Chapter 11 - Recognition of care leavers
The Government needs to
take responsibility for what happened to me so I can have closure to a part of
my life I wish I never had...I need the Government to help validate and
acknowledge me.[740]
11.1
This chapter discusses the need to recognise the role
of care leavers and the part they have played in Australia's
history and to ensure that their experiences are recorded for future
generations.
11.2
In addition to the need for a formal acknowledgment of
care leavers, evidence to the inquiry emphasised the need for other tangible
forms of recognition whether they be in the form of memorials; the holding of
reunions; and the recording of their history - both personal histories and the
history of the institutions - and the proper recording of the place of
institutional care in Australia's social history.
11.3
Evidence indicated that these measures of
acknowledgment and recognition would provide testimony to the part care leavers
have played in Australia's
history and ensure that the experiences of care leavers are recorded for future
generations. This is especially important given the estimates that upwards of
500 000 Australians experienced childhood care in institutions and that
consequently millions of Australians now have links to these adults who were in
care as children.
Memorials
11.4
Some submissions suggested that a suitable memorial or
memorials should be erected to the memory of care leaves. CLAN argued that
there should be a tangible acknowledgment of the history of care leavers in
every State capital city with the construction of a memorial to all children
who grew up in care - 'here is an opportunity to acknowledge the alternative
history of care - as seen through the eyes of the children who suffered it'.
CLAN noted that memorials are important as many of the homes and institutions
have disappeared or have been demolished, along with the histories of their
inmates.[741]
11.5
Other memorials suggested included plaques on the sites
of former institutions or the construction of memorial gardens in each State.[742] Many Homes
that remain standing today have changed purposes over the years and it is
important that their heritage is recorded in a visible way. MacKillop Family
Services have had plaques placed at the site of former homes run by several
religious Orders. The wording on each plaque briefly describes the history of
each site and records the number of former residents at each site. MacKillop
stated that many former residents attending reunions commented on the
significance of the wording on the plaques and the positive effect this has had
on them - 'they feel that they are now remembered and acknowledged'.[743] As many
care leavers believe they were wrongly incarcerated such an acknowledgment can
reflect a sense of righting the wrong.
11.6
One ex-resident from Goodwood Orphanage suggested the
construction of a public art mural, possibly in the grounds of the former
orphanage, as a form of memorial to former ex residents. The care leaver
expressed the hope that this artistic expression 'will provide hope and
inspirational tools to alleviate human suffering to those seeking
reconciliation, recognition and transformation'.[744] Others have
suggested that medals of recognition be awarded to care leavers for having
survived their tragic childhoods.
11.7
Other submissions argued that memorial gardens should
be constructed. One submission noted that these gardens could contain the names
of care leavers on a memorial plaque and could be a place 'where all
"homies" and their families could meet for friendly picnics'.[745] Other submissions
suggested a series of television documentaries or films as a form of
commemoration.[746]
The co-producer of Unholy Orders, a
documentary film about life in orphanages in Scotland, told the Committee of
the positive experiences that the contributors to that film experienced - the
feeling that at last they were being heard and acknowledged - '[it] is not just
being listened to, it is about being believed...and then it is being put on the
public record that this occurred'.[747]
11.8
Submissions also suggested that there should be permanent
or special exhibits relating to the history of care leavers in museums. CLAN
argued that as a contribution to placing this history on the public record, the
Museum of Australia in Canberra
should have a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of care leavers so
as to document the experiences of so many thousands of Australian citizens over
a century:
Get the dinosaurs out of the Australian museum, for once, and
dedicate it to orphanages and children. Let our histories be visible. I want my
children to be as conversant with this story as they are with the stolen
generations and the child migrants.[748]
11.9
The Committee notes that CLAN is organising an art
exhibition to be held in Parliament
House, Sydney in April 2005 as a means of highlighting
the history of care leavers. One care leaver noted that 'we do have a culture,
we do have a past, the art exhibition is about ex residents of institutions. We
have been silent for too long and now have an opportunity to tell our stories
through the art exhibition'.[749]
Reunions
11.10
Evidence to the Committee commented on the importance
of holding reunions of ex-residents. A number of reunions in several States
have been organised gathering together former residents of both State and
Church-run orphanages. These reunions provide another form of acknowledging care
leavers' past and aiding in the 'healing process'.
