National Apology

Federal Government ignores pleas by WA care leavers

Western Australian care leaver Ron Love has spoken out about the Federal Government’s ongoing failure to support WA’s primary support service for care leavers, Tuart Place. Ron is Chairperson of Forgotten Australians Coming Together(FACT) Inc, which is the governing bodyofTuart Place. “The Australian Government’s new redress scheme has caused a huge increase in demand for services at Tuart Place, but no support is being provided to meet this demand. Many hundreds of care leavers know and trust Tuart Place, so of course they are now returning for help from the people who assisted them with the other redress schemes”, Ron said. Ron and Tuart Place Director Philippa White have repeatedly raised this issue with the Federal Government and are seeking a meeting with the Minister for Social Services, Dan Tehan. “So far our requests have fallen on deaf ears”, Ron said. “As children we were ignored, and we are still being ignored today. It is disgraceful that the Government is disregarding such an important service - one that was started by a care leaver and is still governed by care leavers, for care leavers”. Tuart Place was founded by former child migrant and Bindoon ex-resident, Laurie Humphreys. Laurie lived to see his dream ofa ‘drop in centre’ for all care leavers become a reality before his death in 2012.

Ron says that Laurie would be delighted with how Tuart Place has flourished and developed into a multi-award winning and professional resource service, but believes Laurie would ‘turn in his grave’ at the way in which the organisation is being ignored by the Federal Government.

National apology consultation at Tuart Place

Tuart Place was happy to assist the Federal Government to connect with WA care leavers during their consultations for the forthcoming ‘National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse’, which will be delivered by the Prime Minister on 22 October 2018.

The Consultation with WA care leavers was held in the Common Room area at Tuart Place on 14 June, and was chaired by Redress Council Chairperson Cheryl Edwardes.

Two Patrons of Tuart Place –Senator Rachel Siewert and Steve Irons MP –attended in their capacity as members of the National Apology Reference Group. It was a lively conversation and there were many insightful and productive comments for the Reference Group to take back to the Prime Minister’s office. For further information, phone the National Apology Information Line: 1800-604-604, or visit: https://www. nationalapologyconsultation.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx