal charges be laid against these evil people who supposedly "cared" for "our" children under the "cloth of God" and in the name of God. No God that I know would support such cowardly actions being perpetrated on "our" innocent children. WA and SA have lifted the Statute of Limitations. Criminal charges have been laid on many so-called people of the "faith" for the abuse to children whilst institutionalised. We need ALL States to lift their Statute of Limitations, we also require a Royal Commission into Child Abuse, this is the only way in which these perpetrators of "our" children will be brought to justice.

SAINTS

In Victoria, judges are using case precedent to deal with the Statute of Limitations. You have to show good reasons why you took so long to bring your complaint to court. That's not impossible e.g. I was intimidated. I told the boss but he hit me over the head and told me I was a filthy liar.

e.g. I was put into a Psychiatric hospital for ten years because they said I was mad and no-one would listen to me.

The recent case involving rape in the Warrnambool area is an example of the Statute being waived and with a good outcome for the woman concerned.

Good on you for persevering. It takes courage and persistent not to mention resilience.

Good luck!

Frankgol
Thank you for responding.
In the years of my research what have I found -
Salvation Army advise not many children were abused whilst in their care in their homes. This comment has now been exposed as incorrect with many cases of child abuse now coming to the fore. Salvation Army believe saying sorry is enough. Words are cheap. What price do you place on a child's life that has been sexually and emotionally abused - all under the Mantra of God.
2. A Salvation Army Officer was awarded an OBE for service. This person was certainly at the forefront of abuse to children within an institution in which he was in charge of. There is currently a letter to Government for this OBE to be returned.
3. Salvation Army, Catholic Church and State Governments have much to answer for, for the abuse which occured to children whilst in their care.
Why haven't complainants pursued their case -
1. The above engage top of the town lawyers in order to defend their coffers.
2. Most of the above have no legal entity in order to be sued for abused children to take up their case. Their structure is no different to a tuck shop - so unable to be sued. So what avenue does that leave for an abused child seeking justice - basically none. The above have certainly done their homework.
This is why I am communicating with Ministers etc in seeking for our Statute of Limitations to be lifted or a Royal Commission in abuse of children whilst institutionalised, whereby these perpetrators of abuse can be supoened in a court of law.
I can write PAGES on this matter due to my years of research. I note the horrific letters I read (for all to peruse) that were submitted to the Senate Enquiry in 2004
I am a catholic by birth. My entire faith was ROCKED 6 years ago at the commencement of my journey in child abuse.
continuing .......

SAINTS

Good on you. I appreciate what you are trying to do for the Forgotten Australians.

It takes courage and tenacity, especially in the face of abuse and lack of sympathy and understanding by people like those on this website who tell us all to "get over it" like "it" was a dose of the measles.

Best wishes for Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Frank

Frankgol

Thank you for responding to my email.

I find it most interesting that you and I are the only ones communicating on this page.

Are we being politically "incorrect" in raising this issue?

I have the persistance, tenacity and resilliance in order to move my issues forward in seeking compensation for all Child Abuse Victims whilst institutionalised in homes from the 1930's to 1980's.

I am only one voice, but there are voices like myself out here doing our bit in seeking justice for all abused children.

I wish you and your family a very merry christmas and a Happy New Year.

HI TO ALL THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS haven't been online for a few weeks as had no computor , anyway ,thanks for joining in on the post saints hopefully another voice will be able to get us that bit closer well what about W.A they finally apoloigized yet here we are in N.S.W still suffering with what we endured at the hands of these pedophiles im no silent person no more i even faxed and emailed minister greene in asking when is N.S.W. going to acknowledge us forgotten australians in this state still awaiting his reply this is all still been covered up in N.S.W as it was in W.A but least W.A admitted to the wrongs their state victims suffered and this is what N.S.W should be doing we will no longer be the forgotten australians as we shall not stay silent it happend to us victims and the goverment knows the truth that it did happen and has been happening for many many many years as we know I WISH EVERYONE OF THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS A MERRY XMASS AND A SAFE NEW YEAR AND OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US IM JUST HOLDING ON MYSELF KIND REGARDS MICHEAL

Good on you Michael. Hang in there mate. It takes guts to do what you are doing, and determination too. Lots of people are thinking of you at this time.

All the very best.

Frank

Michael - you had BETTER hang in here......there are many people behind my voice - and many others - who have certainly not forgotten the attrocities that occurred to you all as children "our children".
This is the first time since Federation that both State and Federal Governments have been Labor - don't know as yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing....but I can assure you there is absolutely no further excuses can be made by State or Federal in saying oh this issue belongs to the State or visa versa as they are both in the same camp - so to speak.
Let's now see who will be the Ministers with "balls" enough to take this issue right to the top to enable the State of Limitations be lifted, seeking a Royal Commission Enquiry and compensation for all abused victims.
Merry xmas huff and puff - want you to keep viewing this page for updates.

MERRY XMASS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AND OF THOSE OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US , SAINT'S I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SURPORT I WOULD LIKE IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME AND CLICK ON MY USER NAME AS IT WILL SHOW YOU HOW COMMITTED I AM TO WANTING N.S.W TO STOP THE COVER UPS OF THE SODIMISATIONS AND RAPES ASSULTS BASHINGS THE WHOLE ABUSE THAT WE ALL SUFFERED IN THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT THE STATE OF N.S.W. HAD CONTROL OF OF WHICH WAS RUN BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT, I CAN ONLY HOPE MYSELF THAT N.S.W WILL HAVE THE BALLS TO SAY SORRY MR IEMMA HAS MY MOBILE AS I SENT IT AS WELL AS MY ADRESS AND HOME PHONE YET I STILL HAVE NOT ANY CALL SAINT ,ASSOICIATE JUSTICE MACREADY SAID IN HIS JUDGEMENT IN COURT ON THE 20TH SEPTEMBER 2006 THAT THE COMPLAINT IS PLAINLY REAL AND A TRAGIC PART OF OUR HISTORY, AS I SAID I TABLED THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS IN THAT CASE AND NOW IM APPEALLING THE COURTS DISSMISAL , IVE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT DOES AS I GIVEN THEM ALL MY CRIMINIAL HISTORY , DAY ONE SINCE I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE I KNOW IM NOT ALONE IN GETING JUSTICE GOD IM STILL HERE AT PRESENT SO IF NO ONE HEARS FROM ME FOR MORE THAN A WEEK YOU KNOW SOMTHING HAPPEND TO ME SO I WISH ALL THE VERY BEST OF WHAT IS TO COME FOR US ALL IN THE YEAR OF 2008 ,WWE ARE NO LONGER THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS KIND REGARDS MICHEAL, TO ALL THE POLITICIANS OUT THERE HAVE THE BALLS TO STAND UP AS FOR OUR WOMEN LEADERS HAVE THE GUTS TO FIGHT FOR US AS WELL , ITS NOT JUST WOMEN /GIRLS THAT WERE RAPED IT WAS BOYS AND A GREAT MANY OF US AND THIS IS TRUTH, REGARDS MICHEAL