"Forgotten Australians" speaks to the stories of over 500,000 children, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who spent time in institutions or away from family homes throughout the 20th century. Despite facing challenging circumstances, many of these brave individuals have shown incredible resilience. It’s essential to honour their journeys, support their healing, and nurture hope for a future prosperous in understanding and compassion. Together, we can create a more inclusive and caring society that celebrates its strength and perseverance!
The Canvas was created for Forgotten Australians by a Forgotten Australian.
The canvas is hand-painted with rhinestones and mirrors.
The story behind the created art piece
I needed to create something special because of our long journey together, we got our Apologies and for our families.
The tree and the circle represent a family group called the Forgotten Australians.
The coloured leaves symbolise our living brothers and sisters, and the large rhinestones represent the many no longer with us.
The butterflies represent goals for establishing change.
The butterfly symbolises transformation, joy, and new beginnings. Their wings are our wings to move forward.
The mirrors reflect our identity.
Flowers are significant on significant occasions in our lives, such as Birthdays, Brothers, and Sisters. Each flower has a meaning, such as beauty, happiness, loneliness, Innocence, pride, emotions, and remembrance.
Hearts and tear drops represent our love towards each other and the many tears we have shared along our long journey to hear the words “Sorry”.
The canvas is hand-painted with rhinestones and mirrors.
The story behind the created art piece
I needed to create something special because of our long journey together, we got our Apologies and for our families.
The tree and the circle represent a family group called the Forgotten Australians.
The coloured leaves symbolise our living brothers and sisters, and the large rhinestones represent the many no longer with us.
The butterflies represent goals for establishing change.
The butterfly symbolises transformation, joy, and new beginnings. Their wings are our wings to move forward.
The mirrors reflect our identity.
Flowers are significant on significant occasions in our lives, such as Birthdays, Brothers, and Sisters. Each flower has a meaning, such as beauty, happiness, loneliness, Innocence, pride, emotions, and remembrance.
Hearts and tear drops represent our love towards each other and the many tears we have shared along our long journey to hear the words “Sorry”.
The Senate Inquiry 2004.
"The Inquiry of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee in 2004 heard many people who were placed as children in the Australian institutional care to tell their stories – for many it was their first time. Sharing their experiences and caused great pain for them and their families. The report is titled, Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children. The Senate Committee reported that they had "received hundreds of graphic and disturbing accounts about the treatment and care experienced by children in out-of-home care. Their stories outlined emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and often criminal physical and sexual assault and neglect with little education and healthcare".
"The Inquiry of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee in 2004 heard many people who were placed as children in the Australian institutional care to tell their stories – for many it was their first time. Sharing their experiences and caused great pain for them and their families. The report is titled, Forgotten Australians: A report on Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children. The Senate Committee reported that they had "received hundreds of graphic and disturbing accounts about the treatment and care experienced by children in out-of-home care. Their stories outlined emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and often criminal physical and sexual assault and neglect with little education and healthcare".
The number of Institutions throughout Australia is over 800, sadly many have been demolished without knowing of their historical significance .