Approximately 4,000 children were sent to Australia from Britain and Malta following World War Two.
The records of Former Child Migrants are spread across a number of different organisations, in Australia and overseas. Searching for and accessing these records can be complicated and time-consuming.
In 2018, the British government announced it would offer compensation to Former Child Migrants.
Child Migrants Trust
The Child Migrants Trust was established in 1987 by Margaret Humphreys. It is an independent, professional, specialised service for Former Child Migrants and their families. The Child Migrants Trust’s services including searching for records, searching for family members, organising reunions and offering support and counselling. Through the Family Restoration Fund, it pays the cost of reunion travel for Former Child Migrants and their families. In Australia, the Child Migrants Trust has offices in Perth and in Melbourne.
www.childmigrantstrust.com
Freecall: 1800 04 05 09
Find & Connect Support Services
The Find & Connect Support Services providing support to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants living in Australia with counselling, obtaining records and reconnecting with family, where possible.
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/support-services
Freecall: 1800 16 11 09
Tuart Place (Western Australia)
Tuart Place provides services to people who were in institutional ‘care’ in Western Australia, including Former Child Migrants. Tuart Place’s services include obtaining records, family tracing and providing support.
www.tuartplace.org
Freecall 1800 619 795 or (08) 6140 2380
Reading:
Good British Stock: Child and Youth Migration to Australia
Good British Stock is a research guide published by the National Archives of Australia. It contains detailed information about records held by the National Archives of Australia relating to child migration and to Former Child Migrants. This publication also contains information about the history of child and youth migration to Australia.
Child Migrants: Accessing records held by Commonwealth and State Archives
This guide was prepared by the Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities (CAARA) in 2010. It contains information about records relating to Former Child Migrants in national and state archives, as well as some records held by non-government organisations (such as church or charitable organisations).
Lost Innocents: Righting the Record
The Senate presented its report on Child Migration to Australia in 2001, following an inquiry by the Community Affairs Reference Committee. The ‘Lost Innocents’ report contains information about the history of child migration to Australia, its impact on individuals and families as well as useful facts and figures.