Welcome to CLAN - Care Leavers Australia Network

Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN) is a support and advocacy group for people brought up in care away from their family as state wards or Home children raised in Children's Homes, orphanages or other institutions, or in foster care. CLAN is also for anyone who has a close family member who was placed in "care".

Many of these people are now middle-aged or older but still carry the burden of unresolved issues from this past. Our aim is to raise community awareness of these issues, and to campaign for government assistance to redress them. CLAN welcomes everyone who has been affected by the "care" system, regardless of your background or heritage - we are here to help.

Contact CLAN on 9709 4520 or 0425-204-747 or email us at support@clan.org.au. Care Leavers who grew up in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the ACT, and who still live in the state, can contact CLAN free on 1800-008-774. QLD is the only state that that does not fund the 1800 number, despite our many requests. If you'd like to see this changed, ring or email Premier Anna Bligh's office, or ask your state member to lobby on your behalf.

CLAN welcomes and needs donations, and all money received helps us to continue providing this essential service to all care leavers. All donations over $2 are tax-deductable. If you would like to make a donation, please send a cheque or money order to CLAN Inc, PO Box 164 Georges Hall, NSW, 2198. We are also very happy to receive gifts of stamps.

CLAN SURVEY RESULTS - UPDATED
A summary of the results of the 2006-7 survey of Care leavers conducted by CLAN is now available in PDF format. This has been substantially revised and updated over the previously-available version. Click on THIS LINK to open the results. NB: You will need at least version 8 of Adobe's PDF Reader to view the results.
Updated November 28, 2008

VATICAN CAN BE SUED FOR PRIEST SEX ABUSE
A US Court has ruled that the Vatican can be sued for abuse by Catholic Priests. This is a signficant development. To read the story, CLICK HERE (opens in a new window). The Sydney Morning Herald has printed a related story, CLICK HERE to read it (opens in a new window).
Posted November 28, 2008

CLAN EMAIL SYSTEMS ATTACKED
We aren't sure how it happened - whether we picked up a computer virus or someone broke into our email account - but over the weekend, CLAN's email system was hijacked and used to send fraudulent emails to everyone in our address book. Although it seems to be from Leonie, if you receive an email with the subject "HELLO .................URGENTLY", this email is a FRAUD and potentially DANGEROUS. Please DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY without reading it.

The Email claims that Leonie is travelling in England as part of an "Empowering Youth" program, and has lost her wallet. It then asks people to send money as a loan to get her home. DO NOT BELIEVE IT, this is a scam which is currently making its way around the internet. Please DO NOT SEND MONEY in response to this email.

CLAN apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Posted November 24, 2008

BAYSWATER BOYS' HOME WORKER TO BE PROSECUTED - PROTEST PLANNED
Norman John Poulter, a worker at the Salvation Army Bayswater Boys' Home, is to appear before the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on December 15, 2008 at 10:00 am, over allegations of child abuse. CLAN is planning to hold a protest rally outside the Courthouse. More information will be posted as it comes to hand.
Updated November 24, 2008

TOWARDS HEALING TO BE REVIEWED
Towards Healing was introduced in 1996 and revised in 2000. It is the blueprint for the process which the Catholic Church uses for handling complaints of abuse. The process is managed by the Church's National Committee for Professional Standards, who have decided that a new review of the principles and procedures of Towards Healing should take place. Professor Patrick Parkinson, of the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney has agreed to undertake the assessment and make recommendations for any changes that he considers necessary.

The objective is to ensure that the principles and processes

• conform with the best practice in rendering quality assistance to victims
• provide effective processes to see that children and vulnerable adults are protected
• provide procedural fairness for those accused

CLAN have been invited to propose any changes which would improve the process and its implementation, and to pass on the invitation for submissions to any others with something to contribute.

