A couple of years ago I found out I was a “Forgotten Australian”.
I must confess – at the time I had no idea what that meant, let alone that then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, had made a formal apology to me us!
Forgotten Australians are people who were placed into care, whether for a short period (like me, at Sandgate Children’s Home in 1978), or perhaps for all of their childhood years. According to Wikipedia:
Forgotten Australians are the estimated 500,000 … children who experienced care in institutions or outside a home setting in Australia during the 20th century …
Children ended up in out-of-home care for a variety of reasons, mainly relating to poverty and family breakdown at a time when there was little support for families in crisis …
Many of these children suffered from neglect and were abused physically, emotionally or sexually while in care. Survivors to this day still suffer the effects of the child abuse. The trauma experienced in care has impacted negatively on care leavers throughout their adult lives. Their partners and children have also felt the impact, which can then flow through to future generations.
In 2009 an official Australian government apology was made to people who had grown up in the institutional system … by then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
In 2011 I was interviewed for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project, being conducted by the National Library of Australia. You can listen to a recording of the interview, and find out more, here. I was even quoted in the Forgotten Australians booklet (see image – click to enlarge)!
Around the same time I wrote a post on my old blog, sharing my experiences about my spell in the Sandgate Children’s Home. It received so much feedback and comments from other former residents that I transferred it to this blog when the old one closed. It seems there are a lot of us out there, seeking information about the Home – and it is almost impossible to find, even in these days of the worldwide web. (You could almost be forgiven for wondering if it has been deliberately hushed up!)
I think it’s important to make this sort of information freely available, to validate the painful memories of the many children who filed through it’s doors, and to help them as they seek healing and wholeness.
I’m also not ashamed to admit that I have sought professional counselling at times to help me deal with things whenever an issue arises or the past tries to haunt me again. I can’t recommend it highly enough – if you are in Brisbane, you might like to check out Vision Psychology. It’s a 7 day a week psychology clinic, and they offer a free emotional health checkup to help you determine firstly if you would benefit from counselling, and secondly to help match you up to the therapist that will best suit you and your budget.
Had you ever heard of the term “Forgotten Australians” before, or were you as clueless as I was?!
Linking up with My Home Truths for “I Must Confess”.
Mystery Case says
Being relatively new to your blog, I haven’t had a chance to go back and read too many older blog posts, so I had no idea. Will pop back to night when I’m in the right head space with my massive to do list out of the way and have a good read on all the links.
I’m especially interested in Vision Psychology. I wonder if there is a service like that here in WA?
Janet Camilleri says
Unfortunately I don’t think there is – it seems to be a fairly unique business model.
Tegan says
I’m sorry that you had to go through that. I couldn’t even imagine what you must have been feeling at the time.
I have heard of the Forgotten Australians, mainly because Nerkol is one of the most famous (not even sure if that’s the right word to use!) children’s homes of that era. It was known for its particularly brutal treatment of children and a lot of people believe that you can still here the children playing through the corridors at night.
Ness says
I hadn’t heard of the term ‘forgotten Australians’. I’m sorry to hear what you went through. It makes me realise how I take my happy childhood with two loving parents for granted. I’m so glad you’re in a happier place now and have the love of your family.
Toni @ Finding Myself Young says
I’ve heard of it and it both infuriates me and intrigues me at the same time. I am drawn to the new show Love Child for the same reason I think. I’m so thankful that these things (hopefully) don’t happen anymore.
Pinky Poinker says
You continue to amaze me with the intricacies of your life Janet. Whatever you experienced didn’t stop you from evolving into a well-balanced, grounded lady who exudes an aura of peacefulness at least. x
Emma Fahy Davis says
Argle blargle, the WP demons won’t let me comment on your post about Sandgate so here’s a copy and paste 😉
Oh Janet what a truly awful experience it must have been for you to be separated from your siblings and ‘institutionalised’. I spent some time in a girls home as a teenager (mainly as a result of my own bad behaviour) and I am so grateful that by this point (mid ’90s) society had moved on from the hideous models of care applied in previous decades.
Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
I remember the apology – so tragic that it had to be made at all. It was good that you had the opportunity to reflect on your experiences and have them recorded. You are an amazing lady Janet – I am completely in awe at everything you have (and continue to) achieve!
lisa says
I remember the apology and was dumbfounded at all the stories and memories associated with it from the newspaper reports. I am so glad you have been able to deal with it in a positive way…so many people aren’t able to get help to move on xx
Rae Hilhorst says
Hello Janet, I want to fold you in my arms and give you a hug. When I saw the title I thought you were going to talk about being middle aged and invisible. But no something much more serious x
Aroha @ Colours of Sunset says
Sharing your story Janet is a great start to getting more information out there. Perhaps if enough of you could get together you could write memories – good, bad, whatever – and collate everyone’s recollections. Maybe it would help some with steps in healing. They may have tried to cover it up but they can’t hush you all! Thank you for sharing. x Aroha
marnie says
Today I just found out that I too stayed at Sandgate Welfare Home with my younger sister when I was 6 or 7, I’m now 44 and Like others remember how horrible it was, I asked my mother when I was in my 20’s why I was there and she told me she was going on a holiday which she still to this day will say the same thing but I don’t believe that story. Does anyone know where I can get information, history records ect? As I can’t seem to find any. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks