provided Service user numbers and characteristic Barriers and challenges Relationships Australia (ACT) Yes Yes Yes No Activity data for ACT is reported as part of the NSW figures. Relationships Australia (NT) Yes Yes Yes No Yes Relationships Australia (Tas) Yes Yes Ye No Yes Wattle Place (NSW) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes The Child Migrants Trust Yes Yes No No Yes Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants Forgotten Australians n/a Yes n/a Yes Yes Service users: Range of services used Level of satisfaction with services received Suggestions for service improvement. Non-users: Main reason(s) for not using service Suggestions for improving services generally. Former Child Migrants n/a Yes n/a It was not possible to convene a focus group specifically comprised of Former Child Migrants. However, a number of Former Child Migrants were participants in the focus groups listed above. Yes Advocacy organisations Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA) Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a Understanding of the needs of the groups they represent Obtain feedback on how well the Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN). Yes n/a n/a Yes n/a
Their services have also been promoted by means of fact sheets, their website and attendance at network meetings. Because Townsville and Rockhampton are new, they are going to a lot of interagency meetings, to raise awareness within the local service system about Lotus Place, and to assist service providers to identify people they may be working with who are eligible for services through Lotus Place. They have held a number of information sessions with the sector. All new child safety officers (CSOs) in Queensland receive community education sessions facilitated by Lotus Place staff and sessional peer workers on the experiences of children in Institutional and out of home care in Queensland. Client Profile % of Forgotten Australian 96% % of Former Child Migrants 3% % of Family members of Forgotten Australians or Former Child Migrants 1% Staff Profile Total staff 6.7 (FTE) Position FTE Highest qualification Main area of study Additional study Manager (Lotus Place) 0.2 Undergraduate Degree Not specified Extensive Team leader 1.0 Postgraduate Degree Social Work, Science, Business ASCA Training in best practice with Complex Trauma, t3 (US trainers, trauma informed care, motivational interviewing and recovery models) Counsellor 1.0 Undergraduate Degree Psychology As team leader Find and Connect worker 1.0 Undergraduate Degree Education As team leader Find and Connect worker 1.0 Certificate Community Services Counsellor (sessional) 0.5 Postgraduate Psychology/Social work Peer workers (sessional) 0.5 Other Lived experience Peer workers, Ambassador Program, Peer Leadership Program Manager – North Queensland 0.5 Undergraduate Degree Community Services Manager – North Queensland 0.5 Undergraduate Degree Community Services Staff 0.5 Postgraduate Degree Business Administration Staff 0.5 Undergraduate Degree Communications and technology Volunteers 0.5
Traditionally feedback from clients was obtained by means of a form that was sent out to clients by mail on completion of services. However with Find and Connect being an on-going service, this approach is being reconsidered. Informal feedback is obtained on a regular basis within sessions. This feedback is then taken to the reference group or informally to individual reference group members if they happen to meet them between reference group sittings. Referral Referrals have been made for clients needing assistance with housing and mortgage information or funding for training. Promotion of services Some relationships with other services were already in place prior to the establishment of the Find and Connect services. They are now more engaged in promoting Find and Connect to a range of services to organisations dealing with the Stolen Generation, COTA NT, disability services, and to those organisations with which they have networking and referral pathways. Link-Up services sometimes struggle with staffing levels and waiting periods can apply as a result. This has meant that Stolen Generation people are coming to Find and Connect. Client Profile % of Forgotten Australian 99% % of Former Child Migrants <1% % of Family members of Forgotten Australians or Former Child Migrants 0% Staff profile Total staff 1.6 FTE Position FTE Highest qualification Main area of study Additional study Director of Early Intervention Services 0.1 Postgraduate Degree Psychology Grad Dip Family and Couple Therapy, Grad Cert Social Practice, Trauma Informed Practice, Vicarious Trauma Management, Clinical Supervision Coordinator 0.4 Post Graduate Degree Community Development Counselling, Adult education, Trauma Informed Practice, Vicarious Trauma, Management, Records Searching and Family Tracing 0.4 Graduate or Postgraduate Degree Human services Trauma Informed Practice
Project Worker 0.2 Graduate or Postgraduate Degree Human services Trauma Informed Practice Counsellor Darwin 0.5 Total spread across three areas and as needed Graduate or Postgraduate Degree All counsellors are Psychologists, Social Workers or have qualifications and experience in a relevant field Trauma Informed Practice Counsellor Katherine Counsellor Alice Springs Relationships Australia (Tasmania) Service Profile Find and Connect Service Relationships Australia (Tasmania) Auspice organisation n/a Location 20 Clare St, Hobart TAS 7008 Catchment area Tasmania Outreach area RA Tas offices at Launceston (6 Paterson St), Devonport (68 North Fenton St) as well as home and community based outreach as required by client. Date commenced Find and Connect services May 2012 Service context In 2003, the Tasmanian Ombudsman conducted a review into claims of abuse in care. A Redress Scheme was opened as a result, in 2005. The fourth round of the Scheme closed on 15 February 2013. Over 2,000 individuals had issues with abuse while in care. Some have received support or ex-gratia payments through the Abuse in State Care Program. Prior to Find and Connect the primary form of service delivery to Forgotten Australians was through CLAN. Overview of the service approach Relationships Australia Tasmania describe their model as a holistic case work service that provides visitation to clients in their home, undertakes record searching, and provision of trauma informed counselling as needed.