Tuart Place Annual Report 2023

OUR CORE PURPOSE

Growing Stronger Together

OUR VISION

Growing Together – Leading the Way A place where participants build a better future

OUR VALUES

The T-U-A-R-T Values acronym was developed by Tuart Place support group members in March 2012.

T

–

TOGETHER…we build

“There is a family atmosphere at Tuart Place that I haven't found with any other organisation”

U - UNDERSTANDING

“Coming to the group has helped me understand that I’m not alone.”

A - ACCEPTANCE

“Never before in my life, have I experienced a social setting, where I feel safe, accepted, and can truly be myself.”

R – RESPECT

“I am welcomed and treated with friendship and respect at Tuart Place. There isn’t a ‘them and us’ atmosphere.”

T – TRUST

“I can finally trust people to tell my story to and know that I’ll be listened to and believed.”

2023 Annual Report

Tuart Place acknowledges the traditional owners of this Country, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.

We acknowledge Elders past, present and future. We are happy to be on Noongar country. With gratitude.

What happens at Tuart Place?

Tuart Place provides free, specialised services to adults who experienced out-of-home care during childhood (‘Care Leavers’). Services are offered in an informal, non-bureaucratic setting, and include:

• Trauma-informed counselling and support groups

• Assistance with National Redress applications and other claims for institutional child abuse

• Specialist aged care support from our on-site aged care finder

• Regular visiting services: financial counselling, Hearing Australia, podiatry, haircuts & beautician

• Computer literacy and IT assistance

• Phone outreach and counselling

• Help to access mainstream services

• Individual advocacy and liaison with housing and Centrelink

• Family tracing and supported access to records

• A drop-in centre, social events, and reunions,

FACT Board of Governance 2022-23

About our Board

Tuart Place is governed by the Board of Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT) Inc.

The Board’s membership includes people with lived experience of out-of-home care and members elected for their expertise and professional qualifications in areas such as law, social work, accounting, service management, and academic research.

All Board members are elected as individuals and are valued for their qualifications, skills and life experience. Board members do not represent the interests of any other organisation with which they may have an association. Board members contribute their time on a voluntary basis.

Tuart Place is a leader in co-production of trauma-informed support services for Australian care leavers, including the ‘Forgotten Australians’, members of the Stolen Generations, and former child migrants. Peer leadership is central to our governance structure and service design.

Board member profiles and further information about FACT Inc is provided on the Tuart Place website at https://www.tuartplace.org/about/ourboard/

Dale Lynch Vice Chairperson

Ross Stagno Treasurer

Chris Williams

Kevin Collins

John Ryall

Sue Bailey

Margo O’Byrne

Cevrina Reed Chairperson

Lyn Sherwood

Tuart Place participants & clients

June 2021 to July 2022

June 2022 to July 2023

The demographic profile of Tuart Place participants and clients is shown in Table I below, which identifies number of service users, age, gender, geographic location, and the number of people from each of the three care leaver cohorts who access Tuart Place services.

As shown in this table, a total of 693 individuals received a direct service from Tuart Place during the 2022-23 financial year. The statistics reveal a substantial (25%) increase in client numbers since the 2021-22 financial year, when a total of 553 people accessed services.

Tuart Place’s client population is elderly, reflecting the ageing demographics of Forgotten Australians, former child migrants, and members of the Stolen Generations.

Almost half of Tuart Place’s clients are in the 71+ years age group, with 80 percent aged 51 or over.

We saw a further increase in the proportion of Aboriginal clients accessing services at Tuart Place in the 2022-23 financial year. Aboriginal Care Leavers now comprise 43 percent of the overall client cohort. This proportion grew by 14 percent in the last year.

The increase is due partly to the greater number of Aboriginal people seeking support with the National Redress Scheme, and also reflects the establishment of trust in Tuart Place – as demonstrated through word-ofmouth referrals from existing service users.

Who is eligible for Tuart Place services?

Tuart Place is a resource service for Care Leavers.

Care Leavers are people who experienced out-ofhome care during childhood, in settings such as large orphanages, missions, foster care, and group homes.

Care Leavers include the Forgotten Australians, former child migrants from the UK and Malta, and members of the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal people placed in care last Century.

