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The secret
everyone should
know about
Contents
A special thank you to Sharing our secret ������������������������������������������������������������4
Jan and Ray, members of Sharing Wattle Place with other
the Wattle Place Consultative Forgotten Australians ��������������������������������������������������������4
Forum. This booklet would not Why everyone needs to know
about Wattle Place��������������������������������������������������������������4
exist if it weren’t for them.
Our hopes for this booklet������������������������������������������������4
So, let’s tell you about Wattle Place!����������������������������6
Wattle Place provides the following services ��������������6
Support Specific to our needs ����������������������������������������7
What makes Wattle Place special?��������������������������������8
Federal Apology to Forgotten Australians �������������� 10
Why do many Forgotten Australians
need a service like Wattle Place?�������������������������������� 12
History of Wattle Place Our reality���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Wattle Place was established following Wattle Place, Relationships
the Apology to Forgotten Australians The trauma stays with us ������������������������������������������������ 12
Australia NSW, acknowledges
and Former Child Migrants, by then the traditional custodians of
Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, the land and waters on which What are some challenges we face day to day?������ 14
on 16 November 2009. A transcript of we live and work, and pays
that Apology is included on pages 10 our respects to Elders past, How can the wider community
and 11 of this booklet. present and future. help Forgotten Australians?������������������������������������������ 16
Linda Burney MP, the former New How to contact Wattle Place���������������������������������������� 18
South Wales Minister for Community
Services, opened Wattle Place in Additional Information and support services���������� 18
March 2011. She acknowledged the
suffering experienced by the Forgotten Crisis numbers�������������������������������������������������������������������� 18
Australians and the role Wattle Place
could play in the process of healing Further Reading���������������������������������������������������������������� 19
by sensitively considering their fears,
needs and concerns.
2 3
Sharing our
Secret
We are Forgotten Australians Sharing Wattle Place with will learn about a part of Australia’s Our hopes for this booklet
and we’d like to tell you other Forgotten Australians history that has been largely kept We have three goals in making
Wattle Place is a safe haven for a secret. We want everyone to this booklet. First of all, to inform
about Wattle Place. know that history, because ending
us, but there are many Forgotten
“Forgotten Australians” is the the secrecy ends the shame. • healthcare staff
Australians who don’t know about
official term given to those who, it. We want to get the word out As the name suggests, “Forgotten • aged care staff
as children, were separated from about Wattle Place, so that more Australians” have felt forgotten • service providers
their parents and placed in foster Forgotten Australians can benefit throughout our lives. We were
homes, orphanages, children’s from it. Wattle Place provides a hidden away and forgotten when •w
orkers in government
homes and other institutions, community of people who share we were children, our experiences departments
before 1990. Some of us prefer the experience of being placed were ignored and forgotten once • the general community
other terms including “care leavers” in institutions or foster homes as we left the institutions or foster
or “former state wards”. The term children. We know how isolating homes, and we were expected to about what we experienced
each of us use and identify with and challenging life can be when just forget our experiences and get during our time in institutions
is a personal choice, and none of you feel like no one understands on with our lives afterwards. Even and foster homes and how
these will be suitable for everyone. what you’ve been through, or what now, after inquiries and apologies, that negatively impacts our
you’re going through now. Wattle that part of Australia’s history, interactions with you now.
Some members of the Stolen
Generations and Former Child Place staff do understand, they along with our experiences, seem to Secondly, to help share the
Migrants were also placed in listen and they know how to help. have been largely forgotten by the collective secrets we hold, and
institutions or foster homes, and wider community. Unfortunately, we generate more understanding,
therefore share similar childhood Why everyone needs to can never forget our experiences more discussion, and highlight the
experiences, and similar impacts in know about Wattle Place because receiving that kind of positive difference other people
adulthood, to Forgotten Australians. We also want the wider community treatment as a child leaves physical can easily make to our lives.
to know about Wattle Place. Many of and psychological scars that
us hold the stories of our own past Thirdly, to invite Forgotten
continue to impact us every day.
as secrets. We find our individual Australians who don’t know about
We want the wider community Wattle Place, to get in touch and
stories very difficult to discuss,
to know and understand what see if Wattle Place can assist you.
but Wattle Place can safely share
happened to us because we don’t
what we, as a group, experienced.
want to be “Forgotten” anymore.
