Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641074341.pdf (Australia)
Senate Inquiry Into Review Of Governments Compensation Schemes Forgotten Australians Report.

Senate Affairs Reference Committee WingsForSurvivors Forgotten Australians Submission Wingsforsurvivors We have joined together our own submissions and we waited the outcome of the Senate Inquiry and response into the Review of Governments Compensation Schemes (Redress) by the Commonwealth Government.

Only a small number of recommendations have been acted upon but not in full.
The Commonwealth Government’s response to the Redress was a matter for the State and Territories Governments, for treatment and past practices of children in institution care last century.

We’re all Forgotten Australians members of a website called Wings for survivors Forgotten Australians.

The website was launched in 2007 with over 100 members created by a Forgotten Australian to be a positive psychology hub, to nurture creativity, friendship, and provide a peer- support network 24/7.
Over time members have been involved in petitions and submissions for Redress, members of wings collected signatures for various petitions for our Federal, State and Territories Government’s these petitions were tabled in the House of Representatives in 2009.

We need a strong commitment from all sectors of Governments Commonwealth, State and Territories to act upon their responsibilities they failed to protect innocent babies, children and young adults, leaving us exposed to the trauma of abuse.
As adults we continue to struggle with issues from our past, still living and remembering our dark history.

We have been waiting very patiently, it’s time to deliver compensation for Physical, Emotional and Mental Abuse and Experimentations of drugs, Sexual Abuse and Attachment Disorders due to been separated from our birth families while in Child Protection.

Many feelings of anger and frustration are commonly expressed by those to seek Redress with the State Government and churches.
The Statue of Limitations was put on Forgotten Australians to seek damagers’ against perpetrated these crimes against children.

There should never have been a statue of limitation on child abuse and rape of innocent children it takes years to talk about let alone claim for damages.
Many from the age of fifteen and sixteen were kick out of their homes to work on farms without pay leaving with only a suitcase of little belonging , we were never given any information to claim damages against the states or territories orphanages, churches, adult metal Institutions or foster careers.
We feel that all thou same states have had Redress schemes insufficient media release was given fairly to allow all Forgotten Australian’s to send in their compensation claims due to not able to read and write, those who were able to claim the first level many were knocked back on level two only to be told they were not abused enough or incomplete and missing records.
The Western Australian government reduced the amount of compensation to half going back on their word to compensate them the full amount offered.

The states and territories that have not offered Redress schemes have left an angry taste to many Forgotten Australians who are left feeling they are still victims.

Forgotten Australians who are proceeding through lawyers on case by case are re traumatized by their pass and needing more counseling, taking years to precede their claims of damages.
Suicide is very high among Forgotten Australians not to mention families who have their own children in State Government care today what organization are assisting them and legal advice to return their children back to parents every effort by the State Government should be to reunite Forgotten Australians families.
Our children have also been diagnosed and miss diagnosed with ADD and ADHD only to be placed on a drug called Ritalin the number of children throughout the country who have been given the drug is enormous which has done more damage to our children not to mention the damage to a child’s heart and mind.

We would like to draw your attention to the Redress Schemes As Forgotten Australians.

We request: Redress for Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Canberra and the Northern Territory.
Redress should have been a national system overseen by the Commonwealth Government and the monetary compensations equal in each State for ALL Forgotten Australians throughout the Country.

The Commonwealth Government needs to look into the Redress Schemes in all States.

 Inquiry into all States and Territories that do not have a redress Scheme.

 Statutory limitation laws to be changed to the circumstances of Forgotten Australians.
Compassion and consideration to Forgotten Australians who are unable to read and write because the opportunity wasn’t provided by the state governments.

State aid provided by Federal Government to church run schools did not trickle down to the church run Institutions or the funding was directed elsewhere.

 Every Forgotten Australians in the whole country needs to be personally compensated as in Ireland, New Zealand and elsewhere.
We feel there needs to be more Senate Inquiries into: Forgotten Australian’s who have children in Governments care today ( Generations of Forgotten Australians) Adults Mental Institutions ( Children who were sent to Adults Mental Institutions) Experimentations on Babies ,Children and Young Adults Children Who Disappeared or Died ( While in State Care Last Century) Foster Care ( Today and Last Century) Royal Commission ( Into Forgotten Australians to bring the whole truth and cover ups by our State Governments and Commonwealth of practices last century ) Thank you for the opportunity to submit a submission Mrs Deborah Findlay 27/06/2010 More submissions from wings members Date: Sun, 16 May 2010 After my family of four brothers who share 130 yrs under this state’s child Welfare system .I still have not shaken the shackles of having my family free of the State of NSW welfare, now known as DOC’S.
A challenge to our former state and church leaders is to confront them with the survey that 84% of Forgotten Australians do not have any affiliation on any level to main stream Christian Religion.

