"Institutional abuse does not stop when we age out of the system". Former Senator Andrew Murray shares the essay that he co-authored with Dr Marilyn Rock "The Enduring Legacy of Growing Up In Care in 20th Century Australia".
Tag: sexual abuse
Silence, Suffering, Strength
Helen Harms writes about her experiences and shares photographs from her childhood in Nazareth House, Wynumm, Queensland.
Magdalene Diaries
View the latest film by Rachael Romero depicting, through drawings and poetry, her experiences at The Pines in South Australia.
Three Generations of Suffering
Forgotten Australian Diane Mancuso, who recently re-connected with her UK-based sister, shares a poem about her family's history, written by her nephew, Simon Houlders.
Donna’s story
'Inever spoke of the abuse because it seemed normal. I had been abused in the orphanage'. In 1957, Donna, aged three, was sent into institutional care with her sister and four brothers. Donna shared her personal history with the National Museum.
Billy Billy
Diane Mancuso shares two stories about growing up in a large Irish family in the suburbs, time spent in Bidura children's home and beyond. Diane has also written a poem, 'Billy Billy', about her brother who was also in 'care' and later died on his birthday.
‘Religious life is dying’
'We noticed that the abuses happened when the Christian Brothers were at our strongest. We were thriving in terms of vocation, power and money. The government would not dare to question us.' Read an interview with Brother Philip Pinto, head of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, who says religious life in its traditional sense is 'dying'.
Ann’s story
'My identity was stolen from me'. Child Migrant Ann McVeigh shares her personal history and photographs of St Joseph's Orphanage, Subiaco (now Wembley), WA.
Senators vote against child abuse inquiry
The Australian Senate recently voted against Senator Nick Xenophon's motion that the Heiner Affair be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report. Listen to Bravehearts' founder Hetty Johnston's response.
Shock treatment
'My heart broke for these defenseless people and still does today.' Gwen (Sandra) Robinson was placed in Wolston Park Hospital, Tufnell Home and Home of the Good Shepherd Mitchelton. Here, she remembers her experiences at Wolston Park.
