Hardship payments available for eligible Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers

The Victorian Government has announced the delivery of hardship payments for eligible Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers in exceptional circumstances.

The hardship payment offers a one-off payment to people who were physically, psychologically or emotionally abused or neglected as children in institutional care in Victoria before 1990, and who are now terminally or critically ill. Hardship payments will be available until the Victorian Historical Care Leavers Redress Scheme starts.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department) is committed to working with Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers and key stakeholders to develop the Victorian Historical Care Leavers Redress Scheme to ensure the process is meaningful, healing, and respectful. The department will keep you informed about the co-design and consultation process.

Those who meet the criteria for a hardship payment will be offered a one-off payment of $10,000.

To be eligible for a hardship payment, a person abused or neglected as a child in Victorian institutional care will need to:

• have been placed in Victorian institutional care for 6 months or more before 1990
• have a terminal or critical illness. 

You cannot apply on behalf of someone who has died.

To apply for a hardship payment the Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leaver or their nominated support person (or organisation) will need to provide an application form and medical statement form. They will also need to provide certified copies of identity documents.

More information

For more information, visit the Victorian Historical Care Leavers Redress Hardship Payments website.

If you have any questions about the hardship payment process, please email VictorianGovernmentRedressScheme@dffh.vic.gov.au.

You can also access support and services through Open Place or the Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN).