Thursday, 31 August 2023

Care leavers redress scheme

Michael O’BRIEN (Malvern) presented a petition bearing 50 signatures:

This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly my campaign seeking changes for Voluntary Placement Survivors to be formally identified as Care leavers because, even though horrific atrocities were committed against us while Placed in Out of Home Care. I am asking the you to consider my petition on behalf of the thousands of forgotten and invisible Voluntary Placement Survivors so that we can receive the same respect and advantages as State Wards because as to date we have No rights and we have no paperwork proving care because NO Court Order was necessary for a child to live outside of their parent’s care, so countless children were forgotten about and lost in system. We do NOT qualify for the National Redress • We can NOT be called Forgotten Australians • Law firms will NOT represent as we have no childhood records The fact remains that the Victorian government failed in its responsibility to protect us as children by abandoning us and leaving us at the mercy of abusive family carers. We were failed in its responsibility to protect us as children by abandoning us leaving us to the mercy of sadistic carers. I am often asked why I continue to push for survivors of voluntary placement to be recognised as care leavers when it is clear that no one is interested. I can only respond that “I care,” as do the thousands of other Voluntary Placement survivors who after being abandoned, by their parents were shunted between uncaring informal foster families, left to be neglected, and forgotten, and treated with apathy. Imagine – having a childhood that was so damaging that you have spent your entire adult life fighting to repair the damage to your mind.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly advocate for survivors of voluntary placement to be acknowledged as out-of-home Care leavers and Forgotten Australians. I look forwards to the day when the Victorian Government formally apologises to all Past and Present Survivors of Voluntary Placement for failing to recognise the suffering we have experienced throughout our lifetimes and especially during our time in care. Having no identity and believing that your abuse was insignificant has re-traumatizing effects. Growing up with the knowledge that you are a member of the invisible generation, that no one sees or hears, is a cruel thing. It should NOT matter if the Abuser was a Family Member or a Member of an Institution,

Ordered that petition be considered next sitting day.