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Care leavers can find that accessing their records brings up emotions, these feelings can be positive or can sometimes be upsetting or overwhelming. We recommend that you have someone to support you through the process.
If you live in NSW, a caseworker can be made available to help you to read your records or to answer questions and provide support if you choose to read your records at a Community Services Centre. Aboriginal care leavers may request the support of an Aboriginal staff member or support service when accessing information and this will be provided wherever possible.
The Australian Government funds the national Find and Connect services. Find and Connect has offices in all States and Territories, and can help you to apply for your records and access support in your local area.
Find and Connect Support Services provide specialist trauma informed counselling, referral services, peer, education and social support programs, assistance to locate and access records and reconnect with family members (where possible) for people who were placed in out-of-home care in Australia.
The Find and Connect Web Resource is a resource for people who were placed in out-of-home care in Australia and anyone interested in the history of child welfare in Australia. It brings together historical resources relating to institutional ‘care’ in Australia. It contains information and images of children’s homes, help to find records about a person’s childhood in ‘care’, and information about support groups and services.
Phone: 1800 16 11 09 (from anywhere in Australia)
Visit the Find and Connect website
CLAN is a national, not-for-profit advocacy organisation for care leavers of all ages. CLAN provide information, advocacy, telephone support, referrals and assistance with reading files.
Phone: 1800 008 774 (free call)
Email: support@clan.org.au
Visit the CLAN website
It may be helpful to receive support from people you already know and have worked with. This may include a Community Service Centre, another agency that supported you while you were in care or a service that is currently supporting you.
There is also the Specialist Aftercare Program for care leavers aged 17-24 years who might need some additional support. You can find more information here on the NSW Government's Youth Hub, including a list of providers you can contact.
Wattle Place provides counselling and a range of other support for people who are over the age of 25 and were in out-of-home care in NSW between the 1920s and 1990s, regardless of where they now live. Wattle Place can provide advice and support on accessing records about your time in out-of-home care.
Phone: 1800 663 884 (free call)
Visit the Wattle Place website
Aboriginal Affairs operates the Family Records Service (FRS) to help Aboriginal people in New South Wales to access records pertaining to themselves, or their ancestors, that are held in the archive collection of the former Aborigines Welfare Board (formerly known as the Aborigines Protection Board) and the Chief Secretary records relating to Aboriginal affairs. The records span the period from 1890 to 1969.
Phone: 1800 019 998
Email: familyhistory@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au
Link-Up NSW works with Aboriginal people over the age of 18 who were separated from their families when they were children. Services provided by Link-Up NSW include reunification and counselling.
Phone: 1800 624 332
Email: linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au
Visit the Link-Up website
The National Redress Scheme helps people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse gain access to counselling and psychological services, a direct personal response, and a monetary payment. Applications can be made from 1 July 2018 until 30 June 2027.
Visit the National Redress Scheme website
The NSW Special Search Service provides free specialised national and international search and reunion services to people who were separated by government intervention in NSW, for example through adoption, being under the care of the Minister, foster care, or being placed in a children’s home in NSW. It is provided by qualified professional Social Workers experienced in delivering discreet and supportive tracing and reunification services.
Phone: 1300 657 843 (cost of a local call) or (02) 9267 0300
Email: sss@iss.org.au
Visit the NSW Special Search Scheme website
The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme provides ex-gratia payments to living Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families and committed to the care of the NSW Aborigines Protection or Welfare Boards. The payments are made in recognition of the harm that these removals caused. There is also a fund to assist with funeral payments. The closing date for applications will be 30 June 2022.
Visit The Stolen Reparations Scheme website
The following services are available 24/7 from anywhere in Australia
Phone: 000
Provides: Emergency Services including police and ambulance.
Visit the Lifeline website
Phone: 13 11 14
Provides: Confidential crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Visit the Beyondblue website
Phone: 1300 224 636
Provides: Counselling for mental wellbeing, anxiety, depression and suicide prevention.
Visit the 1800 Respect website
Phone: 1800 737 732
Provide: Confidential information, counselling and support service for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence.
Visit the MensLine website
Phone: 1300 787 978
Provides: Counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns.
Visit the Suicide Call Back Service website
Phone: 1300 659 467
Provides: Professional counselling for people who are affected by suicide.
14 Apr 2025