Meli supports the release of client records to former care leavers who wish to access information about their stay in the orphanages and or children’s homes of our founding organisations, Bethany Community Support and Barwon Children Youth and Families (BCYF). We understand that these records may hold significant personal and historical value. Whether you are seeking information about yourself, a family member, or acting on behalf of someone else, a range of organisations are available to assist you in submitting your application to access records held by government agencies. This support is available regardless of where you live, including outside of Victoria.
As a care leaver, you have the right to request access to these records. The organisations we recommend are well-versed in navigating the different types of records that may exist within Victoria and across Australia. They can guide you on what information will help ensure the best possible outcome for your search.
These services can also help you locate relevant information across a variety of agencies and provide valuable support throughout the process, which may be emotionally challenging. Meli is here to assist you on your journey to accessing the records that are important to you.
If you are a Meli care leaver, we can support you in obtaining records of your time with us. Feel free to contact us by calling 03 5226 8900 or by emailing privacy@meli.org.au.
To request a copy of your records, complete the request form that can be found here.
Additional providers:
Open Place is a support and advocacy service that co-ordinates and provides direct assistance to address the needs of people who grew up in Victorian orphanages and Homes prior to 1989. Open Place aims to also help people who identify as ‘Forgotten Australians’ to deal with the legacy of their childhood experiences, including assisting people to access records from their time in ‘care’.
Focus: Forgotten Australians and former Wards of the State
Telephone: 1800 779 379
Email: info@openplace.org.au
Website: www.openplace.org.au
CLAN is an international, independent, peak membership body which represents and advocates for people who were raised in Australian and New Zealand Orphanages, Children’s Homes, Missions and foster-care. Care Leavers and their families can access free face to face or phone counselling in Sydney and Melbourne. They can provide help to obtain your State Ward or Home records and assistance in obtaining all records including parents’ war service records. See the CLAN website for more information.
Focus: Care Leavers
Telephone: 1800 008 774
Email: support@clan.org.au
Website: www.clan.org.au
Link-Up provides a support service to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 18, who have been adopted, placed in foster care, institutionalised or forcibly removed, to trace and be reunited with their families.
Focus: Stolen Generations
Telephone: 1800 OUR MOB (1800 687 662)
Email: linkup@vacca.org
Website: linkupvictoria.org.au
The Koorie Family History Service at the Koorie Heritage Trust can help you trace your family tree and reconnect you with your history, heritage and culture. The service provides confidential client-based genealogy research to members of the Stolen Generations and the Victorian Koorie community.
Focus: Stolen Generations
Telephone: (03) 8662 6329
Email: info@kht.org.au
Website: koorieheritagetrust.com.au/koorie-family-history-service
VANISH is a post adoption support organisation funded by the Victorian Government to provide search and support services for individuals who are adopted or who were separated from their child through past adoption practices. VANISH also provides search services for Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers.
Focus: People Affected by Past Adoption
Telephone: 1300 VANISH (1300 826 474)
Email: info@vanish.org.au
Website: https://vanish.org.au
Adoption Victoria is a service provided by the Victorian Government. It provides access to information about past adoptions that are connected to Victoria, including inter-country adoptions. The Adoption Victoria service can also help people who were adopted in the United Kingdom access documents, the Service can help adopted people and their families make contact with each other. Adoption Victoria works in partnership with other adoption agencies that provide services to the adoption community.
Focus: People Affected by Past Adoption
Telephone: 1300 194 757
If you have identified records you think may be applicable to you, you can then apply for access to those records and the Department will attempt to find the records for you.
Focus: Forgotten Australians, Care Leavers, and former Wards of the State
Telephone: 03 9096 8449
Email: clrs@dhhs.vic.gov.au
Child Migrants Trust (CMT) is a registered charity in both Australia and Britain, CMT provides a range of social work services, including counselling and support for family reunions. The Trust’s offices in Nottingham, UK, as well as Perth and Melbourne in Australia also offer information, advice and family research to former child migrants and their families.
Focus: Child Migrants
Telephone: 1800 040 509
Email: enquiries@childmigrantstrust.com
Website: www.childmigrantstrust.com
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