Our National Redress support service is available to anyone who experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

Table I: Demographic profile of service users 2022 - 2023

Chairperson’s Report

At the end of another eventful year, I want to thank all my fellow Board Members for the expertise they bring to the room. I am most grateful for your unwavering support and belief in the principles of our Board. We are always open and transparent, allowing those who don’t sit in the Board Room to trust.

A huge thank you to Vice Chair Dale Lynch, Sue Bailey, Kevin Collins, Ann McVeigh, Margo O’Byrne, John Ryall, Lyn Sherwood, Chris Williams, and our Treasurer Ross Stagno. Each of you is invaluable to our organisation. I’m proud of our strong, committed team. I wish the incoming Chairperson every success.

Four FACT Board members are re-nominating for another term of two years: Sue Bailey, Lyn Sherwood, John Ryall and myself. Although I will not stand as Chairperson in 2023-24, I will remain on the Board as a General Member.

I am grateful for everything I have learned throughout my time as Chair. Director Dr Philippa White and Clinical Manager Susy Vaughan have shown much patience and belief in all I do, as have all the staff and Board.

As a Care Leaver in the position of Chairperson, I have had great opportunities to raise public awareness about issues affecting Forgotten Australians. It has been an honour to represent Tuart Place at national conferences and forums, and even at an international seminar on redress in Sweden in 2016.

I would like to thank Dale Lynch for chairing Board meetings in my absence. Dale also spoke on behalf of Tuart Place at Parliament House in Brisbane in April 2023, at the Official Launch of the new website for the National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians. A great job Dale.

I had the privilege of co-chairing an online event for the National Roundtable as part of International Care Experienced History Month in April. Tuart Place hosted

a ‘hub’ for the event, where participants could attend as a group, while others attended remotely. This year’s focus was on facilitating better informed aged and community care for Care Leavers.

It was with real sadness that we accepted the recent resignation of Board Member Chris Williams.

Since joining us in 2019, Chris has provided excellent legal guidance, throughout some challenging times. Our greatly respected elder statesman of the Board, Chris oversaw some important changes to our Rules of Association, leaving us well equipped for the future. Thank you for everything Chris.

Special thanks to Board Member Margo O’Byrne for stepping in as Convenor of our Sustainable Tenancy Reference Group. You have made fantastic progress in a very short time.

Our volunteers are priceless. Thanks to those who contribute to our High Street Happenings and to ALL the many volunteers who provide invaluable support at Tuart Place in so many ways. It is done with love, which keeps Tuart Place a home.

Many thanks to the hardworking staff of Tuart Place. I know Pip will thank each of you individually; I just want to add my respect and admiration for the important work you do.

Finally, a huge thank you to Tuart Place’s tower of strength, Director Dr Philippa White, you are truly amazing. Your dedication to the wellbeing of Tuart Place, participants and all staff deserves much credit.

Thank you Pip for all you do and, on a personal note, all you have helped me with.

Cevrina Reed, Chairperson, FACT Inc.

Tuart Place relies on the skills and dedication of volunteers to provide some of our most popular and ‘visible’ services. Ways in which people volunteer at Tuart Place include:

• The Craft Ladies who generously give their time to make raffle prizes and gift-wrapped Christmas presents

• Our participant volunteers who help with many tasks at the centre – especially Maria, Dave, Mary, Fran, Ingrid, and Ted

• Our IT expert volunteers, YoYo, Phil, Jaye, and ‘Wiz’, who provide practical help in the Computer Lab and with mobile phones

• Jill, who collated a new album of historical photos and a bibliography of library books, and helps with forms

• Singing Group Leaders/Guitarists Matt, David, Mal and Dickon

• Helpers with Monday Community lunches, Cecilia, Eve, Per, and Bev for her lovely homemade desserts

• Onsite financial counselling with Karen and Alex from UnitingWA

• BBQs by the Clontarf Old Boys

• Beauty treatments with Ella

• Writing group with Marian Cordwell

• Haircuts with Cinzia

• Ian who handcrafts windmills for our fundraisers

• Bus drivers on outings, John R and John J

• Podiatry with Kim and her students from UWA

• All of the dedicated members of the FACT Board.

Thanks to our volunteers Thank you!

Director’s Report

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am delighted to present to you the Tuart Place 2023 Annual Report.

It has been a year of remarkable progress and solid commitment to our Core Purpose of Growing Stronger Together - supporting survivors to seek hope, healing, and a path towards a better future.

This Report provides a comprehensive overview of our achievements, challenges, and the incredible impact we have made together.

