About Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants
Forgotten Australians are people who as children spent time in institutional and other out-of-home care up to the end of 1989.
Former Child Migrants are children who arrived in Australia through child migration schemes and were placed in Australian homes, orphanages and other out-of-home care. This was up to 1970.
The term Forgotten Australians can be re-traumatising for some people. Some Forgotten Australians prefer ‘former state wards’, ‘care leavers’, ‘clannies’, ‘homies’ or ‘wardies’. Some dispute the use of the term 'care leavers'.
The reasons children were placed in care included:
- being orphaned
- being born to a single mother
- family dislocation from domestic violence, divorce or separation
- family poverty
- parents' inability to cope with their children.
This often happened because of a crisis or hardship, including war.
Common experiences
Experiences common to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants include:
- abandonment and loss
- grief through separation from their parents and siblings
- loss of identity.
Former Child Migrants also lost connection to their country and culture.
Senate inquiries
These experiences were documented in 3 separate Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiries.
They all called for a national apology. This was a critical step in the healing process for those who suffered and continue to suffer.
Read the reports and find out more on the Development of Find and Connect page.
A National Apology
The Australian Government made the Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants on 16 November 2009. Then Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd, apologised on behalf of the nation to more than 500,000 Australians. The Apology acknowledged that what happened in the past was both real and wrong. This happened at a special remembrance event at Parliament House in Canberra.
After the Apology, the Australian Government developed programs aiming to meet the needs of these Australians.
Visit the Parliament of Australia(Opens in a new tab/window) website for more information and the transcript of the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants.
* Calls made from mobile phones may incur additional costs. If you have a hearing or speech impairment contact the TTY service on 1800 555 677 and ask for 1800 16 11 09. Internet relay users - visit the National Relay Service website(Opens in a new tab/window) and ask for 1800 16 11 09.