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New South Wales - Archival Series

Client files (1893 - )

Dalmar Child and Family Care, Wesley Mission

From
1893

The type and amount of information contained within these files varies, with the earlier files being less comprehensive than the later ones. On the earlier files (e.g. 1893-c.1940s), there might only be an admission sheet which records the child's name, date of birth, and reason for admission. Occasionally there might be an adoption agreement form on the file. Later files may contain information about parents and other family members, schooling and medical reports, case notes and correspondence about the child.

Quantity: 6 filing cabinets (approx.)

Details

Access Conditions

If you once lived with Wesley Dalmar, we still have the records of your time with us. You may have lived in a residential home, a group home or with Wesley Dalmar foster carers. If you would like to see your file, this is how to go about it:

If you were in care before 2007 call our Carlingford office and ask to speak to our Aftercare worker. The Aftercare worker will assist you to access your file and provide an opportunity to talk about what it was like for you when you lived in care.

It may take some time to prepare a copy of your file for you. Once it is ready, you will be invited to meet with Wesley Dalmar's Aftercare worker, or a caseworker, to go through the file copy, which you can then take away with you. Reading about your past for the first time can be difficult, so we encourage you to bring a trusted friend with you.

In recognition of the needs of past Wesley Dalmar residents, an assessment and treatment program is now available free of charge through Wesley Private Hospital, where the psychology service has a wealth of experience in assisting people recovering from past trauma. Talk to the Aftercare worker about how to access this support service.

An Aftercare worker provides support to people who have been in the care of Wesley Dalmar Out of Home Care and who have left the program.

NOTE: If you were in care after 2007 call the office that managed your time in care and ask to speak to the Manager. We can provide information and support to help you to get established in life.

Related Contact Details

Publications

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: Thinee, Kristy and Bradford, Tracy, Connecting Kin: Guide to Records, A guide to help people separated from their families search for their records [completed in 1998], New South Wales Department of Community Services, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998, https://clan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/connectkin_guide.pdf; Email from Rosanna Lade at Wesley, Thursday, June 26 2014 regarding Wesley's contact details and access conditions; Wesley Mission Aftercare Program web page, see http://www.wesleymission.org.au/Centres/Out_Of_Home_Care/Our_services/After_Care_Program.asp.

Prepared by: Naomi Parry