I am truly inspired by the dedication of our team, the resilience of our participants, and the generosity of our volunteers.

We are most grateful to the WA Department for Communities for their unwavering support of Tuart Place over the last decade.

I would like to thank our Board Members for their solid governance of Tuart Place again this year, under the dedicated leadership of Chairperson Cevrina Reed and Vice Chair Dale Lynch.

Tuart Place staff also excelled in 2023, contributing their multi-faceted skills with warmth, compassion, and professionalism.

What an outstanding team. We were delighted to welcome aged care specialist Margaret Fisher aboard earlier this year and, more recently, Executive Support Manager Annalisa Oxenburgh.

Annalisa’s extensive experience in the not-forprofit sector and her skills in fundraising and organisational governance have already proved invaluable.

I am grateful to my longstanding colleague, Clinical

Manager Susy Vaughan, for her highlevel input to the management and operation of Tuart Place, and to Jan, Rose, Mary-Ann, Catherine, Tash, Mal and Belle, for their great work this year.

Everyone plays an integral part in the extraordinary support offered by Tuart Place.

None of our accomplishments would have been possible without the incredible support of our volunteers and participants.

As we navigate some uncertain times, we remain committed to finding innovative solutions, exploring new options, and ensuring that we continue to make a positive impact in people’s lives.

As we face funding challenges and work hard to overcome them, we realise that advocacy is not only a powerful tool, but a vital one.

Our collective voices can influence change, draw attention to the critical work we do, and rally support from policymakers, governments, and the broader community. The collective power of our voices cannot be underestimated. When we come together as a community, we can create a wave of change that reaches far beyond our individual efforts.

Together, we will overcome challenges and continue to grow stronger. Your support is a lifeline for those who depend on us.

Thank you for standing with us in this critical moment. We look forward to emerging from this stronger, together.

Together, we make a difference.

Dr Philippa White, Director, Tuart Place

Tuart Place staff team 2023

The team at Tuart Place is united by their values and a professional commitment to providing a welcoming, and supportive environment for our participants and clients.

Staff members (L-R): Clinical Manager Susy Vaughan, Redress Consultant Catherine Carr, Administrator/Receptionist Belle Lyons, Program Coordinator Natasha Sameulraj, Project Support Worker Mal Edwards, Counsellor/Redress Consultant Rose Fogarty, Director Dr Philippa White, Counsellor Mary-Ann Oliver, Aged Care Service Finder Margaret Fisher, Executive Support Manager Annalisa Oxenburgh, Social Worker Jan Newman.

Latest submission to Joint Standing Committee on National Redress Scheme

Tuart Place’s most recent contribution to the Joint Standing Committee on the Operation of the National Redress Scheme was submitted in February 2023.

It appears alongside more than 30 other submissions on the Parliamentary website at: https://www. aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/ National_Redress_Scheme_Standing/Redress47/Submissions

Tuart Place continues to receive a significant influx of new enquiries from survivors seeking help to prepare applications to the NRS, and we currently have a waiting list of approximately 50 people.

Counsellor Rose Fogarty’s employment has been

increased to full time to help accommodate the growing waiting list of NRS clients.

Tuart Place provides Assistance Nominee support to NRS applicants, which typically continues for a year or more beyond the submission of each application.

As stated in Tuart Place’s submission to the Joint Standing Committee, the year or so it takes to process NRS applications is often an acutely stressful time for survivors, who describe a sense of ‘waiting to be believed’.

It is essential that NRS ‘Support Services’ are available to provide support during this time, rather than expecting applicants to navigate it on their own.

Unfolding Lives Memorial

Tuart Place was proud to support the work of care leaver advocate Mark Farmer in the reinstatement of an important memorial to Care Leavers in Perth.

After taking his brother to see the Unfolding Lives (aka Chatterbox) memorial in Northbridge, and finding it missing, Mark started investigating. He discovered it had been removed and damaged during the museum renovations in 2016. Mark joined forces with artist and sculptor Judith Forrest in a quest to reinstate the memorial, and return it to the public eye.

Tuart Place hosted a series of consultations for Care Leavers providing input to this important project. One of the big questions was the location.

We are pleased to say that on 8th May 2023 the

memorial was reinstated in a similarly prominent location, outside Boola Bardip Perth Museum, within 50m of its original position - the overwhelming preference voiced by Care Leavers at our consultations.