This survey taken over 7 yrs on 738 adult of state and church run institutions .The fact that all religious run institutions had 100% membership to its belief systems and was requirement on their job application forms.
On state run homes character references were obtain from leading figures of note in the community which also included local religious leaders .

It has been the responsibility, not only those from the past to accept, but also our present community, state and federal leaders of organizations who now are in charge of these same ones who had knowledge and decided not to give full attention but hide it from ALL.
It seems strange that the multitude of crimes committed in our state’s welfare institutions some of which run into hundreds and witness by staff and children, go unrecorded in our welfare file.

This could be in any one Institution.

Over a relative short time our state leaders are now saying 58000 boxes containing information on children under the care of the NSW welfare department .have come available.
The state will be using funding that was for our healing and moving on to pay for these records to be sorted.

Many forgotten Australians have said '' we often wish we were under the care of the RSPCA for we would be at least, treated like a animal .

Lawrie Higgins Date Wed 19th May 2010 Review of Government Compensation Payments Forgotten Australians have struggled all their lives due to the interference from church’s and state appointed bureaucrats.
Forgotten Australians now have limited education, limited job prospects and very little family support as most Forgotten Australians do not know or have lost contact with family members.

Forgotten Australians are people who have been deserted by those in authority, treated cruelly by those in authority, brutalised and sexually abused by those in authority.

Yet, we manage to survive, and survive without the help from those who should have come to our assistance.
It was like WAR to the Forgotten Australians and we still carry the mental and physical scars attributed to this WAR.

In recognition for fighting this war and surviving only because we didn’t succumb to these atrocities I believe that the Federal Government should grant the Forgotten Australians a “GOLD” card.

This card would be displayed with pride because the carrier of the card is a hero.

The Forgotten Australian Gold Card would give the recipient: o Unlimited free travel on All Public Transport.
o The Federal Government to pay Private Medical Insurance for All Forgotten Australians and immediate family.

o Free Dental to Forgotten Australians and immediate family.

o Free Psychology consolations for all Forgotten Australians and family A Gold Card held by a Forgotten Australian would be treated as a reward, an honour for they had survived, survived a hard and miserable life placed on them by authorities that should have known better.

Thank You for allowing me to submit this submission.

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Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 I wish to inform the Senate that as a Forgotten Australian I have received assistance through counseling.

This was done by After Care Resource Center (ARC) NSW.This has help in some ways but as my current family members find it very difficult to get their head around in understanding where my past life fits in to theirs as my difficult and sometimes times of anguish, leaves them bewildered.

I wish to also tell the Senate .


that upon receiving my state welfare file it contained information that I found later to be of enormous value to my legal rights ,if I was to summit any legal action against the Catholic Church The file was sent to lawyers for advice.

When the file was returned there were some 3 or 4 pages missing .One of the these pages I sent had the letters ‐‐R C ‐‐.I requested from DOcs a new file some time later, with all pages to be numbered.
On receiving the new file I found those missing pages replaced by other insignificant ones.

I have since learned that the letters R C meant Restricted Classification.

I am appalled at this type of conduct.

That such interference to a person file could jeopardize any claim made and interfere with a person’s own trust in any State Department and its senior employees.
With NSW DOcs now claiming that they have found 58000 boxes of files and they are to be sorted.My fears are that it leaves little to any ones imaginations that interference is likely to happen if any independent observers are not there to scrutinize all proceedings.

With my child hood years spent in a number of churches a state institution.

Many children were to move with me from one place to another.
On the closing down of the Tamworth Centre by the Attorney General , No attempt was made at the time to sought the damage done to the young inmates .

The conditions at the time have been likened to been in Port Arthur without the cat o nine tails.