11.11
A number of reunions have been organised under the
various Churches' auspices.[750] MacKillop
Family Services has organised a number of gatherings of former residents of
institutions. Barnardos noted that one of the ways they maintain contact with
former residents is through reunions and functions.[751] UnitingCare
Burnside also arranges annual reunions so
that ex residents can come back 'should they wish to do that in some sort of
formal and somewhat celebratory sense'.[752]
11.12
Some care leavers stated that reunions were of great
value in meeting up with past residents and as a way of acknowledging, and in
some cases confronting, their past.
My daughter never wanted to acknowledge it [my past] over the
years, and I never pushed it in her face, but she came to the [Parramatta]
reunion and it was the best thing for her to see.[753]
Last year when I went to the reunion at Lynwood Hall - that was
the first one I had attended - I was hoping and praying that Mrs
Davies would be there because I wanted to
confront her. Maybe momentarily I would have felt good if I could have placed
her in isolation.[754]
I have recently been to the reunion of the Parramatta Girls Home
and Lynwood Hall and just watching these women tell their stories of abuse is
heart wrenching and it makes me so sad that anyone could live with such
shocking memories. Someone must be made accountable. It must be recorded and
known that nobody needs to be treated in such a dreadful manner. I believe your
childhood is what makes the adult and I know that life is harder for me with my
memories. (Sub 271)
About 4 years ago a reunion was held...for those who were the
children of the Presbyterian Home, Byford...Because it was such an enjoyable
reunion it was decided that we should try and organise a reunion...in twelve
months time...in excess of about 50 people attended the reunion. Some people
bought their children and even their grandchildren. This was 57 years since I
had left the home...There were 8 women and 4 men who were children at the home
during my period - it was as though we had never been apart. (Sub 319)
I read about...the reunion at Goulburn. I met 2 old boys there
walking through St John's and that
bought back some bad memories. My wife was with me, she asked me how I could
remember where everything was, very easy I said "The memory of this bloody
place will always be imbedded in my head". (Sub 297)
11.13
MacKillop Family Services commented on the very
positive feedback received from ex-residents who attended gatherings that they
had organised. The participants expressed the view that the reunions had
'acknowledged their past' and contributed to the 'healing process'.[755]
11.14
The Committee was told that some institutions have not
organised reunions of former residents.[756] Some care
leavers expressed the view that there would be value in organising such
gatherings, especially as they provided an opportunity to meet up with former
residents. One care leaver noted that:
At least you could find out how they are they getting on. Maybe
it would be a help for all of us.[757]
11.15
Some care leavers, however, report that reunions are of
little benefit. One care leaver, who was placed in several institutions, noted
'I do not go back to reunions of any of the Homes, because it brings back bad
memories to me'.[758]
Another stated that:
Whenever I am asked to go up to a reunion, they can go to hell.
I will not go. Why would I go up for a reunion?...you can still hear the kids
screaming in your mind from what went on there.[759]
Reunions and open days bring
back a flood of memories. The following is a vivid description of returning to
Lynwood Hall.
The add in the paper - it asked anyone
connected with Lynwood Hall to contact the person printed in the add. It could
be either staff or girls who had been sent to this girl’s home in Guildford. Memories came flooding back;...Last Sunday
was open day and my granddaughter volunteered to drive me down. We were asked
to take a plate, so off we went with 2 plates of sandwiches and a map book to
find our way to Byron Street Guildford. The house had been a beautiful very big
home, built in 1891. It was huge with lots of separate additions, a long drive
led back on the block, the gardens had been neglected but the remains of a pond
and fountain sat in the front of the house, and a rotunda of sorts over to the
left. All I could remember was the long drive.