The significance of the Chatterbox to children in orphanages is that it was sometimes the only toy they had.

Ann McVeigh’s hand-crafted paper Chatterboxes bring the memorial to life – showing exactly what it looks like and how they were used. The Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Community Services (pictured above), was delighted to receive a gift Chatterbox specially crafted by Ann in silver paper.

Attorney General John Quigley and Commissioner for Victims of Crime Kati Kraszlan officiated at the rededication ceremony in May this year.

Promoting change Raising Awareness

OPEN Day 2023

“Tuart Place is a lifeline for us. It’s like a family and it’s not just us, other people say the same too.”

care finder

Specialised aged care support

Tuart Place’s Aged Care Navigator pilot project and care finder program are practical examples of our solid progress in achieving a major goal of our 2021-25 Strategic Plan: To respond to aged care issues and facilitate access to appropriate services.

A successful collaboration with Lotus Place in Brisbane and the National Aged Care Roundtable group resulted in an Aged Care Navigator position being federally funded through the Council on the Ageing (COTA) for a 12-month period January to December 2022.

Tuart Place was one of only two agencies approved to operate the national pilot project, aimed at providing intensive assistance to Care Leavers who need help to access aged care services and other relevant supports in the community.

Using our experience in running the pilot project, we prepared a successful tender to the WA Primary Health Alliance to provide an on-site care finder service, which is federally funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

Care finder is a specialised service for older Australians, aged 65+ years, or First Nations people aged 50+ years, requiring intensive support to access aged care services and other community supports. It is a free, independent, and confidential service.

We were very pleased to welcome highly experienced aged care specialist Margaret Fisher to the Tuart Place team in January 2023.

Margaret used the first months of care finder to set up the program, establish contact with other care finders working in the community, and raise awareness of the

Tuart Place care finder

program with service providers, other organisations, and platforms like HealthDirect

The National program started officially in March 2023. In the first three months, 41 clients were assisted to learn more about the aged care system; request an aged care assessment for home care services; or to access new services like garden and home maintenance, transport, meals on wheels, and equipment like safety pendants.

Margaret also assists people to complete forms associated with aged care services; to register with My Aged Care; to compare the services offered by different providers; and to search for suitable aged care facilities. She conducts periodic ‘check ins’ to ensure that aged care services are working well.

On 21st June 2023, Margaret accepted a wonderful opportunity to join the ABC radio morning show Aged Care Spotlight Forum as an invited studio guest. She spoke about navigating the aged care system, the care finder program and the role of Tuart Place in supporting Care Leavers.

“Margaret helped me to get support rails installed in my bathroom. When I had problems with the people delivering meals, she rang them up and sorted them out! ”

Margaret Fisher

Service Activity in 2022-23

Statistics and Report prepared by Susy

Professional and clinical services

delivered at Tuart Place in the last financial year included traumainformed counselling and phone counselling; psychotherapy; and therapeutic support groups.

Tuart Place’s wrap-around service model also includes lifeskills groups; individual IT skills development; pro-bono health, financial and legal services; supported access to records; family tracing and connection; individual advocacy; and specialised help to navigate aged care services.

We assisted a larger than

ever number of clients to engage with national and international redress schemes and civil litigation processes.

Occasions of service and number of participants accessing professional and other nonadministrative services are shown in Table II below.

The largest areas of clinical service delivery in 2022-23 were psycho-social support; assistance associated with the National Redress Scheme; life skills & literacy development; counselling; and referral/liaison.

Vaughan

Psycho-social Support

Psycho-social support is provided in a variety of ways by both clinical and non-clinical staff. Each morning our staff meet as a group to customise therapeutic interventions and interactions for individual participants, reflecting the Tuart Place therapeutic ‘wholeof-service’ model. Given with a therapeutic intent and using an informal, relational approach, this support provides an important contribution to the positive outcomes achieved by many of our participants.

Counselling & Phone Outreach

All counselling is trauma-informed and provided in both formal and informal settings, in line with our client focussed, non-bureaucratic approach. The number of appointments provided to each individual is not capped, and people can access regular intensive counselling or ‘dip in and out’ as needed. Internal referrals from staff delivering a range of other services, create safe points of access.

Life

& Literacy

Wherever possible, opportunities are provided for participants to develop personal and life skills, especially in the areas of positive decision-making; communicating with confidence; and exercising a greater degree of selfdetermination.