It was also classed as a mini ALCATRAZ My findings on those who were with me at Tamworth are that more than 20 have received life or 20 yrs and up to 50 jail terms Another 15 young adults have taken their own life .
It is interesting that all the young adults sent there were sent by the Welfare Dept.

and not by the courts If one has to fight for justice and battle trough the courts system and have these same organizations control all past information ,none of which mention any transgressions ever taken place to be on their file how does one start moving on and attempt to seek healing .
Keith Kelly “VIEW OF GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION SCHEME” C/of Wings for Survivors 26th May 2010 I am writing this Submission as my First Submission I do not want to write some fancy and Political correct way of following guidelines or reading other people submissions and setting it out there way.

So I have decided to set and write it out my way and tell it the way it WAS and HAS been and how it has affected Generation after Generation of my FAMILY and CHILDREN today.
I am a 42 year Wife and Mother of 4 Beautiful Children that have all been affected by the Past Government (State), the Present Government of Generation after Generation.

This meaning with my 10 year being in care mind you through no fault of my own.
Also with my daughter nearly 17 yrs of age in a ISS situation but still managed by the STATE GOVERNMENT, for her Severe Self Harm and Suicidal Tendency's that we cried out for to the once again DOC'S WYONG, whom yes again STATE GOVERNMENT, to help us and assist us with Respite for her issues but instead they did what have done for Generation after Generation is to STEAL the Children from their Parents but in my case they STOLE her why?
Because they can without even visiting our home and seeing how we lived or anything else.

So this goes to show you how the STATE GOVERNMENT have for Generation after Generation Taken these Babies and Children and given them to Total Strangers then just leave them to cope with these Babies and Children suffering with Fretting, Anxiety, Abandonment and Attachment Disorders.
All because once again the STATE GOVERNMENT has this notion that it is still okay just to remove Babies and Children from there Parent's and Families without working with the Families to solve the issues, instead of using Bullying Tactics.
I remember that when my father (Deceased) called me at 6 am in the morning in 2007 to tell me that Queensland Redress was happening and at that time of the morning I did not know what he was meaning as I did not know what all this was about, so I just listened and explained to me that finally they are going to compensate us all that were in Institutions in QLD $7,000 and this was Level 1 payment and that a Level 2 payment was going to be paid up 2. to an amount of $33,000 and that he wanted me to apply as he knew what I have had suffered as a child in care under Children's Services in Toowoomba QLD.
Also while being in Foster Care and in Institutions as well.

He explained to me that it was for Foster Care but only Institutions.

My Father was a very Proud man and he had been Stolen Away from his Grandparents and placed in Nudgee Orphanage and also sent to Westbrook as well.
So he suffered and carried a lot of pain and this stayed with him until he passed away in July 2008, the sad part of all of this Injustice done to my Father and to our Family he passed away knowing and crying that he was not allowed to say Goodbye to his Grandchildren because the then case-worker had said that he was not allowed a video-link to say good-bye as we and the doctor and social worker had called and said that he did he did have very long weeks.
My father passed away on the 22nd of July 2008 and I was not allowed to tell my daughters until 6 days after he passed away and was told they were not allowed to attend his funeral.

This broke our hearts and to know he loved his family and his grand-children and to not be able to see their little faces and say a proper goodbye is very cruel and just shows me and my family and friends and other Forgotten Australians that there “Sorry” mean nothing but emptiness and no compassion.
So why say it if they allow their staff of the STATE GOVERNEMENT treat Families and especially the Children like this not being able to grieve or say goodbye.

With my 2 daughters in care today this means that this is the 5th Generation in State Care.
It was very difficult to apply for the Redress in QLD and especially having to relive the suffering, emotional and physical and the sexual abuse by 7 different men from the age of 6 and a half the night before my 7th Birthday to 12 and half years of age when I ran away and then was punished and sent to Fatima Home and then when I ran away from there they sent me to Wilson Detention Center all because I ran away from abuse as a little girl and then everywhere I ran and was placed was abused for asking some-one to PLEASE LISTEN and BELIEVE ME as I did not know why this was happening to me and that I was scared.
While applying for this Redress I was allocated with a counselor in the August from the Esther Center and she counseled me over the phone as I was dealing with my daughters being in care and that I was fighting for them and she and the other staff was so helpful but I just felt so alone and felt my health was suffering so bad and then having to fight DOCS from Wyong for taking our daughter's 3. from us and then the financial hardship it put upon our family was and is disgusting.
How do they sleep at night knowing what they do to families and still continue to do these practices and we as families Generation and Generation have to continue to suffer.