Why was I left here, in a home for girls,
knowing no one and not one word said to me about where I was being dumped? My
granddaughter asked how I felt at the age of 13 yrs - numb was all I could
think of, I must have been terrified, I remember meeting the boss of the
establishment and remember the bed I slept in with a row of similar beds on
both sides of this large dormitory I can still hear the crying of most of the
girls, including me at night.
...as I walked around the rooms, I recognised
the kitchen, one of quite a few, this brought back memories of picking out the
weevils from the custard. We walked around the huge hall, which had been the
dining room, silence was the order of the day, and if you talked at the table
punishment would follow. This could be scrubbing or polishing the floor of this
huge hall. I must have done something because I can remember lining up with
about 4 other girls and scrubbing that floor...
We found the solitary cells, outside the main
building near the laundry, the window was larger than I remember, but it had
wire on the outside...later I managed to get a peek into the cell. A room about
10 ft x 5ft, a mattress on the floor. I took a photo of this room, but had been
told to close the door and check the back of it. The door had been lined with
some metal and bruising of this metal showed up the dints inflicted by the
girls in their terror of being locked up, on their own, away from the rest of
us. Can you imagine the affect it would have on young girls?
I met some of these girls, not from the 1943
time, they were mainly those who had been there in the l960’s, they were hoping
to have met the “boss” of their days but she had died a few months ago. How
they would have liked to take her down to the cells and give her a piece of her
own treatment. They were laughing about the times of punishment after running
away, it is funny looking back, but behind the laughter was a terrible sadness.
Their childhood had been stolen from them, the girls had spirit, which still
showed, they had been state wards, nothing really bad, but treating people as
numbers without feelings just is not the way to go.
(Submission 270)
Other forms of recognition
11.16
A number of Churches and religious Orders have also
established or are in the process of establishing heritage centres on the sites
of former institutions to preserve the memories of the past and inform visitors
about that past. Displays usually record the history of the institution and
experiences of individual past residents.[760] UnitingCare
Burnside stated that it has an established
heritage program including a museum that records the experience of ex
residents, and includes historical displays and historical archives.[761]
Oral histories
11.17
Another area of activity commented on during the
inquiry was the importance of collecting oral histories. Oral histories are
important in ensuring that the experiences of care leavers are not lost to the
current, and, to future generations. CLAN noted that:
People start to even doubt their own experience...when no-one
wants to know their stories. Sometimes their family does not want to know
because it is too confronting. That is the great benefit of telling your story
- putting it out there, making it visible. Then other people hear it and
believe it.[762]
11.18
Some oral
history projects have been undertaken. MacKillop Family Services has completed
two oral history projects - one focused on capturing the stories of elderly
religious and the other on recording the experiences of former residents of
former Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St Joseph and Christian Brothers-run
orphanages in Melbourne.
Over 80 former residents and staff were interviewed as part of these projects.[763]
11.19
A study by Mr McIntosh
into Catholic orphanages used the oral history approach to describe, from
personal experiences of recollected childhood, what it was like to live in
orphanages in the 1950s and 1960s in Victoria.
He noted that this approach is important because there is very little available
in the literature in this area of social history and policy.
There is certainly nothing which illuminates the personal
response to institutional life in Victoria
as seen by the adult, looking back. The personal experiences are engrossing and
worth telling in their own right. They give insights into a nexus between
educational life chances and home background. Such an approach can inform
policy made today in relation to children in need.[764]
11.20
Mr McIntosh
noted that the participants in his project felt that their experiences should
not be allowed to 'dissipate through time' and all expressed a strong need to
'set down on record their childhood experiences'. Some also expressed a hope
that the project would go some way towards 'providing some enlightenment on the
issues and perspectives to which were subjected without any choice'.[765] These
sentiments were also expressed by many care leavers in evidence to this
inquiry.