NB: Many clients accessed more than one service (n = 693)

* ‘Care finder’ commenced in January 2023

** Aged Care Navigator Pilot Project was the forerunner to ‘care finder’ and operated until the end of December 2022

This area of service provision includes customised tuition in skills development with individual participants; psycho-educational workshops; opportunities to participate in community awareness

“For me Tuart Place is food for my soul and it’s a safe harbor in very stormy waters. When I walk through the doors I always feel so comfortable because I can be me.”

.....Continued from page 14

and education activities; contributing articles for our newsletters; and invitations for participants to share their skills through writing workshops and art and craft sessions.

IT Skills and Computer Lab

Increased digital inclusion among Care Leavers is one of our high level Strategic Goals for 2021-25.

One-to-one IT support and tuition are available onsite from our team of IT volunteers, who assist participants seeking any kind of help with computers, tablets, and mobile phones.

Feedback indicates that this support has enabled many people to feel more confident in asking for help and to develop skills such as using a smart phone; browsing the internet; sending emails; scanning photos; connecting with relatives and friends; and registering for MyGov and My Aged Care

For those who already have IT skills, free use of the computer lab and WiFi is available during opening hours.

Advocacy & Referral / Liaison

Participants received assistance with a broad range of issues including advocacy for housing transfers; liaison with community corrections officers; support for care leavers in prison; liaison with aged care providers, financial counsellors and medical practitioners; support and advocacy for people approaching past provider institutions with historical abuse complaints.

National Redress Scheme (NRS)

The therapeutic benefits for survivors who recount traumatic childhood experiences, and are believed and validated by an institutional authority, often include a greater sense of self-worth and empowerment, and increased self-confidence and trust. For most of our participants, who are on pensions or low incomes,

the financial outcomes of redress processes can enhance living conditions and wellbeing. Redress support usually involves accessing records; preparing a comprehensive application; providing trauma-informed counselling; and liaison with the NRS.

Individual counselling and customised support continues to be available throughout and after completion of the National Redress process.

We obtain expert legal advice from knowmore Legal Service on all our NRS applications. All incoming abuse complaints are screened for potential civil claims, and warm referrals are provided to knowmore and specialist private law firms. Support and assistance with a range of welfare issues (health, legal, financial) is often accessed during the

on page 16

“Tuart Place helped me through Redress by being there for phone counselling when I needed it. I can still call them for support, even though my Redress is finished.”

Service Activity in 2022-23

Service Activity in 2022-23

.....Continued from page 15

process and is available at any stage.

The Tuart Place ‘wrap-around’ model allows for seamless movement and access to the full range of our services and activities.

Feedback from participants responding to the NRS support service evaluation (on opposite page) provides overwhelming evidence that this is a model of best practice for supporting a disadvantaged cohort with multiple and complex needs.

Aged Care support – including the Navigator pilot project and the care finder program. See our care finder story on page 13.

Social connection

Our strengths-based approach includes providing opportunities for people to engage in activities that improve social interaction. This area of service is informed by the knowledge that social isolation is one of the major difficulties facing

many older adults who were separated from their families during childhood and experienced further disconnection and trauma in out-of-home care. Social activities this year included our on-site ‘drop-in’ service and a wide variety of outings, celebrations, reunions and other group activities, many of which are initiated and organised by participants, particularly the Tuart Place Social Activities Group.

National Redress Scheme survey

The Tuart Place service model is firmly grounded in evidence-based practice in trauma informed support, tailored to the specific needs of older Care Leavers.

Our commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement is underpinned by the three Core Areas of Focus in our 2021-25 Strategic Plan: Participants; Leadership and Advocacy; and Sustainability.

Between January and August 2023, 45 people who participated in the National Redress Scheme with our support completed a feedback survey. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

The first set of eight questions related to how participants felt about the support provided by their Redress consultant throughout the whole process, including after the application was submitted (i.e. were they provided with a safe space; accepted without judgement; helped to tell their full story; explained their legal rights and referred to knowmore; given accurate information about the Scheme; helped to fill out the application form; asked if they wanted to speak to the NRS themselves or have the consultant speak on their behalf; provided support and information at all stages of the process).

