Bespoke training will soon be available for all staff to help meet the needs of a diverse group of older people, referred to as care leavers (because they come from institutional care), who come from a background of trauma and who may have many challenges as they face the possibility of aged care.

Forgotten Australians represent the 500,000 children that were placed into institutional and out-of-home care in Australia in the last century.  Of this group, 7,000 were former child migrants, 50,000 were indigenous children from the Stolen Generations and over 440,000 were non-indigenous children.  Many of these children experienced significant physical and emotional trauma as a result of being placed in institutional care as children and now, as an older group, are experiencing barriers to accessing aged care as a result.

The Care Leavers training focuses on the experiences of Forgotten Australians, Stolen Generations, Former Child Migrants and people affected by forced adoption

The Real Care The Second Time Around Forgotten Australians Project, funded by the Australian Government, started in 2019. This important project has been developed with Forgotten Australians by Helping Hand, in partnership with Relationships Australia South Australia and Flinders University.  

The program is being piloted at three sites – Aldersgate Village, Strathdon and Strath-Haven in Bendigo and this will inform how the program is rolled out to the rest of Uniting AgeWell. The sites are part of a national pilot to embed trauma informed practice for Forgotten Australians and care leavers.

While the work focusses on the needs of Forgotten Australians and care leavers, the principles of trauma informed care can be applied to any resident and help everyone to have a better day.

It is consistent with the Aged Care Legislation and standards for Uniting AgeWell to be adopting trauma awareness and healing informed practice across our services – the pilot work means we will be on the front foot of changes.

All staff are invited to complete an online training program as part of our journey. While the training program is not mandatory, it is highly recommended.

Please be mindful that this training can be challenging for some people as it discusses some very difficult topics around abuse, neglect and trauma.

If you do not want to do the training – you do not have to.  If you have any concerns around any of the topics raised in the training, please speak to your Manager and remember you can access free counselling services through the EAP program

Click here to training or more information.

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