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| RECENT NEWS |
| IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT |
| We regret to announce that from Monday 12 September 2011 Open Place is no longer able to accept applications for funding for Life Skills and Medical Needs. As you may know the Victorian Government funds Open Place with $2 million per year to provide services for all Victorian Forgotten Australians. The growing number of Forgotten Australians accessing services from Open Place and the significant increase in requests for funding Life Skills and Medical Needs means that we cannot continue with the existing model of brokerage applications. In order to preserve and continue other Open Place services, as well as provide a more equitable service to all service users, it is necessary to refocus funding towards counselling and general support services, rather than on individual applications for funding. Funding applications lodged before 12 September 2011 under the previous guidelines will be honored and processed as usual. All other Open Place services will continue without change including: • Counselling for Forgotten Australians and family members • Social and Support Groups • Records and Family Reunions including support for Travel and Accommodation • Peer Leader Program and Community Education activities • Activities being run from Open Place at Richmond, including: Quilting; Leatherwork; Creative Writing; Computer Skills; Friday Cook up. The Victorian Government has stated its’ committed to ensuring that Forgotten Australians are given the counselling and support they need through organisations such as Open Place. The Government is committed to continuing to fund Open Place at the existing level of support and to working with the service users to consider options for how the funds previously used for Life Skills and Medical Needs should be used from July 2012. We want to target the areas of greatest need for Forgotten Australians and we will aim to develop an equitable, viable and sustainable model for ongoing operations. The provision of more counselling and support services in rural and regional areas will be a priority. Staff at Open Place appreciate that this announcement is a blow to many of you who have benefited over the past 20 months from financial support for your Life Skills opportunities and Medical Needs. Support Workers will continue to be available to support you to access services in the community and to advocate for your individual needs. |
| Peer Leader Program |
| Why have a Peer Leader Program |
| Forgotten Australians are less likely to feel judged or stigmatised when peer to peer relationships are built upon common knowledge and shared experiences. The Peer Leader Program is an opportunity for Forgotten Australians to build their skills and knowledge in order to contribute to the wellbeing of other Forgotten Australians. In this way, the Peer Leader Program is unique. The value of having Peer Leaders advocating on behalf of other Forgotten Australians in the community is immense and a necessary part of positively influencing the many issues faced by Forgotten Australians. The requirements of people who are interested in being a part of the Peer Leader Program include having a passion about the issues faced by Forgotten Australians, coupled with a willingness to advocate on a range of issues to a broad audience such as Government Departments, schools, GP's, hospitals, prisons, DHS Protective workers and to children who are currently in care. Peer Leaders also need to be willing to participate and to work together as a team. We have recruited 4 Peer Leaders who are assisting us in the development of the upcoming training package. |
| Inside Life in a Children’s Home – a National Museum Exhibition |
| Recommendation 35 of the Senate Committee Report on Australians who experienced institutional or out of home care as children [Forgotten Australians] states: |
| That the National Museum of Australia be urged to consider establishing an exhibition, preferably permanent, related to the history and experiences of children in institutional or out of home care as children. |
| The National Museum is planning this exhibition now which is to be launched in November 2011. It is called “Inside Life in Children’s Homes”. You are encouraged to visit the blog and web site: |
| www.nma.gov.au/blogs/inside |