I i'm new to this site.

I was wondering if any body else on this site has grow up in care?

I don't think my self that any body in goverment or out side this area really would care to much about them people.

Yes we seem to have be forgotten by docs and the home that we were in.

I have been trying since last year to get my files on my life in a children home.

I have been through docs in N.S.W but they can't find me they keep sending me on wild goose chases.

Contact a place called clan they sent me to docs in N.S.W.

All this because you want to put your life together,it is so hard i feel very alone and lost in my life.

i just wish to find my self at last my life over the years has been quite lost.

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble finding the information you need student.

Don't give up. Government agencies can be difficult and confusing to deal with at times.

Has DOCS said they cannot find the information or that the information is not available to you? Was the home privately run through a charity or religious organisation or was it a government run home?

You can always try to submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) application to find the information you are looking for. FOI has a 30 day deadline (I think) so it won't take as long to get the information you require. If DOCS suggest the release of the information is exempt under FOI they have to provide a reason.

I don't know what else to suggest other than perhaps seek advice through Legal Aid.

Best of luck with your efforts and try not to let it get you down. Please do not be afraid to seek counselling and support when you feel you need it.

Pelican's right, Student Council

Not only would a counsellor or social worker be able to help you emotionally, they might also be able to use their contact networks to open some more doors for you. It's often just a case of finding the people with the right authorisation.

I'm sure that sooner or later, you will get the breakthrough you need. Good Luck!

Student Council,
"And now for something completely different."
If you are looking for someone etc i.e. a good story and don’t mind sharing it. Perhaps you might consider this.
I was adopted out mumble mumble years ago and met a similar bureaucratic blank.
Decades of running around chasing rellies and getting nowhere both fast and slow.
All I knew was mum was Latvian (deceased) and I had a ½ brother and a ½ sister but they vanished off the face of the earth.

Eventually I wrote to The ABC ‘Can We Help’ program. They wrote letters on my behalf to all sorts of Latvian Groups for info. Eventually a lady in a retirement village remembered being a Brownie pack leader to my sister way, way back and her name change. Sadly sis had died of cancer 3 years earlier but CWH tracked down her daughter and son … I now have blood rellies.
PS try ‘Vanish’ an organization for finding family…they may be able to help.
FOI is a good choice too. Good luck.

student council,
You are not the first 'forgotten australian' to post here. huffnpuff is one you can find his posts by clicking on users. I think spikey may be another. There are others but I cannot recall just now. If you read their posts you could get some usefull information and contacts of some organizations they belong to that are pushing for Government recognition of the 'forgotten Australians'.

I hope some will see your post and contact. Good luck.

Student council,

Frank Gol is another 'forgotten australian' I am sure but have not seen his posts for some time.

Thanks to all that replyed to my post. Yes i have tryed contact with docs in n.s.w a placed called clan you name it i think i might have tryed it.

I know some were out there is my files on my life when i was in care.

And to all the Fotten Australian let's not be fotten let's fight.

Hello Student

So sorry to hear you've been given the run around.

I'm not too familiar with your particular problem, however, have you made an appointment to see your local politician? After all, they have much easier access to these departments and remember, they are also paid to assist their constituents.

I have worked in a politician's office and I assure you, the requests from consitutents, were vast and numerous. The majority of enquiries that I witnessed were able to be resolved after these people had previously hit brick walls, though I don't recall any in your area of concern.

Usually with FOI, they will try to slug you a fee for each page. I would suggest you raise an objection to the fee - it could work! If you're lucky enough to have a helpful politician take on the task, I doubt you will incur a fee. In fact you may not even need to see the pollie since their electoral staff do most of the groundwork. May I suggest you just rock up to your regional pollie's office?

Then there's always the Ombudsman but they have a shocking reputation for being asleep at the wheel - at least in my state!

Good luck.

There is quite a few forgotten Australians on this forum,i am one of them.If you were a state ward it should cost you nothing to get your files from FOI.If you were in a "reform school" the records are sealed for 70 years from 1970 on.If it was before that you shouldn't have a problem if you have your correct name and birthdate.You are also able to
get your punishment files from those institutions but once again only if you were an inmate before 1970.Good luck and i know CLAN will help you if they can.You can also try ARC. 'phone 02 97162276.Good luck.

Thanks for the help.
I have contacted my local member plus been in touch with s/army.
Sent many of emails to many places some with no replys.

I am starting to think this was all a dream. Was i there? Or not?

i will try the arc and see what they say maybe they might put some light on this matter.

When will we be remembered? And by who?

Only the ones that have been through this will remember.