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Experiences and Outcomes of Adults Who Endured Maltreatment as Children in Care in Australia in the Twentieth Century

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Book cover Child Maltreatment in Residential Care

Abstract

This research explored life experiences of “care” leavers who have lived in institutions (such as children’s homes and orphanages) or other forms of out-of-home care (OOHC) as children. Participants in this study were drawn from the larger cohort of those who were in care between 1930 and 1989: Forgotten Australians, members of the Stolen Generations, and Child Migrants. The findings are based on surveys completed by 669 participants, interviews with 92 participants, and 20 focus groups attended by 77 participants. This chapter specifically focuses on (1) experiences of maltreatment in care, (2) factors related to maltreatment, and (3) the effects of maltreatment on adult outcomes. Almost every participant in this study experienced abuse and maltreatment in care. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse frequently occurred concurrently. Children experienced a high level of abuse from predatory adults, and many were also abused by peers. The quality of schooling was generally poor and many children left care illiterate and innumerate. Children were involved in hard physical labor from a very young age, mainly unpaid. Although related factors differed by the type and source of maltreatment, in general, participants were more likely to be maltreated while in care if they were younger at entry into OOHC, were state wards at entry, stayed longer in OOHC, had more placements, did not have or rarely had contact with their families, and did not have anyone helpful in care. Participants were more likely to experience educational neglect while in care if they were older generations, had more placements, and lacked contact with their families. The consequences of maltreatment in care seemed to be extended well beyond their childhoods persisting into late adulthood. Although the effects differed by outcomes, experiencing all types of abuse while in care had more negative effects on various adult outcomes. The educational neglect had negative effects for some outcomes, mainly related to financial aspects of life. Most participants in this study were denied almost all rights to protection, nurture, learning, health, and well-being while growing up in care. Instead, they experienced neglect, abuse, and great trauma. This has clearly had lifelong health and well-being impacts. Based on these findings, implications for policy and services are discussed.

Most participants in this study were denied almost all rights to protection, nurture, learning, health, and wellbeing while growing up in care. Instead, they experienced neglect, abuse, and great trauma. This has clearly had lifelong health and wellbeing impacts.

(Fernandez & Lee, 2017)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    One respondent continued staying at the convent as an adult until the age of 31. Therefore, the maximum age in care was set to the next highest value in the data (age 22).

  2. 2.

    The highest educational and vocational qualification includes schooling and vocational training. When a person has both a HSC and a certificate, a HSC was set to be the highest educational and vocational qualification.

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Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge the research assistance of Dr. Hazel Blunden, Dr. Patricia McNamara, Szilvia Kovacs, and Paul-Auguste Cornefert School of Social Sciences, UNSW Sydney.

The funding supporting this research from the Australian Research Council is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Elizabeth Fernandez & Jung-Sook Lee

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  1. Elizabeth Fernandez
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  2. Jung-Sook Lee
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Fernandez .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Southwestern Christian University, Bethany, Oklahoma, USA

    Adrian V. Rus

  2. Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

    Sheri R. Parris

  3. Social Pediatrics and Obstetrics Research Department, National Institute for Mother and Child Health “Alessandrescu-Rusescu”, Bucuresti, Romania

    Ecaterina Stativa

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Fernandez, E., Lee, JS. (2017). Experiences and Outcomes of Adults Who Endured Maltreatment as Children in Care in Australia in the Twentieth Century. In: Rus, A., Parris, S., Stativa, E. (eds) Child Maltreatment in Residential Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57990-0_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57990-0_20

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