Forgotten Australians

The Senate Community Reference Committee Report of the Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care was tabled in Parliament on 30 August 2004. Entitled "Forgotten Australians", the report documents the experiences of children who were in institutional care. Individual and agency submissions were presented to the Senators over a two-year period. The inquiry focussed on the group not previously covered by the Inquiries into Immigrant Children and Aboriginal Children. UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania made a formal submission to the inquiry and appeared before the Inquiry when it held hearings in Melbourne.

"Forgotten Australians" is relevant to both the Uniting Church and to its agencies, especially UnitingCare agencies responsible both in the past and now for the care of children in institutional and other out of home care settings.

In response to the report, the UCA Synod of Victoria and Tasmania issued an unreserved apology to those affected and resolved to undertake a variety of actions with regard to the Synod's Commission for Mission, agencies and the federal and state governments.

A copy of the 2004 Synod resolution and the "Apology to the Australians who experienced harm in institutional or out of home care as children" can be downloaded below.

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