There was an average of over 98.5% agreement with these statements. Comments included: “It’s the first time I’ve been in a place where I’ve felt comfortable.” “She kept me up to date with what was happening.” “They were top class.” “I’m still receiving on-going support”. “Just about every time I came in for any reason, she had a quick chat and updated me, even when nothing was happening, and it was just waiting. Even after I got the money, I got support as I struggled to know what to do with it.”

When asked if they would recommend the Tuart Place Redress support service to others, all 45 respondents said they would, and an outstanding total of 38

people gave additional positive comments including, “I encouraged my family to also go through it here.” “Yes, I have already recommended it to two people.” “Definitely, I can’t imagine going anywhere else as Tuart Place is my safe place.”

When asked how they found out about the Tuart Place NRS Support Service, 60% responded that they had heard through ‘family, friends or neighbour’.

Survey respondents were asked what other services and information they had accessed at Tuart Place, apart from support to engage with the NRS:

• 79% had also accessed the Support Group, faceto-face Counselling, and/or Phone Counselling/Support

• 61% had received help with financial, legal, housing issues and/or referrals to other services

• 58% had participated in Social Connection Activities (lunches, social outings and events, drop-ins)

• 13% had accessed Lifeskills & Computer support (includes computer use, help with IT, health information sessions, haircuts, public speaking/writing skills development).

Evidence of positive outcomes achieved are demonstrated by an average of over 80% of respondents agreeing with the following statements: As a result of attending the Tuart Place service: I feel more able to make changes in my life; ask for support when I need it; communicate with others; take steps towards working through my past; feel more socially connected; and have more hope for the future.

The 2023 NRS survey results clearly demonstrate the ways in which Tuart Place’s ‘wrap-around’ service is a model of best practice for supporting survivors, particularly those with multiple and complex needs.

Continuing commitment to advocacy and seeking justice

In keeping with the Core Focus on Leadership and Advocacy in our 2021-25 Strategic Plan, Tuart Place continues to raise public awareness and advocate for improved outcomes for Care Leavers and survivors of institutional abuse. Our agency has a long history of supporting survivors of institutional child abuse to seek justice For example:

• Prior to the formal launch of Tuart Place in 2012, our staff operated the primary support service for the Redress WA scheme (2008-2012), assisting over 800 applicants

• Tuart Place supported 201 survivors to engage with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2012-2017).

• Between 2006 and 2018 we supported more than 400 survivors with Towards Healing complaints against a range of Catholic past providers; and in direct claims with the Salvation Army, Parkerville Children & Youth Care, and the Anglican Archdiocese of Perth.

• In 2013 we provided a Report to Northern Ireland’s Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI), which was published as an Appendix to the Inquiry’s Final Report. 1

• We supported 49 former child migrants to provide evidence to the HIAI at Public Hearings. The Inquiry Chairman sought our advice on trauma-informed support for former child migrants; and feedback on developing a model for Northern Ireland’s redress scheme (2019-2021).

• In 2017 and 2018, we hosted visits to WA by officers of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), who held private sessions with former child migrants at Tuart Place. In 2019, we submitted a Report on the impacts of migration on Scottish children sent to Australia under the UK Scheme 2 , and Philippa White gave evidence to a Public Hearing of the Inquiry on 113-2020.

• The Scottish Government’s Report 3 identifies Tuart Place’s major role in publicising the Scottish scheme in Australia; supporting access to the £10,000 Advance Payment; and connecting survivors with the Future Pathways Scheme

• Tuart Place prepared 28 of the 34 Advance Payment applications received from Scottish child migrants, and we continue to work alongside Scotland’s redress scheme and Future Pathways.

• After amendments to civil litigation laws in WA were introduced in July 2018, we referred approximately 100 survivors to private law firms for assistance with civil claims, and supported many through the process. The peak of our referrals for civil claims occurred between 2018 and 2020. Most of these clients were former child migrants who had already received financial settlements exceeding the limit for payment under the NRS.

• Since 2018, Tuart Place has been a major provider of support for survivors navigating the National Redress Scheme. Since the Scheme commenced, we have assisted more than 657 clients; over 6,542 hours; in 9,164 occasions of service. We have submitted 268 comprehensive NRS applications, undertaking research necessary to achieve optimal results for these applicants.