But I completed the application for the redress in QLD on the 12th of October 2007, which I have the copy of in my possession.
I truly must admit that by doing this and for the little of compensation I received which was $7,000 and that I received a letter that my application was successful and that was on the 22nd of April 2008, I had to then sign a Deed Of Release which needed to be signed and my chosen legal representative so I then was allowed to receive the $7,000 and the Deed releases and indemnifies the STATE from any current or future legal crime.
This was appalling and to know my father passed away then 3 months after receiving this and know that he wanted me to use that money on myself but he knew in heart that I was going to put this towards legal costs against NSW WYONG DOC'S to fight for my daughter's freedom and be home with their family not with stranger all because we asked for help with our older daughter whom was suffering from a mental illness.
So yes my Level 1 money went to pay for legal fees and travel to and from Doc's to see our daughter's which was 2 hours drive to and then 2 hours back then having to take the DOC'S at WYONG office back to court as they were breaching court orders that was all the so-called compensation Level 1 Redress spent and you know what it went back to the STATE GOVERNMENT as they knew it would cost and they do it all the time and case after case you just see oh well they think we will run out of money and they win again.
So Congratulations to the STATE GOVERNMENT NSW, for spending my Compensation Money paid to me for the pain and suffering I suffered at the hands of your STATE as a child but hey that right it was just a different STATE took my money to what I was pain by for allowing my abuse in the first place.

Queensland Government paid me REDRESS for my Suffering and Pain and NSW STATE GOVERNMENT JUST TOOK IT AWAY KNOWING THAT IT WOULD GO TO LEGAL FEES TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR MY DAUGHTER'S.
So in this Submission I would like some answers why was I paid level 1 of the Redress and then told in a letter I was not abused enough and that my suffering 4. and abuse happened while more in foster care mind you under the Children s Services of QLD, but hey nothing got done and just blame the child that she was only placed on a railway line at the age of 3 months and then Children Services would visit the foster family and make remarks and then just leave me there to rot in hell for years to come.
So tell me at what part was I not abused enough when you sent me to a Detention Center for running away from being abused and also sexually abused by 7 different men in that family.

I would like you also to tell me at what Level do you Judge that a person has been abused enough, how can a few people from a panel judged this and even know what we suffered and the extent unless they read from head to toe our file.

So as you can read I was successful in Level 2.

I would like to know why?


I have heard 3 Apologies and attended 1 for the Forgotten Australians my son at the time 15 attended the “Sorry” day in 2008 in and my dad was so proud of him to stand and be there for our family and he did with pride.

We are so very proud of him.


So my father heard the Apology for the Indigenous and received $7,000 Level 1 payment and we then lost him sadly and then not even 24 hours later I was on the stand at Woy Woy Court fighting for my daughter's and how could I grieve when my father had just passed away and I was being butchered on the stand in from of doc's about my childhood and being sexually abuse as a 6 and half year old.

Where is the compassion in this NO WHERE except cruelty from the STATE GOVERNMENT.
My daughter is in care in a high intensive unit and has been on the 22nd of June 2007, and she to date has had 57 incidents of Self Harm and Suicidal Attempts and she is highly medicated and been charged twice with assault she has distanced herself from the family and wont and has not had any contact since January 2010.
I receive a phone call from her case-worker every time she self harms and is admitted to hospital and this only because I fought the Department every-time I heard something and it was adding up why was she highly medicated and on all these drugs and no counseling and then I threatened them to take them back to court and they all of a sudden had a heart and actually just did not treat her like a number but don't know so much as they are already talking about releasing her out of care and she will be responsible for her medication and go to school and work and live on her own.
WRONG AGAIN.

I would like to know whom is going to pay for my daughter's damage in years to come for the scars that will not only on the inside will need to heal but all the scars visible and the emotional damage the WYONG DOC'S 5.

AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE CAUSED TO MY BOTH DAUGHTER'S AND TO THIS FAMILY.
I will NEVER understand why your STATE GOVERNMENT have been allowed to continue your behaviour that has affected thousands well I know that there is 16,000 Children in Out-Of-Home Care again just another name for A STATE WARD in NSW.

We as a family have had to go into debt of $ 48,000 to fight for our daughter's and for Justice all because we cried out for help for our daughter whom has now had her life destroyed by your STATE GOVERNEMENT.
Just like they did to my life ruined it as Baby, Infant and Young Innocent Girl, Young Adult and a Woman and a Wife and Mother.

No amount of money could have replaced the last 3 years of living hell of the pain and Injustice and CORRUPTION of this STATE GOVERNMENT.
This has been very difficult writing this submission as I have re gone over the impact statement I had written for Level 2 for the QLD REDRESS, and to think and reread that I was not abused enough to receive Level 2 and that I was abused in foster care more.
Well I also have another Question for you all why was it that we Forgotten Australians and from the Stolen Generation not been paid any Compensation or even recognized for being Abused while in foster care and your welfare workers would visit and write card notes on our file and then would pay a money to these so-called carer's for what to ABUSE US MORE.

Once again how do sleep at night knowing what we suffered and yet so rudely after each Sorry say no Compensation or Redress.
That is just Plain Ignorant and Cruel to not be Compensated for our Abuse and Pain we suffered and still today many hundreds of thousands of Forgotten Australians and also The Stolen Generation and The Indigenous Families have lost or wiped out as your government would put it Families and Loved Ones.

My Husband has watched this whole family and Generation after Generation be destroyed at the Hands of The STATE GOVERNMENT, named DOC'S NSW and CHILDREN SERVICES QLD.
We have financially been under pressure due to what the Department have dragged us through and we have been for 3 years suffered BULLINESS from your department but when we complain the so-called Minister Linda Burney just sits back and passes messages to on to 6. other Government department that have been trying to stand by us and fight for what is right and at the end of the day nothing is done and we still spending money to FIGHT FOR JUSTICE and this in all areas of REDRESS in every STATE not just pick and choose and hey we are the fighters and we show courage and a fight for what is rightly ours and this is REDRESS and COMPENSATION FOR OUR ABUSE AND CONTINUE ABUSE AND TREATMENT BY THIS GOVERNMENT.
Why do we need a STATE GOVERNMENT when all they are doing is REPEATING HISTORY OF GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.

Like myself the 5th generation in STATE CARE.

Now the STATE pays for careers and advertises for more Foster carers to what like in my case.

Go overseas without my daughter and leave her with family or friends.
Go on weekend cruises and be away at 10 times in one year on studies while my daughter being left with other of her family members of the carers My daughter has time of school if the carer is going away Mother's Day is spent with the carer and I receive a 30 minute call and no card Phone call once per month monitored by carer and carer complains that this is coming out of her pocket No school reports or medical reports provide to parents or families even though it is a court order My daughter at the age of 10 gets $5 for pocket money to go on camp away.
My daughter gets clothing from church friends and even though we buy her nice clothes as the pones she wears not happy for a 10 year to wear My daughter goes to before and after school care while carer works or is away So you see why are you wasting The Forgotten and The Indigenous Australians Money that could be paid to them for what they have suffered and this will give a bit of Light and Hope to have even if is a holiday or a life without struggling.

7.
7.

I have struggled but am Proud and my Father would be really Proud of me as his last words to me was Fight for Justice and Stand with your head Held High as no-one can take away from that they are your Children and they belong with their Mother and Father and Siblings.
I will do my father and my Ancestors and families that have and still is today suffering and Fighting for Justice for what is Right and that Means Stand up For This Submission “View of Government Compensation Scheme” I appreciate that you all Senators have taken the time to read my submission but PLEASE don't STOP there PLEASE MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FOGOTTEN AUSTRIALIANS AND THE STOLEN AND INDIGENOUS GENERATIONS OF AUSTRALIA.
I ache for the day that my daughters will return and it will be like them returning from war with scars deep within of being STOLEN AWAY and in the most brutal way anyone can be screaming and kicking with our then 7 year old hanging onto her daddy's neck please please don't let them take me and my husband and her daddy feel to his knees and just wept as they shoved her in the back of the car no seat belt and her tiny little hand on the car window as they drove off, that was my last memory of this heart-breaking and heart wrenching day in June 2007.
Please have a Heart and Remember what has been aid at these “Sorry” days as I will remember them for the rest of my life just like the day you STOLE my daughter's away.

Thanking for your reading time.

Mother to sons 21 and 18 years Daughters 17 and 10 years Thanks to Wings For Survivor's for your Support and Encouragement in this being my 1st Submission.
Thanks for being so Caring as I have Struggled with 8. what I have written in this as at Wings for Survivor's you have been my Rock and my Box of tissues Thanks so very much as I continue to go through this stressful time with Fighting For Justice against a STATE GOVERNMENT, For all your kind words of encouragement on the site and of Thank-you and this from all our family.