Who
we are
The Alliance for Forgotten Australians (AFA) is a national group of Forgotten Australians and supporters who work in partnership to advocate for and promote national policies and services to meet the needs and interests of Forgotten Australians. There are estimated to be 500,000 Forgotten Australians who spent time as a child in a children’s home, orphanage, asylum, foster placement, training school and other forms of residential out-of-home facility in Australia before the end of 1989.
Vision
The Alliance for Forgotten Australians is committed to recognition and healing for Forgotten Australians and encourages their active engagement in the development of policy and services which are person centered and strengths-based and which create opportunities and pathways that improve the lives of Forgotten Australians.
Mission
AFA’s mission is to support Forgotten Australians to amplify their collective voice and ensure active participation nationally, drawing on lived experience by:
Advocating
Advocating for appropriate past, present and future policies, programs and services that impact the lives of Forgotten Australians and children in the system since 1989.
Educating
Educating elected representatives, policy makers, professionals, academics and the general community on the lived experience, past and present, of Forgotten Australians;
Promoting
Promoting recognition and inclusion of the past experiences, injustices and impact of the legislation, policies and practices on the lives of Forgotten Australians as children and adults.
AFA is a public company limited by guarantee and is registered under the Corporations Act 2001.
The AFA Board is made up of Directors, known as governing members.
Our Board can have up to seven (7) Forgotten Australians on the Board at any one time, with these seven members coming from each of the following:
- New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory;
- Northern Territory;
- Queensland;
- South Australia;
- Tasmania;
- Victoria; and
- Western Australia
The Board can also have an additional two (2) Board members who may not be Forgotten Australians.
All Directors must meet a number of requirements:
- actively support AFA and its purpose;
- understand and accept their governance responsibilities;
- have demonstrated skills:
- relevant to the implementation of AFA’s purpose, or
- in governance (including financial, legal, communications and management skills); and
- are willing and able to participate in meetings using technology and to correspond by email.
Board Directors serve for three (3) years on the Board and may be re-appointed for two (2) more terms of 3 years (total of 9 years)
What Board members do
There are usually six (6) Board meetings every year. Most of our meetings are held via Zoom, with at least one per year held face to face with managers from Find & Connect Services.
Board members need to read all Board papers and be prepared for Board meetings.
Board members work with their local Find & Connect Service manager and promote AFA and our work in your local Forgotten Australians group/network.
Board members contribute ideas and help with advocacy for better policies and services for Forgotten Australians.
Board members occasionally assist by joining sub-committees or doing other work outside of meetings to assist with the work of AFA.
All AFA Board members are volunteers and dedicate their time and energy, supporting AFA by drawing on their own lived experience and engaging with other Forgotten Australians in their local communities across Australia.
In 2023, AFA changed its corporate structure, to a Company Limited by Guarantee. Forgotten Australians now hold the majority of positions on the Board, with capacity for two skilled appointments of non-Forgotten Australians.
This change strengthens the voices of Forgotten Australians in our work, advocacy and communication.
All AFA Board members are volunteers and dedicate their time and energy, supporting AFA by drawing on their own lived experience and engaging with other Forgotten Australians in their local communities across Australia.
AFA has always had a strong relationship with state-based support services for Forgotten Australians. This continues with the Affiliate Membership of AFA, the Find & Connect Services across Australia.
Associate Members are Forgotten Australians who are not part of the governance structure but support the advocacy efforts of AFA.
The Board
Suzanne joined AFA as an associate member in November 2018 and was appointed as a director of the AFA Board at the 2023 annual general meeting. Suzanne is a Forgotten Australian representing Western Australia and is an active attendee of Lanterns House, operated by the Find and Connect Service, Relationships Australia WA.
Daryl was appointed as a director of the AFA Board in 2019. He is a Forgotten Australian representing New South Wales and is an active attendee at Wattle Place, operated by the Find and Connect Service, Relationships Australia NSW.
David is a Forgotten Australian who was appointed as a director of the AFA Board in 2015. He represents Tasmania at board level and participates in activities organised by Relationship Australia’s early intervention services in Tasmania.
Jan was appointed as a director of the AFA Board in 2023. She is a Forgotten Australian representing South Australia and is an active attendee at Elm Place, operated by the Find and Connect Service, Relationships Australia SA.
Maree is a Forgotten Australian who joined AFA as an associate member in 2016. Eight years later she was appointed as a director of the AFA Board. Maree represents Victoria and is an active attendee at Open Place, operated by the Find and Connect Service, Relationships Australia VIC.
Diane was appointed as a director of the AFA Board at the 2024 annual general meeting. She is a Forgotten Australian representing Queensland and is an active attendee at Lotus Place, operated by Micah Projects.
Heather is a Forgotten Australian who was appointed as a director of the AFA Board at the 2024 annual general meeting. She represents the Northern Territory and is an active attendee at the Adult Specialist Services, operated by Relationships Australia NT.
Karyn was appointed as a director of the AFA Board in 2017. She is a skilled appointee on the board and is currently the CEO of Micah Projects in Queensland, which operates Lotus Place.
Reg was appointed as director of the AFA Board in 2025. He is a skilled appointee and was the former Senior Manager ‑ Adult Specialised Services at Relationships Australia WA.
Affiliate Members
Taylah is the Manager - Specialist Support Services, at Relationships Australia, Northern Territory.
Luci is the Manager, Trauma Services, at Relationships Australia, South Australia
Amelia is the Director, Early Intervention Services, Relationships Australia, Tasmania
Darcy is the Cluster Lead of Lotus Services, Lotus Place, South Queensland.
Yvonne is the Manager at Wattle Place, Relationships Australia NSW.
Michelle is the Senior Manager at Open Place, Relationships Australia, Victoria
Associate Members
Caroline is the former Chair of AFA and retired at the 2024 annual general meeting. She is a founder member of AFA, active in the organisation since its inception in 2006. Caroline is a Forgotten Australian representing Victoria and was the former Community Education Coordinator at Open Place, the Victorian service for Forgotten Australians.