• Tuart Place has contributed six formal submissions to a series of Inquiries on the NRS, and a submission to the Second Year Review of the Scheme. 4

• Most recently, Tuart Place provided evidence at a Public Hearing of the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee’s Inquiry into the options available to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in Western Australia who are seeking justice

1 https://www.tuartplace.org/about/submissions-and-evaluations/northern-ireland-historical-institutionalabuse-inquiry-report/

2 https://www.tuartplace.org/about/submissions-and-evaluations/scottish-child-migration-submission/

3 https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/3855/updated-sg-report-on-child-migration.pdf , Section 4.

4 All submissions are available at https://www.tuartplace.org/about/submissions-and-evaluations/

Sincere thanks to Matt and Lisa Reed of Sum Effect for their very generous donation of photographic services over the last year.

Many of the images on our website and in our publications are courtesy of Sum Effect. Creative Director Matt Reed also donated his time and considerable skills in producing a powerful advocacy video for Tuart Place. The goal was to highlight an unjust situation whereby Redress payments are being clawed back via residential aged care fees.

Matt was extremely effective in guiding us to convey the human story behind this issue. His video had immediate effect when it was screened at a National Forum on enhancing aged care for Forgotten Australians in Brisbane last year, prompting action by Health Department officials at the Forum. We are optimistic of new provisions being introduced in the coming year. Nice work Matt!

Thank you!

The Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Early Childhood Education; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; and Community Services, visited Tuart Place in September 2023 to talk with participants and meet with staff. The Tuart Place Craft Ladies presented the Minister and her staff with hand crafted plush coat hangers (a firm favourite with the ladies at Tuart Place!)

Contact Us

Tuart Place

24 High Street

Fremantle

Western Australia 6160

Phone: (08) 6140-2380

Freecall: 1800-619-795

Email: admin@tuartplace.org

Web: www.tuartplace.org

Tuart Place Patrons

Tuart Place is fortunate to have the support of three Patrons who generously donate their time and expertise in support of our services. To find out more about our Patrons, visit https://www. tuartplace.org/about/patrons/

Donate to Tuart Place

FACT Inc (trading as Tuart Place) is a Public Benevolent Institution with Gift Deductible Recipient status, so donations to Tuart Place are tax deductible. To donate, use the PayPal Donate button on the Tuart Place website, or donate via Electronic Funds Transfer:

Account name:

Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc

BSB: 066-107

Account number: 1048-4327

FACT Inc Financial Statements 2023

The following documents are available on the Tuart Place website:

• FACT Inc Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2023

• Report on the Independent Audit of the Financial Statements

Former Senator Rachel Siewert

Dr Robert Isaacs OAM

Senator Dean Smith

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

To the Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc.

In accordance with the requirements of section 60-40 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, as lead auditor for the audit of Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc. for the year ended 30 June 2023, Ideclare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:

a. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-forprofits Commission Act 2012 in relation to the audit; and

b. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

William Buck Audit (WA) Pty Ltd

ABN 67 125 012 124

Conley

Manifis Director

Dated this 4th day October, 2023

Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc. Independent auditor’s report to members

Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements

Opinion

We have audited the financial report of Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc. (the Association), which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2023, the statement of profit or loss and the comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the responsible persons’ declaration.

In our opinion the financial report of Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc. has been prepared in accordance with Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, including:

a. giving a true and fair view of the Association’s financial position as at 30 June 2023 and of its financial performance for the year then ended; and

b. complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulations 2022.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of the Association in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (ACNC Act) and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter – Basis of Accounting

We draw attention to Note 1 to the financial report, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial report has been prepared for the purpose of fulfilling the Association’s financial reporting responsibilities under the ACNC Act. As a result, the financial report may not be suitable for another purpose. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

Responsibilitiesof the Board of Managementfor the Financial Report

The Board of Management of the Association isresponsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and have determined that the basis of preparation described in Note1to the financial report is appropriate to meet the requirements of the ACNC Act and the needs of the members. The Board of Management’s responsibility also includes such internal control as the Board of Management determinesis necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial report, the Board of Managementisresponsible for assessing the Association’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Managementeither intend to liquidate the Association or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

The Board of Management are responsible for overseeing the Association’sfinancial reporting process.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

Afurther description of our responsibilities for the audit of these financial statements is located at the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board website at:

https://www.auasb.gov.au/auditors_responsibilities/ar4.pdf

This description forms part of our independent auditor’s report.

William Buck Audit (WA) Pty Ltd

ABN67 125 012 134

Conley Manifis Director

Dated this 4th of October, 2023