Life Stories
Project
The Life Stories Project made it possible for 60 Forgotten Australians to tell their life story. The completed stories were printed with photos and documents. Each Forgotten Australian who participated received 20 copies of their story. The Forgotten Australian is the owner of the story and decides who should receive a copy.
The Project had the following aims:
- enable and empower participants, via storytelling, to claim or reclaim their identity;
- assist participants, via storytelling, in their emotional and psychological recovery; and
- assist participants, via storytelling, to reconnect with family
The Project developed a model for storytelling that ensured the support and wellbeing of participants. A group of writers with knowledge of and experience in working with Forgotten Australians were recruited and supported.
Feedback from participants and writers suggested that the Project met its objectives. This report provides an overview of the project methodology, the outcomes and recommendations for future life story activity with Forgotten Australians.
The Project report describes how the project was developed, delivered and importantly the outcome for participants. The Life Stories Project demonstrated that an informed, carefully constructed and compassionately delivered program can bring much joy and relief to those who have often been shamefully neglected and excluded by our society.
Life Stories videos
Telling their story is important to Forgotten Australians. Although it is painful for them, they want their history recognised. Unpleasant truths are better understood than kept in darkness. We also learn from the past: first, how to assist the adult survivors of child abuse, building on their strengths and understandings and, secondly, how to support children today.
This is the story of six people who started life differently - one of them in another country - but who shared the experience of a childhood in children’s homes, institutions or foster care in Australia. They are strong and hopeful people, but they live with the trauma of childhood abuse and neglect, and they find many aspects of everyday living challenging. They are members of a very large group of people who call themselves the Forgotten Australians.
It is also a documentation of history, told through the eyes of these six people. These six have been chosen because they are members of the Alliance for Forgotten Australians and have support networks in place. Meet Caroline, Allan, Tony, Wilma, Pamella and Laurie, as they bring to life the story of the Forgotten Australians.