11.21
A number of care leavers have written books outlining
their childhood experiences in various institutions. These recollections are
particularly valuable not only in a therapeutic sense for the writers
themselves but they also add considerable insights into an aspect of Australian
social history that has been sadly neglected over the years.
11.22
While these individual projects are of value, the
Committee believes that there is a need for the National Library of Australia
to collect oral histories in a systematic and more wide-ranging manner from
former children in institutions and from around Australia
so that their experiences are not lost to history and the histories are readily
accessible.
11.23
The National Library currently records and collects a
diverse range of oral history interviews. In the context of modern library collections,
the National Library noted that oral history is understood to mean the use of
sound recording technology to record interviews and, where resources permit,
preparing transcripts of the interviews in print or electronic form. In recent
years the Library's collection has become more diverse - in addition to
biographical interviews with Australians of national standing, oral history
projects have been initiated which aim to record particular aspects of
Australian social history or the experiences of particular groups. These
projects are undertaken to ensure that recordings are made with individuals and
groups who are not likely to leave written records and who may therefore be
marginalised in Australian history.[766]
11.24
The National Library has no dedicated project in place
to collect oral histories of former children in institutions. It has however
collected the oral histories of indigenous people arising out of the Bringing them home report and also has a
small project to collect the oral histories of former child migrants. The
Committee believes that in relation to the recording of oral histories, the
written submissions and transcripts of evidence to this inquiry will prove
invaluable as future source material.
11.25
The establishment of oral history projects and their
collection could also be facilitated by the Oral History Association of
Australia, which promotes the practice and methods of oral history, educates in
the use of oral history methods and fosters the preservation of oral history
records.
Research into institutional care and its consequences
11.26
The inquiry highlighted the paucity of historical
research into institutional care and the lack of substantial research into the
broader question of the social and economic consequences of that form of care
in the Australian context.
11.27
Evidence pointed to the fact that care leavers and
their experiences in care have been largely 'written out' of the historical
records. CLAN noted that:
There is a book called Australian
Childhood - it is a history of Australian childhood. We are not in there;
we are not in there at all. It is a recent book - it came out a couple of years
ago. There is a book called the Country
of Lost Children by Pierce; we are not in there either. If ever there were
lost children, it is us. We are not in histories; we are not in accounts of
childhood.[767]
11.28
CLAN noted that 'there is a lot of isolated research
that is not collected [together]...Most of the records of the child welfare
department, apart from the state ward files, have gone - the records of the
homes have gone'.[768]
Where academic studies have been published there is no central point where the
publications are listed and where they can be easily accessed.
11.29
Evidence also pointed to the paucity of research within
universities into matters related to child protection and related issues. One
academic noted that 'I am the lone voice banging on about child protection
issues and legal responsibility...from an academic point of view, I am on my
own in the department of criminology. There is no-one else'.[769]
11.30
Evidence indicates that even when research is conducted
it is not used to inform policy in the area. One witness, who conducted a study
into Catholic orphanages in Victoria,
told the Committee that he was never contacted by the relevant State
authorities over any follow-up in relation to his research - 'It just
disappeared until this hearing. There may be a copy somewhere in the education
faculty at Monash...Apart from that, I think it has been a lost document until
now'.[770]
11.31
Comprehensive social research and analysis is needed
into the complex subject of child welfare/child protection and its interaction
with other areas such as welfare dependency, social problems such as drug and
alcohol abuse, family relationship breakdowns, and criminology. Broken Rights
suggested that a research body such as the Australian Institute of Family
Studies (AIFS) could undertake this type of research.[771]
11.32
The AIFS presently conducts and coordinates research
into factors that affect the well being of Australian families. It operates a number
of research programs on issues related to 'children and parenting' and 'family
and society' as well as specialist units such as the National Child Protection
Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse, which is funded by the Department of Family
and Community Services, has provided analyses of trends in out of home care
provision for a range of government and non-government organisations, including
the Forde Commission. The Clearinghouse has produced a number of papers
designed to inform the development of child abuse prevention and child
protection policies. These have included analyses of the extent and impact of
child abuse, the changing nature of child protection practice over time, and
the adequacy of current approaches to protecting children and/or preventing
child abuse and neglect. In 1998, the Institute undertook a joint project with
the South Australian Office of Families and Children assessing the fiscal and
economic costs of child maltreatment in that State.
