Who are the Forgotten Australians?

27 October 2009 | 01:54:30 PM | Source: SBS staff and agencies

The Forgotten Australians are usually people aged 40 years and older who found themselves in orphanages or Homes between 1930 and 1970.

6

Comments | Add yours


They also include children who migrated to Australia with their families before being separated.

A Senate report revealed the Forgotten Australians suffered from neglect and cruelty by institutional staff and management. Many children suffered deep and lasting feelings of abandonment after losing their family and being separated from siblings at an early age. This often led to grief, feelings of isolation, guilt and self blame.

Children living in institutions didn’t always receive adequate education since they commonly did the domestic work involved when running an orphanage. For example every day tasks like cleaning and cooking. Many children - some as young as eight – were even forced to earn an income for the institution.

By their mid teens, most children had left school.

Often children who were abused or neglected, with untreated health problems or who were subjected to constant accusations of stupidity and worthlessness found it difficult to concentrate in a learning environment.

Many Forgotten Australians suffered physical deprivation.

During their childhood, some often lived in unhealthy conditions and even forced to do hard physical labour as part of their daily lives. Demanding and difficult tasks were also given as punishments.

Many children reported being beaten when punished for very small things, such as bed wetting. There were also reports of children being locked in a cupboard or solitary confinement.

Large numbers of these children also claimed they experienced sexual abuse and assault from ‘carers’ looking after them. However some claimed they were also abused by visitors to the orphanage and from other children.
 

top

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Your Comments

13 May 2011 19:21 AEST

Julieanne Forbes

From: Ararat

me

I would like to know who labelled me a "forgotten Australian"? isnt this just another abuse of abused people? doesnt it just confirm in your minds the valueless treatment metted out to vulnerable children, one thing I have learned from first hand experience, once an orphan or deserted child ..always an orphan of the heart...even when your 50 years old or more,,DONT TELL ME IM A FORGOTTEN PERSON...THANKS TO YOUR SO-CALLED CARE THERE ISNT A DAY THAT I DONT FEEL LIKE ONE!!!!!!!

Agree (0 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

18 Nov 2009 10:18 AEST

LMT

From: Newcastle, NSW

F.A. (will we be remenbered?)

I don't expect any who are not a forgotten Australian to understand the day to day "torture" we went through as kids. But the worst is the loss of social integration and skills both at the time and throughout the 50 years since. From the time my children reached my "admission age" I have been slowly falling apart - not knowing how to relate properly. But at least they are loved! My brother, unable to handle the consequences, committed suicide. Hang in there all of you FA's. Be kind to you....

Agree (4 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

16 Nov 2009 15:03 AEST

rosi

From: QLD

ms

i managed to not get into an institution although know many people who suffered there, i left home at 13 to attempt running from abuse, it has followed me to the age of 43. i have worked on myself enough to be able to live a reasonable life, i have stopped the cycle of abuse in my family, my boys are happy and healthy, i still have traumas,fears, learning disability, and social problems. i have placed myself in a supportive community, where they have seen me grow through many tribulations. love

Agree (2 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

29 Oct 2009 20:45 AEST

Rosemary

From: Brisbane

no pay for you either really?

No compensation no pay mate? And why are anyone getting paid in their jobs? Multiple assaults no compensation needed is there, so what would you expect ? No compensation for assaults, ignored assualts, neglect,no education. no love, no friend, no family. You keep going to visit your family they stole mine. And you may afford to visit them as well.

Agree (5 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

27 Oct 2009 22:10 AEST

Michael Barry

From: Alice Springs

Agree

It certainly makes you wonder where the humanity of some people goes!

Agree (8 people agree)
Disagree (0 people disagree)
 

27 Oct 2009 20:02 AEST

Tom O'Brien

From: Urangan Queensland

Stolen generation

My mother was taken into care when she was four and has never forgotten the hard times that flowed from this. We tried to track her mother down with little assistance from the Government and her burial place is still unknown to us. Luckily, we did find her brother who also did not know he had another brother and sister. All heart-wrenching stuff. Mum is bitter to this day (She is 82) that children of a war veteran would be treated in this manner. The government of the time has a lot to answer 4

Agree (10 people agree)
Disagree (8 people disagree)
 

Join the Discussion

E.g. Suburb / City
You have characters remaining.
Validation (
) :
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.

All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.