Forgotten Australians is the name most commonly used to describe the group of people who, as children, were raised in orphanages, Children’s Homes, institutions or other forms of out-of-home care in the 20th Century.
In 2004, an Australian Senate inquiry revealed a history of neglect and cruelty, of abandonment and exploitation that left approximately 500,000 Australians, as well as many child migrants, physically and psychologically scarred.
A national peak body—the Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA)—was established in 2007 with Families Australia’s assistance. In 2014, AFA became independently incorporated.
Families Australia strongly supports the calls by Forgotten Australians for greater recognition and support for the maltreatment that many suffered, including redress.
Read more about issues facing Forgotten Australians:
The Alliance for Forgotten Australians website can be accessed here.