Forgotten Australians
Encyclopedia
Forgotten Australians is a term applied to the more than 500,000 non-indigenous, child migrants and indigenous children who experienced care in institutions or outside a home setting during the 20th century. Many of these children were abused physically
, emotionally
, or sexually
while in care. Survivors to this day still suffer the effects of the child abuse
.
On Monday 16 November 2009 the Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd
and Opposition Leader Mr Malcolm Turnbull
issued a motion of an apology to the Forgotten Australians on behalf of the nation. The motion was not passed until the 26th of November. The apology was broadcast on national television. One year later, SBS TV screened a documentary, The Forgotten Australians, commemorating the apology and the journey to get there.
The inquiry was conducted by Leneen Forde and is known as the "Forde Inquiry". It investigated abuse of tens of thousands of individuals in 159 institutions from 1911 to 1999.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee commissioned a national report on children in institutional care in 2003, specifically excluding child migrants ("Home Children
") and Aboriginal children, who were the subject of previous reports. The Forgotten Australians inquiry considered the plight of more than 500,000 children in care in the 20th century and "generated the largest volume of highly personal, emotive and significant evidence of any Senate inquiry".
The Mullighan Report "Children In State Care
Commission Of Inquiry" considered the more serious "allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct" from 1910 to 2004. Seven hundred and ninety two people made allegations of abuse by 1,733 perpetrators. The inquiry found from a potential 924 names that 391 children had died in state care.
All the reports considered the nature and severity of abuse
and it consequences on the abused. Each report made dozens of recommendations to address the problems caused by past abuse and prevent future abuse of children in care.
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
, emotionally
Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse, also referred to as emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder...
, or sexually
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
while in care. Survivors to this day still suffer the effects of the child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
.
On Monday 16 November 2009 the Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
and Opposition Leader Mr Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
issued a motion of an apology to the Forgotten Australians on behalf of the nation. The motion was not passed until the 26th of November. The apology was broadcast on national television. One year later, SBS TV screened a documentary, The Forgotten Australians, commemorating the apology and the journey to get there.
Major reports
The Queensland Government commissioned an inquiry which was tabled in parliament in June 1999.The inquiry was conducted by Leneen Forde and is known as the "Forde Inquiry". It investigated abuse of tens of thousands of individuals in 159 institutions from 1911 to 1999.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee commissioned a national report on children in institutional care in 2003, specifically excluding child migrants ("Home Children
Home children
Home Children is a common term used to refer to the child migration scheme founded by Annie MacPherson in 1869, under which more than 100,000 children were sent to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa from the United Kingdom....
") and Aboriginal children, who were the subject of previous reports. The Forgotten Australians inquiry considered the plight of more than 500,000 children in care in the 20th century and "generated the largest volume of highly personal, emotive and significant evidence of any Senate inquiry".
The Mullighan Report "Children In State Care
Commission Of Inquiry" considered the more serious "allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct" from 1910 to 2004. Seven hundred and ninety two people made allegations of abuse by 1,733 perpetrators. The inquiry found from a potential 924 names that 391 children had died in state care.
All the reports considered the nature and severity of abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
and it consequences on the abused. Each report made dozens of recommendations to address the problems caused by past abuse and prevent future abuse of children in care.
Redress Schemes
State government funded redress schemes have made or are planning ex-gratia payments to Forgotten Australians in some states. In Queensland, payments were made in 2009 ranging from $7,000 to $40,000. In Western Australia, payments are expected to range from $10,000 to $80,000 and will be made in 2010. The maximum payment may be limited because of underfunding. New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia are yet to fund redress schemes. The Victorian position is that individual cases will be addressed on their merits. The major problem for adult survivors of childhood abuse is the burden of proof of the abuse in a formal legal setting.External links
- Not for One But for all Forgotten Australians
- Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children
- Forde Inquiry into abuse of children in Queensland institutions
- Mullighan Inquiry - Children in State Care
- The Forgotten Australians: Fairbridge Farm School interview transcripts
- Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA)
- Adoption & Forgotten Australians