Submissions should be sent BEFORE 15 JANUARY 2009 to:

Professional Standards Review
PO Box 308
KENSINGTON NSW 1465

CLAN strongly encourages anyone who has experienced the Towards Healing process of the Catholic Church, or who has a suggestion for improvement, to please make a submission to the review.
Posted November 21, 2008

TASMANIAN MEMORIAL UNVEILED
Located within the Botanical Gardens, a memorial to care leavers was dedicated on Wednesday November 26 after a memorial ceremony. CLICK HERE to read the press release about the memorial opening by the Tasmanian Government (opens in a new window). There was little attention payed to the opening by the media; only the Mercury (a tasmanian newspaper) produced a story about the memorial opening and their report concentrated on the loss of a compensation case by one of the attendees which occurred earlier that day. CLICK HERE to read the story.
Updated December 1, 2008

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
Ryan Carlisle Thomas, Solicitors, are currently investigating claims for over 600 claimants who allege they were abused in care in Victoria in the last century and is currently seeking further information regarding specific Homes.

If you witnessed or experienced abuse in

• HILLSIDE BOYS HOME Jells Rd Glen Waverley Vic (Vic Gov't Home)
• STAWELL (PLEASANT CREEK) SPECIAL SCHOOL (Vic Gov't Home)
• ASHENDENE BOYS' HOME Falls Road Olinda Vic (Vic Gov't Home)
• THE LUTHERAN PEACE MEMORIAL HOME 25 Sackville St Kew Vic (Lutheran Church Of Australia)
• BLAMEY HOUSE 124 Balcombe Rd Beaumaris Vic (Melbourne Legacy)
• HOLMBUSH 1267 Burke Rd Kew Vic (Melbourne Legacy)
• STANHOPE 1245 Burke Rd Kew Vic (A Hostel run by Melbourne Legacy)
• HARELANDS 5 Willsmere Rd Kew Vic (Melbourne Legacy), or
• ORANA (METHODIST PEACE MEMORIAL HOMES FOR CHILDREN) Point Nepean Rd Cheltenham Vic or 87 Elgar Rd Burwood Vic (Auspiced by Methodist Church, now the Uniting Church),

please contact Linda Gyorki on 1800 060 070.

Ryan Carlisle Thomas are also especially interested in speaking to anyone who worked in these or any other Victorian Homes who may have witnessed abuse.
Posted November 12, 2008

VICTORIAN PREMIER SIGNALS A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE?
An article published by The Age on Monday, November 10, has highlighted the litigious attitude taken by the Victorian Government to allegations of abuse by care leavers, and may have been instrumental in bringing about a change in that attitude.

The article features the case of Ron Hunt who was placed by the state in the Salvation Army Box Hill Boys Home at the age of 10; CLICK HERE to read it.

In response to the article, a letter from CLAN member Frank Golding was published in the letters-to-the-editor section on November 11. CLICK HERE to read it.

Also in the same letters column was this letter from Beau Lazenby of Collingwood: CLICK HERE.

CLAN wrote to the Age in response to Beau's comments: CLICK HERE.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008, saw a new development in the story as Premier John Brumby acknowledged that the Government's treatment of former wards of the state was "insensitive" and promised to fast-track compensation talks. CLICK HERE to read the story.

CLAN hope that this signals a genuine and welcome change of attitude on the part of the Victorian Government. We will continue to monitor the situation for further developments.

Update: On November 15, The Age published a further letter on the subject (click on the image):

Updated November 24, 2008

The West Australian - Wednesday November 12, 2008
"Victims of abuse offered Redress"

The Western Australian Government’s "Redress WA" initiative has set aside $114 million for ex-gratia payouts for medical or psychological costs incurred following any form of abuse before March 1, 2006. WA Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney has acknowledged that while no amount of money can compensate for the suffering that many state wards and child migrants experienced, they can at least apply for compensation. So far, over 600 applications have been recieved and interim payments of $234,000 have been fast-tracked to 24 people with a terminal or life-threatening illness. CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Note that the phone number given at the end of the article (1800 446 264) is correct only for WA care leavers who no longer live in the state; the number for those still living in WA is 1800 617 233.

For further information on how CLAN can help you with the Redress WA application you can contact Lindal, the CLAN Redress WA worker, on:

Phone: 1800 446 264 (freecall) or (02) 9793 9349
Email: redresswa@clan.org.au

Or check out the WA Government website: www.redress.wa.gov.au
Updated December 1, 2008

NSW EXHIBITION COMMEMORATES IRISH ORPHAN GIRLS
From 1845 to 1850, 2,253 impoverished Orphan girls were driven from Ireland by the famine which was sweeping that country and were sent to Australia severing all family ties. In the Hyde Park Barracks, where they were housed on arrival, the girls were subjected to a strict regime of "morals management, much religious instruction, and the monotonous drudgery of routine chores" while they waited for employment.

The Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Queens Square, Sydney City, is hosting an exhibition commemorating the Girls arrival. The exhibition is open from 9:30 to 5pm until February 2010. Visit the Barracks Museum website www.hht.net.au for more information.
Posted Oct 13, 2008

PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED IN VICTORIA
John Maria Beyer, 66, who as a volunteer worker molested children from the Salvation Army Boys Home, Bayswater, and the Tally Ho Home in Burwood, was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court last Friday to 9 years and 4 months in prison with a non-parole period of 6 years. Beyer's case had come up twice before, on 15 and 23 September, but had been adjourned. Each time, CLAN held protests with specially made posters highlighting the neglect of care survivors by the State Government and the inaction of the past providers of 'care' who have harboured such criminals. When Beyer came up for sentence the third time, CLAN was again at the court in force and the case received wide coverage in the television news.  CLICK HERE to read the story by The Age.
Updated September 29, 2008
Photos Posted October 13, 2008 - Click on the thumbnail above

FATHER'S DAY PRESENTATION TO MR BRUMBY, PREMIER OF VICTORIA
CLAN wanted to use the occasion of Father's Day, 2008, to remind the Premier of Victoria of the burdons carried by Care leavers. We are the State's children, and wished to draw the Premier's attention to this fact, and to the need for an inquiry into the treatment of the Forgotten Australians for whom the state of Victoria has responsibility. A card was prepared and signed by many care-leavers, with gifts of a bottle of "CLAN" scotch and socks in CLAN colours and an embroidered hanky. We will tell you of the outcome, and give more details, next week.

Click HERE or on the thumbnail above to view photographs of the event.
8 Sept 2008 - Additional photos posted. More to come!

CARE-LEAVERS PRESS COVERAGE - Updated November 12th, 2008

PLEASE BE PATIENT....
 ....when you ring the office or send us an email.  CLAN receives a huge number of phone calls and communications every day, so if you ring and get the answering machine, don't hang up! Leave a message and Leonie will get back to you as soon as she can. 

NEWSLETTER BACK ISSUES
CLAN wishes to advise members that we a have a limited number of back issues of the newsletter available for purchase at $2 each. No decision has been made about printing more when these are gone, so any member who wants them should take advantage of the opportunity while they can. To order, write to CLAN or telephone us and we will post them out to you.
Posted January 25, 2008

NEW RELEASES - Updated February 29, 2008

HOME PAGE ARCHIVES

Looking for older news?
In order to ensure that the most recent and important news is as prominant as possible and is not drowned out by older news items, after about 3 months without change, older news is moved to the CLAN NEWS ARCHIVE PAGE. For a quick summary of events affecting care-leavers, you can also view THIS PAGE.

Requests For Assistance Archive
CLAN receives many requests for assistance from the Police and other official bodies. These are displayed on the Home Page for a period of time (at least 2 months), and are then moved to THIS PAGE. Can you help?

Media Reports & Press Statements
Media acknowledgements of Care-leavers are infrequent but hold special meaning when they do appear. CLAN have created an archive page for press releases and such media articles here: PRESS RELEASES & MEDIA ARCHIVE.

Photo Gallery Updates
Want to know what's been posted to the photo gallery lately? Have you sent us an image and want to know if it has been processed yet? Want to know how to access the members section, or the tricks and tips of searching for a particular Home? All this and more can be found here: PHOTO GALLERY MAIN PAGE.

CLAN Events Page
If you are looking for photographs and reports of events other than protests, this is the page where they are stored. Currently, there are images and reports from Vera's Birthday Party, the first Geelong Social, and the Orphanage Museum display at the Geelong Library, amongst others. Links to these items can be found here: CLAN EVENTS PAGE.

OUR 1800 TELEPHONE NUMBER
Care leavers who were in 'care' in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, or the ACT, and who still live in that state, can ring CLAN via our 1800 number, which is 1800 008 774.

CLAN will continue to work towards extending the 1800 number to Queensland and Northern Territory care leavers.