Useful Links

Pathways tells the story of institutional 'care' in Victoria from its beginnings in the 1840s through to the present. It includes stories and images that describe key institutions and auspicing agencies, public figures, legislation andpolicies, events, with links to significant publications and record holdings.

You will not find personal information or private records in Pathways.

The website contains only information that is already published and/orin the public domain. However, Pathways can help to locate where personal records may be kept by government departments or past providersof 'care'.

The United Protestant Association conducted 13 Children's Homes in New South Wales for several decades from 1938.  Contact UPA if you were in one of their Homes, and would like to access the record of your time there, or  require other assistance. 

If the link given doesn't work, go to the UPA website at http://www.upa.org.au and click on the Services tab. Then click on the 'Child Care' link and it will take you to the right page.  As they say,  'UPA is committed to offering a just and compassionate response to all former children-in-care who make contact with us'.

If you once lived in a  Wesley Dalmar Home in NSW, they may still have records of your time in their care, and they have an After Care worker to help you. If you would like to access your file, click on this link to find out how. 

A website dedicated to stories, photos and services for British Child Migrants.

A blog website by ex-Clontarf member Michael, dedicated to the history and his time in Clontarf as a young boy.

They have been referred to as Malta's forgotten children. Over three hundred of them sent unaccompanied to Western Australia during the 1950`s and 60`s. They were sent from the perceived dismal life prospects in Malta to an expected wealth of opportunities down under. The media went in a frenzy unearthing sad stories of child abuse. Governments and institutions initially scrambled for cover then finally put their hands up, became contrite and offered compensation.

But one group of children was seemingly left out of all of this activity and attention – the Maltese. All investigations, discussion and exposure focus on the British and Irish child migrant. The Maltese former child migrant stood in the shadow of the British and the Irish organisations, relying on them to gain some closure to their unfinished business.

That has now changed. They are no longer content to sit on the bench. They formed their own team, determined to play their own game and equally determined to gain their own results.

Established in 2006, the Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA) is a national group of organisations and individuals from across Australia that promotes the interests of the estimated 500,000 people who experienced institutional or other out-of-home care as children in the last century and who suffered physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse. 

AFA is commited to:

• obtaining adequate acknowledgemnt, accountablity and redress for past wrongs
• achieving the full implementation of the recommendations of the Senate Report, overseen by a National Watch Committee
• supporing current efforts to highlight child protection issues, including those relating to Indigenous people and child migrants.

• to maintain a voice so as to continue dialogue regarding the recommendations from the Queensland Government's Forde Inquiry
• to share and disseminate information
• to support each other
• to reconnect and create support groups for ex-residents of each institution and former children in care as required
• to promote affirmative action and ensure recognition of the continued discrimination and disadvantage of ex-residents and former children in care.

National Society for Children and Family Contact (NSCFC) is a registered charity which believes that continuing contact with a child’s parents or extended family after separation or divorce is vital for the child’s balanced development and it works tirelessly to foster those all-important family contacts. As such we offer free support and advice to all those in need. Helpline at National rate on UK 0870 794 0075 or at www.nsfc.com

This new service co-ordinates and provides direct assistance to address the needs and issues of people who grew up in Victorian State care, helps people deal with the legacy of their childhood experiences and provides support to improve their health and wellbeing. It is a service which is accessible, welcoming, open to ideas and to learning, accountable, inclusive and proactive.

The team works in collaboration with service users to deliver high quality, caring services for ‘Forgotten Australians' and their families. The service provides day to day support, life skills, records search and release, support groups, family reunions, counselling, peer support, support in accessing specialist services, financial assistance and advocacy.

The multi-disciplinary team of creative, flexible, professional practitioners are committed to the principles of the service:

* Showing humility and courage
* Being respectful and strengths oriented
* Committed to flexibility and integration
* Demonstrating accountability
* Working together and being inclusive
* Honoring diversity and being culturally sensitive
 

Provides support to survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland.  Includes educational re-training and other support programs, such as: The National Counseling Service, Family Tracing, Social Welfare, Repatriation and Social Housing Scheme and Pensions.

A UK organisation which supports siblings who are separated by care.