New research has given policymakers and aged care providers first-hand insights about how to uphold dignity and meet the unique needs of Forgotten Australians.
Older care leavers, sometimes referred to as ‘Forgotten Australians’, are individuals who have spent parts of their lives in out-of-home care, including orphanages, children’s homes or foster care, up until the 1980s.
The National Centre for Healthy Ageing-led research, in partnership with Monash University and Peninsula Health, drew on interviews with 24 care leavers and found one of the most pressing concerns for older care leavers is the fear of reinstitutionalisation.
The study recommends older care leavers must be formally recognised as a priority population in aged care planning, with policy frameworks that reflect the impact of early trauma on late-life wellbeing. This includes targeted workforce training to develop trauma literacy, especially regarding personal boundaries, communication sensitivities and common triggers that may otherwise go unrecognised or misinterpreted in routine care.
Chief Investigator Professor Philip Mendes said the research identifies ageing experiences that are distinctive to this vulnerable group.
“Experiences such as premature ageing linked to lifelong disadvantage, heightened sensitivity to institutional environments and deep mistrust of care systems distinguish their needs from those of other older Australians,” he said.
“The enduring impact of childhood institutionalisation on the lives of care leavers can’t be ignored as they navigate the challenges of ageing and aged care services.”
Many participants expressed significant distress at the prospect of entering residential aged care facilities, which they perceived as mirroring the institutions in which they previously suffered maltreatment. Environmental triggers, such as shared dormitory style living, rigid routines and loss of autonomy, can retraumatise individuals with histories of institutional abuse.
The team worked in close collaboration with the Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) and other key support services that provide crucial assistance to older care leavers, such as Lotus Place in Queensland.
Published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues, and conducted by social work researchers, Professor Philip Mendes, Associate Professor Susan Baidawi, Ms Sarah Morris and Ms Lena Turnbull, the team stressed the importance of a trauma-informed care approach in aged care service delivery, to assist in fostering safety, trust and autonomy for residents through consistent, respectful interactions and trauma-aware training.
With Australia’s new Aged Care Act coming into effect, the new rights-based framework and Support at Home model of care may help change the futures of this vulnerable ageing population.
As the study noted, home care was seen as preferable, with participants valuing being able to stay in their familiar surroundings and retain some control over their daily life.
“Participants called for specialised training for aged care workers to ensure they understand the triggers, anxieties and unique needs of care leavers. They also advocated for structural changes, such as access to private spaces, personal control over meals and daily routines, and ensuring aged care facilities don’t replicate institutional settings. Addressing these needs is critical to preventing further harm and exclusion in later life,” Professor Mendes said.
“Workforce issues, including high staff turnover, inadequate training in trauma-informed care, and cultural and linguistic barriers, impact the ability of aged care providers to deliver sensitive and appropriate support. Without adequate policy responses and service adaptations, many older care leavers are left navigating an aged care system that fails to accommodate their specific histories and needs.”
Lead author, Ms Sarah Morris, paid tribute to all those who took part in the study, through both interviews and surveys, acknowledging the deep emotional toll involved in reopening wounds from the past. “We thank the wonderful participants who shared their insights and their deeply personal wounds. It was an immense privilege to be welcomed into their homes and their lives, many of whom have been tireless advocates for those who continue to feel forgotten,” she said.
Older care leaver case study: Allen Alleyway
At 85 years old, Allen, a Forgotten Australian, recalls his childhood and asks himself ‘what did I ever do to deserve that treatment?’
Allen was six months old when he was pulled from his mother’s arms and made a Ward of the State. Allen was placed in institutional care in Queensland, experienced abuse and labelled as ‘slaves’ by those who were meant to care for him.
At 14 years old Allen was sent out to work on farms and worked roughly 100 hour weeks for minimum wage, but was not told that a portion of their minimum wage was being taken by supervisors for their personal use but labelled as a board and lodging fee.
Allen was made to sleep on a thin mattress with hessian bags sewn together for blankets and sheets.
Recalling his time in institutional care, Allen was made to believe that he was an orphan and that his parents were dead; however, at 17 years old Allen tried to join the Air Force, in the hope of getting an education and career. During the application process, a form needed to be signed by a guardian or parent, and Allen found out his mother was alive when they had to get his mother's signature on his application form.
During his time in institutional care, Allen said “I wasn’t given an education, I wasn’t taught English or maths, we were only taught religion.” Because of this, Allen thought the Air Force was going to give him the education that he never received but was ultimately blocked from joining because he was a ward of the state.
“The anger is still there, it was wrong, it was wrong then and it is wrong now, but I paid the price. We never knew what was going to happen to us one day or the next,” Allen said.
“Growing up we had no hope, there are so many people's lives that have been destroyed by the rotten system. I want people to know that I won’t walk away from having our voice heard, I will fight and continue to fight.”
Allen went looking for his mum and did find her, and when asked whether he ended up having a relationship with her, Allen simply said, “no, too much time had passed.”
Now at 85 years of age, Allen has recently moved into Aged Care following a bad fall. Despite being back in care, Allen remains determined to share his story and educate the public about Forgotten Australians and to remember and honour those who suffered.
Read the research paper: Here
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About the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA), a partnership between Monash University and Peninsula Health
The NCHA is a research and innovation hub established in 2019 with foundational investment from the Federal Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Its mission is to lead the transformation of health and care related to ageing for all Australians. It works across four key themes to tackle some of the most complex challenges in healthy ageing: Healthy ageing across the lifespan; Dementia; Hospital to home; and Health care in Aged Care.