11.33
The Clearinghouse also compiles a comprehensive
collection of the latest research and practice resources concerned with child
protection and child abuse prevention - currently it holds over 6000 records in
its catalogue database related to child abuse/neglect, including both
Australian and international material. However, its holdings of historical
material relating to institutional care are limited.[772]
11.34
Witnesses commented on attempts to encourage more
research in the area of child welfare and related areas. One witness noted that
the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia has been attempting to
proactively engage researchers and 'we have a linkage that is bearing fruit in
trying to come up with a collective way of doing research on child welfare
issues, trying to engage a number of academics across a number of universities
who have an interest in this area, working with agencies and trying to
encourage departments to become involved in that too'.[773]
11.35
The Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA)
stated that obtaining government funding for research into out of home care was
difficult - many welfare organisations fund their own research or engage in
partnerships with universities in an attempt to get ARC grants - 'but that is a
complex process and the money does not flow terribly readily'. The ACWA has
recently received a grant from the Ian Potter Foundation to undertake an audit
of currently available research in out-of-home care. The ACWA stated 'we are
getting to the point where we should have a comprehensive audit and listing of
all available research in Australia
on out-of-home care. That would show us what was not being researched and we
hope that would give us ammunition to support research projects where we could
demonstrate that those areas were not being adequately researched'.[774]
11.36
The Committee notes the recent Commonwealth Government
initiative to establish a new Chair in Child Protection based at the University
of South Australia with the aim to
provide a special focus on research into child protection issues. It is
envisaged that the position will focus national research on the origins, impacts
and prevention of child abuse and assist researchers working to combat child
abuse across the disciplines of early childhood and family studies, psychology,
education and literacy, conflict management, service delivery and social policy.[775] The Committee
welcomes the establishment of this important new Chair and encourages further
initiatives in this area.
11.37
Another pressing area requiring research is the long
term social and economic impact of institutional care and its intergenerational
consequences. CBERSS commented that:
There is very little [research] in those terms...Economic and some
of the social costs of those experiences are often simply not addressed at all,
and there is a great paucity of literature in that area unfortunately.[776]
11.38
The AIFS also commented on the lack of research in this
area:
Most of the "evidence" on the effects of maltreatment
in general does not come from carefully conducted studies that can conclusively
demonstrate causal links. Little longitudinal data exists on the outcomes for
Australian children looked after away from home in Australia
and none that tries to separate the effects of abuse before and during
out-of-home care, and none that specifically focuses on institutional
out-of-home care.[777]
11.39
Dr McCluskey
focussed her comments on the need for research into the intergenerational
issues:
The particular issues raised by the 'Australian experience' [of
institutional care and its effects on children] needs addressing through properly
funded research that can set the issue within the political and cultural agenda
of the time as well as taking account of what we now know about the effect of
emotional trauma not just on the individual but on those with whom that
individual proceeds to form a relationship. The consequences of abuse, through
unprocessed grief (eg. for how one's life might have been under different
circumstances) may well be generational...I hope that...funds are made available
for detailed research that addresses not just the social and political
consequences but also the intergenerational consequences of abuse and neglect,
so that we all learn from past policy and practice.[778]
11.40
CLAN, in arguing for research into the economic and
social costs of institutional care, argued the costs will most probably be high
in terms of the use of services such as health, including mental health,
housing and family services, drug and alcohol services and income support. CLAN
argued that:
...research which points up the link between childhood neglect and
abuse and the cost to government through services to the adults produced
through such childhoods, is essential if we are to learn from the past, and put
in place in the present, interventions which will reduce the social and
economic cost of family disruption and care experiences.[779]
Conclusion
11.41
The Committee strongly believes that Australia
must recognise the existence and positive contributions that care leavers have
made to the nation. The Committee believes that as part of this recognition process,
governments and the Churches and agencies should fund a set of memorials to
care leavers. These could take several forms including memorial gardens, which
could be constructed in conjunction with local councils; the placement of
plaques at the site of former institutions; and the construction of heritage
centres. The Committee notes that a number of Churches and agencies have placed
plaques and have established heritage centres and it believes that other Churches
and agencies should also undertake such projects.
