Introduction to the research
Elizabeth Fernandez
Professor, School of Social Sciences, UNSW
Chief Investigator
18 February 2015
John Niland Scientia Building, Gallery 1
www.forgottenaustralians.unsw.edu.au
Email: lofa@unsw.edu.au
Phone: 02 9385 1516
Background
• People’s experiences of care are documented in
pivotal Inquiry reports
– Australian Parliament’s Senate Community Affairs
Reference Committee
– Righting the Record: Report on Child Migration
– HREOC Bringing them Home Report – National Inquiry
into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Children from their families
• Biographical accounts of Forgotten Australians and
Child Migrants
• Survey of CLAN (Care leavers Australian Network)
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Aims of the study
Specifically this study will
• Explore patterns of older care leavers’ experiences and life
trajectories in care and post care
• Identify factors in their past or present experiences that are
protective or accentuate risks
• Identify their current unmet needs and ways to support them
• Analyse ways in which personal strengths and support from
professionals, families and friends help them surmount challenges
to achieve positive outcomes;
• Apply learnings to contemporary out of home care and after care to
enhance favourable life outcomes and transition services for those
in care systems currently.
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Research Strategy
The LOFA study includes three components:
• Survey questionnaire (online or paper based,
self-completed or facilitated by telephone)
• Individual interviews (a limited number in
different states)
• Focus groups (across different states)
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Who are we inviting to participate
We invite all Forgotten Australians, Child
Migrants and members of the Stolen Generation
who were in care of left care during the period
1930 – 1989.
Data collection will extend over 2015
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Areas of Study
• Experiences in care and challenges confronted: entry to
care, types of care, placement movements, schooling,
relationships with staff and peers, work practices, contact
with family, and significant negative and positive events
• Experiences of transitioning out of care: access to after care
supports and services, service availability, access and
barriers, formal and informal support
• Life outcomes after care – housing, education, work,
health, wellbeing, relationships and connectedness, stress,
coping, resilience
• Perceptions of current service needs, and how ‘care’
systems can be improved for children and young people in
the future
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
The research team
Chief Investigators:
• Professor Elizabeth Fernandez - Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences UNSW
Australia
• Dr Jung-Sook Lee - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences UNSW Australia
• Professor Mark Courtney - University of Chicago
• Professor Mike Stein - University of York
Partner Investigators:
• Dr Wendy Foote - Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies Inc.
• Dr Rebecca Gray - Relationships Australia
• Dr Stephen Mondy, Ms Deirdre Cheers - CatholicCare Broken Bay
• Ms Caroline Carroll, Ms Stella Conroy - Alliance for Forgotten Australians
• Ms Karyn Walsh - Micah Projects Inc.
• Mr Julian Pocock, Mr Simon Gardiner - Berry Street Victoria
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Projected Outcomes
Findings from this research will be used:
• To promote the present needs of this population
• Provide a knowledge base for developing
responsive services
• Identify areas for preventive and rehabilitative
intervention
• Apply learnings to responding to children who are
currently in care and will be care leavers in the
future
Long-term Outcomes of Forgotten Australians (LOFA) Study
Phone: 02 9385 1516
Email: lofa@unsw.edu.au
www.forgottenaustralians.unsw.edu.au