When people know about Wattle
Place and the work they do, they
4 5
So, let’s tell you
about Wattle Place!
Those of us who were in NSW Wattle Place provides a warm,
Wattle Place is part of Wattle Place provides the institutions and foster homes are friendly and relaxed environment
Relationships Australia following services: also eligible for a contribution to get together with others
NSW and provides services • Face to face and towards the costs of some services who understand what we’ve
specifically to support: telephone counselling that support our wellbeing, such experienced, participate in
• Forgotten Australians – that as medical, dental, optical, etc. enriching activities, or just hang out
• Assistance with information
is, people who experienced and chat with our “pet” cat, Wattle.
and referrals to other services In addition, Wattle Place provides
institutional or foster care
separate support services for They offer culturally sensitive
as children, before 1990 • Access to Institutional
people considering applying for support and the opportunity to
and personal records
• Members of the Stolen Redress under the National Redress speak with Aboriginal counsellors,
Generations and Former Child • Family tracing Scheme, and people who were if you’d prefer. Wattle Place also
Migrants who were also placed impacted by past forced adoptions. offers a number of the services
• Therapeutic Casework
in institutions or foster homes over the phone, online and through
• Social activities and All these services are free and
coordination with other services.
• Anyone 26 years or older who do not require a referral.
commemorative events
was placed in out-of-home You may have never identified
care in NSW after 1990 • The Drop-in centre Support specific to our needs as a Forgotten Australian, or
• Group workshops Wattle Place has around 20 staff known of the existence of the
who specialise in supporting people term, but if you were placed in
• A quarterly newsletter with childhood experiences of institutions or foster homes when
institutional and foster care. They you were a child, you are eligible
understand the ongoing impacts for support from Wattle Place.
that those experiences can continue If you feel that you need some
to have throughout life, and provide support, we encourage you to
non-judgmental, compassionate contact Wattle Place to see if
and empathetic support. The staff it is the right service for you.
are strong advocates for us and
are here to help us navigate life.
6 7
What makes
Wattle Place
special?
A place to belong Wattle Place provides an They know the importance of trust gain new skills, experience
The sense of belonging that Wattle opportunity to be around others Wattle Place staff are dedicated new things and develop
Place creates is invaluable to us, who have a shared experience. to helping us and work to earn our connections and friendships.
but Wattle Place does so much trust slowly through compassion,
more. Wattle Place provides social We have choices honesty and reliability. They recognise our strengths
connections and the opportunity We are given choice over our Although we share a common
to be a part of a community where involvement at Wattle Place. They support our search for answers bond, each of our experiences
we feel we are among friends and This is important to us, as the Finding records of our identity, our were different, and each of our
we belong. Knowing that we have powerlessness we felt in our family or our time in out-of-home responses and coping mechanisms
somewhere to go for support when childhood was very traumatic. care can be incredibly significant are different. Despite what we went
we need it, provides a sense of for us, but can have both positive through in our childhood, many
security and increased confidence We are respected and negative effects. Wattle Place of us have survived. Even though,
in facing some of our challenges. Wattle Place staff understand not only help us find our records, for many of us, that survival has
what we struggle with and but also provide support, when we its challenges, we continue to
We are believed show us respect and kindness. need it, to deal with what we find. battle through. Wattle Place staff
The staff at Wattle Place This is not always the case out recognise and acknowledge that.
are aware of the history and in the wider community We have fun and form friendships
continuing impacts on Forgotten The group work and the social
Australians. It is liberating to be activities offered by Wattle
able to confide in someone (if we Place provide fun and varied
choose to) and to be believed. ways to explore our creativity,
8 9
Motion of apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants
We come together today to deal with an ugly chapter in our
nation’s history. And we come together today to offer our as child migrants - robbed of your And we reflect with you as well, in
nation’s apology. To say to you, the Forgotten Australians, and families, robbed of your homeland, sad remembrance, on those who
regarded not as innocent children but simply could not cope and who
those who were sent to our shores as children without your
regarded instead as a source of child took their own lives in absolute
consent, that we are sorry. labour. To those of you who were despair. We recognise the pain you
told you were orphans, brought here have suffered. Pain is so very, very
Sorry - that as children you that many of these little ones who without your parents’ knowledge or personal. Pain is so profoundly
were taken from your families were entrusted to institutions and consent, we acknowledge the lies disabling. So, let us together,
and placed in institutions where foster homes instead, were abused you were told, the lies told to your as a nation, allow this apology
so often you were abused. physically, humiliated cruelly, violated mothers and fathers, and the pain to begin to heal this pain.
sexually. And we look back with these lies have caused for a lifetime.
Sorry - for the physical suffering, Healing the pain felt by so many
shame at how those with power To those of you separated on the
the emotional starvation and the of the half a million of our fellow
were allowed to abuse those who dockside from your brothers and
cold absence of love, of tenderness, Australians who were children in
had none. And how then, as if this sisters; taken alone and unprotected
of care. care - children in our care. And let us
was not injury enough, you were left to the most remote parts of a foreign
ill-prepared for life outside - left to also resolve this day that this national
Sorry - for the tragedy, the land - we acknowledge today that
fend for yourselves; often unable apology becomes a turning point in
absolute tragedy, of childhoods the laws of our nation failed you.
to read or write; to struggle alone our nation’s story. A turning point for
lost,- childhoods spent instead in
with no friends and no family. And for this we are deeply sorry. shattered lives. A turning point for
austere and authoritarian places,
governments at all levels and of every
where names were replaced by For these failures to offer proper care We think also today of all the families
political hue and colour to do all in
numbers, spontaneous play by to the powerless, the voiceless and of these Forgotten Australians and
our power to never let this happen
regimented routine, the joy of the most vulnerable, we say sorry. former child migrants who are still
again. For the protection of children
learning by the repetitive drudgery grieving, families who were never
We reflect too today on the is the sacred duty of us all.
of menial work. reunited, families who were never
families who were ripped apart
reconciled, families who were lost to This is the motion that later this day
Sorry - for all these injustices to simply because they had fallen on
one another forever. We reflect too this Government will commend to the
you, as children, who were placed hard times. Hard times brought about
on the burden that is still carried by Parliament of Australia.
in our care. by illness, by death and by poverty.
our own children, your own children,
Some simply left destitute when The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
As a nation, we must now reflect on your grandchildren, your husbands,
fathers damaged by war could no Prime Minister
those who did not receive proper your wives, your partners and your
longer cope. Again, we say sorry for
care. We look back with shame friends - and we thank them for 16 November 2009
the extended families you
that so many of you were left cold, the faith, the love and the depth
never knew.
hungry and alone, and with nobody, of commitment that has helped
absolutely nobody, to whom you We acknowledge the particular pain see you through the valley of tears
could turn. We look back with shame of children shipped to Australia that was not of your own making.
10 11
Why do many
Forgotten Australians
need a service like
Wattle Place?
Wattle Place was established health and dental care, poor or The trauma stays with us reliving the trauma. We therefore
by the NSW Government non-existent education, separation respond, neurologically, as the child
For many of us, our childhood
from family, abandonment and a experiencing the trauma.
in acknowledgment of the loss of identity while placed in these
experiences have left us in
In these situations, we may become
ongoing impacts from the circumstances where, in adulthood,
institutions or foster homes. angry, abusive, panicked or non-
we have regular interactions with
mistreatment Forgotten Unfortunately for us, the majority the social security, health and justice
compliant.
Australians received as of Australians didn’t know it was systems. These can be stressful It may seem to you that we are
children while in institutions happening at the time, still aren’t environments for anyone, but are being unreasonable or irrational,
and foster homes. aware that it happened and aren’t even more difficult for us, given our that we are just being stubborn. But
aware of the trauma we have carried fear and mistrust of Government that is not the case. The trauma we
Our reality with us our whole lives from those authority. experienced as children typically
experiences. develops into complex trauma, that
While not all institutional or out- Every day, the interactions we
is, trauma which structurally and
of-home care experiences were (Further reading about what we’ve have, in all kinds of situations,
chemically altered our developing
negative, sadly a large proportion been through: Please see the links will potentially trigger distressing
brains. Our responses, therefore, are
of them were incredibly traumatic. on page 19 of this booklet) memories or flashbacks to traumatic
instinctual and involuntary.
Many of us, as children, experienced experiences in our childhood. In
things we never should have. We those moments, it is as though (Further reading about complex
suffered horrific brutality, sexual we are back in those terrifying trauma: Please see the Blueknot
assault, cruelty, humiliation, neglect, situations, and therefore Foundation link on page 19 of this
exploitation, poor or non-existent booklet)
12 13
What are some challenges
we face day to day? endured sometimes prevented us
from developing the emotional
Difficulty trusting others
Trusting in people is very difficult
building blocks required to for us. Too often we had no one
form a healthy and positive to place our trust in, and if we did,
sense of self and belonging. our trust was often betrayed or
exploited. We particularly mistrust
Struggles with our Identity Government departments and
Any situation where we feel We can be sensitive about our
privacy and belongings, things that Our identity can be another difficult authority figures, given their
we don’t have control, or subject for us. We lost our sense past responsibility and role in
were often denied to us as children.
feel threatened physically or of self as individuals, our sense our traumatic childhoods.
emotionally, is likely to trigger Filling in forms or using a computer of connection and belonging and
can be stressful, even humiliating. our sense of place and worth. Fear of an unknown future
negative reactions in us. We were often denied a good, or Sometimes our names were One of the greatest concerns
any, education and are therefore changed and some of us were only
Fear of being triggered among many of us is that we will
not always good at reading or identified by numbers. Record
It can be something as small end up having to go into nursing
writing. The shame we feel makes keeping about us was often poor
as a smell, a sound, an item or homes as we age. Facing re-
it difficult to tell people, so we or non-existent, so we often don’t
a name, that reminds us of the institutionalisation and vulnerability
may respond by getting agitated. even know standard things about
institution itself, or something is a terrifying prospect, one that
Having to tell our own personal our identity or family history. many of us simply cannot face.
that happened to us in the
institution or foster home. stories is particularly distressing,
so having to repeat it each time Difficulty connecting with others
Physical touch, and intrusion on we see a new medical practitioner Connection to our family was often
our personal space or privacy, can or service provider is extremely completely severed. We were
trigger flashbacks to sexual assault difficult. We often just don’t tell commonly lied to and told that our
or other feelings of intimidation, people, even though it would parents had died or abandoned
humiliation and powerlessness. be easier for us if they knew. us. This and the treatment we
This makes medical examinations endured quite often negatively
particularly difficult and will often Our experiences of being talked
impacted our ability to form
prevent us seeking treatment early, down to by government staff
and maintain positive and loving
sometimes avoiding appointments, and those in authority, when
relationships, often affecting our
at the expense of our health. dealing with departments such
marriages and parenting. We were
as Centrelink, Housing and
Being in a hospital ward can commonly deprived of love and
Health, makes us feel belittled,
remind us of being in the positive attention. We suffered a
intimidated and reminds us of the
dormitory of an institution. profound sense of separation and
contempt with which we were
abandonment. “The loss of family,
treated by authority figures in the
usually including separation from
institutions and foster homes.
siblings, caused grief, feelings of
Apart from specific “triggers”, we isolation, guilt, self-blame and
often also suffer ongoing mental confusion about their identity.” 2
health issues such as depression,
anxiety and sometimes personality
disorders.1 The trauma that we 1 & 2 Alliance for Forgotten Australians, 2014, Forgotten Australians:
Supporting survivors of childhood institutional care in Australia
14 15
How can the wider Learn more about complex trauma Please remember…
community help Being more aware of complex
trauma, and useful ways to manage
Your response matters
We need you to help us manage in
Forgotten Australians? the reactions, responses and
behaviours stemming from it, will
these situations. We need you to
take this information on board and
improve your ability to respond use your increased understanding
effectively in situations that would to guide how you work with us.
Reading this booklet is the first step! Understand what we went otherwise be very challenging. Small changes you make can make
through and how the physical, mental and emotional burden of a big difference in our lives.
Refer people to Wattle Place
those experiences continues to impact our lives.The good news
If you recognise similar past Our aim is that everyone
is, there are things you can do to help us get through these experiences, or similar reactions,
difficulties in life. For instance: responses or behaviours in a loved
will understand what being a
one, friend, neighbour, customer Forgotten Australian means
or client of yours, ask them if they and how that might be
Ask the question more at ease and have confidence know about Wattle Place. If they
in you. It may be that we then have impacting us. All we really ask
If you notice behaviours like those don’t, please let them know about it.
a conversation about options which is to be treated with respect
described in this booklet, it would
help to ask, “have you ever spent
will enable us to proceed. Contact Wattle Place and understanding, so that we
time in a foster home or institution Understand our perspective If you need advice or assistance can have peace of mind and
as a child?” This prevents us having We realise some of our reactions, about how to support a Forgotten hope, that our future can be
to explain ourselves or tell you responses and behaviours can be Australian, or someone you think free of the fear we endured
details about our past, which can difficult for you, but the reality is may be a Forgotten Australian,
be very distressing. they can cause great distress in our please contact Wattle Place.
in our past.
lives. We wish we didn’t experience
If we answer “yes”, it is really
them, and we work on minimising
important that you:
and managing them for our own
Believe us wellbeing, with the help of services
such as Wattle Place. However, that
Being believed is very important
is incredibly difficult and takes a
for us. We often guard this secret
great deal of mental and emotional
closely, so if we reveal this secret to
strength, which we don’t always
you, we need it to be validated.
have.
“I believe you” is not a phrase we
are used to hearing.
Avoid assumptions and biases
Ask “what do you need from me?” Communicate clearly with kindness,
empathy and sensitivity, with a view
We may not always know the
to understanding how to minimise
answer, but asking us shows us that
our distress.
you understand and respect us.
That, in itself, may help us to feel
16 17
Support for Further
Forgotten Australians Reading
Services for Forgotten Australians Additional information and support
are also available in other states and is available at:
territories.
Find and Connect
For further information, please www.findandconnect.gov.au
contact us at Wattle Place:
Alliance for Forgotten Australians
Freecall: 1800 663 844 (AFA)
(02) 8837 7000 www.forgottenaustralians.org.au
wattleplace@ransw.org.au
Care Leavers Australasia Network
www.wattleplace.org.au (CLAN)
www.clan.org.au/support@clan.
org.au
Link-up NSW Aboriginal Corporation
www.linkupnsw.org.au
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health (2016)
If you feel distressed by anything in this booklet, please contact Caring for Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants and
Wattle Place, or one of the services below: Stolen Generations
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/support-services/people-from-diverse-
backgrounds/caring-for-forgotten-australians-former-child-migrants-and-
NSW Rape Crisis Centre Blueknot Helpline
stolen-generations-booklet
24/7 phone and online counselling Mon to Fri 9am—5pm
1800 424 017 1300 657 380 Elizabeth Fernandez, et.al. 2015
www.nswrapecrisis.com.au www.blueknot.org.au/Helpline No child should grow up like this: Identifying long term outcomes of
Forgotten Australians, Child Migrants and the Stolen Generations School
Samsn (Survivors and Mates Lifeline Australia of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales
Support Network)
24/7 Crisis Support and Suicide www.forgottenaustralians.unsw.edu.au
Mon to Fri 9am—5pm Prevention
1800 472 676 13 11 14 Blueknot Foundation
www.samsn.org.au www.lifeline.org.au https://www.blueknot.org.au/Resources/Information/Understanding-abuse-
and-trauma/What-is-childhood-trauma/Childhood-trauma-and-the-brain
Suicide Call Back Service
24/7 phone and online counselling National Museum of Australia
1300 659 467 Inside: Life in Children’s Homes and Institutions – Exhibition website
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au https://forgottenaustralianshistory.gov.au/exhibition.html
18 19“We hope this booklet will help us share the collective secrets we hold, and will generate more understanding, more discussion, and highlight the positive difference other people can easily make to our lives.” Jan and Ray For further information, please visit our website at: www.wattleplace.org.au Freecall: 1800 663 844 Phone: 02 8837 7000 Email: wattleplace@ransw.org.au This booklet does not express the views of all Forgotten Australians associated with Wattle Place or those outside of the Wattle Place community. © Wattle Place 2019
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