11.42
The Committee
considers that reunions of former residents should be encouraged and facilitated
by governments and the Churches and agencies. The Committee notes that many
successful reunions have already been held.
11.43
The Committee believes that such measures would be part
of a tangible acknowledgment by governments and the Churches and agencies of
their roles in the placing of care leavers in institutions and the consequences
of these policies.
11.44
The Committee is of the view that funding should be provided
to facilitate the recording of the history of care leavers both in a personal
sense, through written or oral histories, and also in the larger sense of
recording their place in Australia's social history. As part of this heritage
recognition the Committee, while recognising that it is not Parliament's role
to make curatorial decisions for our cultural bodies, is also of the view that
the National Museum
of Australia
should consider establishing an exhibition related to the history and
experiences of children in institutional care. The Committee envisages that
such an exhibition could be permanent and have the capacity to be taken around Australia
as a travelling exhibition.
11.45
The Committee also considers that research is urgently
needed to identify the historical, social and economic impact of institutional
care with a view to identifying positive interventions which will reduce the
social and economic cost of present day family breakdown and out-of-home care
experiences. In addition, the Committee believes that courses of study should
be established at selected universities around Australia that focus on the institutional
history of care, child protection and related issues, and in particular
psychology, childhood and family studies, conflict management, the impact of
institutional care and social policy to address these issues. The Committee
notes the recent establishment of the Chair in Child Protection at the University
of South Australia and welcomes
this initiative.
Recommendation 34
11.46
That the Commonwealth and State Governments, in
conjunction with the Churches and agencies, provide funding for the erection of
suitable memorials commemorating care leavers. Where possible, memorials could
take the form of:
-
memorial gardens constructed in conjunction with
local councils;
-
the placement of plaques at the site of former
institutions; and/or
-
the construction of heritage centres on the site
of former institutions.
The Committee further recommends that the appropriate form
and location of memorials should be determined after local consultation with
care leavers and their support and advocacy groups.
Recommendation 35
11.47
That the National
Museum of Australia
be urged to consider establishing an exhibition, preferably permanent, related
to the history and experiences of children in institutional care, and that such
an exhibition have the capacity to tour as a travelling exhibition.
Recommendation 36
11.48
That the Commonwealth Government provide funding for
the National Library of Australia to undertake an oral history project to
collect the life-stories of former
residents in institutional and out-of-home care.
Recommendation 37
11.49
That the Commonwealth Government fund research either though
the Australian Institute of Family
Studies or other relevant research body or university
into the following areas:
-
historical research into institutional care,
including the role of institutional care in Australia's social history; the
history of institutions and the commissioning of personal histories of former residents;
-
the social and economic impact and cost of
institutional care; and
-
inter-disciplinary research into the
relationship between child welfare/child protection and areas such as welfare
dependency, social problems such as drug and alcohol abuse and family relationship
breakdowns.
Recommendation 38
11.50
That the Australian Institute of Family Studies
National Child Protection Clearinghouse be funded by the Commonwealth Government
to collect publications related to historical studies of institutional and
other forms of out-of-home care and that this information be widely
disseminated.
Recommendation 39
11.51
That the Commonwealth, in co-operation with State
Governments, establish courses of study at selected tertiary institutions that
focus on child protection and related issues, especially early childhood and
family studies, psychology, conflict management, the impact of institutional
care and social policy to address issues in these areas.
Senator
Jan McLucas
Chair