Find & Connect is for people who spent time in out of home care before 1990 and are currently living in Australia. Our support services can help you find family, access records, or with any issues that stem from being in care as a child.
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) directs you to the Find & Connect Support Service in your state or territory Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm , and will help you to:
- access personalised support and counselling
- where possible obtain personal records, trace your history and help you understand why you were placed into care
- connect with other services and support networks that may assist you
- where possible, reconnect with family
If you need urgent help, Lifeline operates a 24-hour telephone counselling service. 13 11 14 (freecall).
Find & Connect Support Services in Your State or Territory
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Find & Connect Support Service ACT
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
The support service will help you to:
- access personalised support and counselling
- where possible, obtain your personal records, trace your history and understand why you were placed into care
- connect with other services and support networks that may assist you at this time in your life
- reconnect with family, where possible
Address: 15 Napier Close, Deakin, ACT 2600
Website: https://racr.org.au/services/trauma-support-services/find-and-connect
Telephone: 02 6122 7100
Find & Connect Support Service NSW – Wattle Place
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Wattle Place is a service to support those people who grew up in orphanages, children’s Homes, institutions and foster homes in NSW from the 1920s to the 1990s, no matter where they live.
It provides
- Counselling
- Information and referrals to health, legal and family support services
- A drop-in centre
- Lifeskills workshops
- Social activities and events
- Newsletters
- Support for family reunions
- Access to records
- Help for education and training
Address: 67 High Street, Harris Park, NSW 2150
Email: wattleplace@ransw.org.au
Website: https://wattleplace.org.au/
Telephone: 1800 663 844
Find & Connect Support Service NT – Relationships Australia NT
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
The support service will help you to:
- access personalised support and counselling
- where possible, obtain your personal records, trace your history and understand why you were placed into care
- connect with other services and support networks that may assist you at this time in your life
- reconnect with family, where possible
Website: https://nt.relationships.org.au/services/find-and-connect-support-services/
Darwin office:
Address: 5 Shepherd Street, Darwin, 0800
Email: rantreception@ra-nt.org.au
Telephone: 08 8923 4999
Alice Springs office:
Address: 4/11 Railway Terrace, Alice Springs, 0870
Email: receptionas@ra-nt.org.au
Telephone: 08 8950 4100
Find & Connect Support Service Qld – Lotus Place
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Lotus Place is the Support Service for Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants in Queensland. Lotus Place will help you to:
- access personalised support and counselling
- where possible, obtain your personal records, trace your history and understand why you were placed into care
- connect with other services and support networks that may assist you at this time in your life
- reconnect with family, where possible
Address: 46 Cleveland Street, Stones Corner, QLD 4101
Website: www.lotusplace.org.au
Email: lotus@micahprojects.org.au
Telephone: 07 3347 8500
Find & Connect Support Service SA – Elm Place
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Elm Place offers services that respond to people whose lives have been affected by being in out-of-home care when they were children and works alongside the Find & Connect Support Service. Find & Connect offers support to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants who were in care in South Australia prior to 1989, including foster care, orphanage care, and other State or church based institutions. Elm Place recognises that people have different experiences of their time in care and the service is respectful of people’s varying needs and issues.
Elm Place provides assistance with:
- Accessing your records
- Find & Connect Support Services
- Searching for and possibly reconnecting with family
- Access and information to other relevant community services and programs such as health services, employment services and education support
- Housing and financial management
- Counselling and therapeutic services
- Life skills
- Parenting skills development
- Identity and relationships
- A friendly, welcoming place to drop in for support.
Elm Place has a drop in area, a safe place clients can use, to relax, meet other people, have access to a computer or just read the paper. The drop in area is open from Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Telephone: 08 8419 2042
Address: 151 South Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Website: https://elmplace.org.au/
Find & Connect Support Service Tas
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
The Find & Connect Support Service in Tasmania helps Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants to trace their history and understand the reason they were placed into care, reconnect with family where possible and to access counselling and other supports.
Email: enquiries@reltas.com.au
Website: http://www.tas.relationships.org.au/services/find-and-connect
Telephone: 1300 364 277
Hobart
Address: 20 Clare Street, New Town, TAS 7008
Launceston
Address: 6 Paterson Street, Launceston, TAS 7250
Postal Address: PO Box 968, Launceston TAS 7250
Find & Connect Support Service Vic – Open Place
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Open Place is the support service for Forgotten Australians in Victoria. It provides personal support, help with records and family searches, counselling, social activities, reunions, support groups, and opportunities to learn new skills.
Address: Suite 1 / 8 Bromham Place, Richmond, VIC 3121
Email: info@openplace.org.au
Website: http://www.openplace.org.au
Telephone: 1800 779 379
Find & Connect Support Service WA – Lanterns House
1800 16 11 09 (freecall) – Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Lanterns House is specifically equipped to provide support and assistance to people who want to:
- obtain records of their time in ‘care’
- trace their family
- access individual counselling and group support
- participate in social activities or simply drop in for a cuppa and a chat
- connect with other service and support organisations that may be able to help them at this time in their lives.
Address: 165 Great Eastern Highway, Belmont, WA 6104
Email: lanterns@relationshipswa.org.au
Website: https://www.relationshipswa.org.au/en/services/find-and-connect
Telephone: 08 6164 0240
Other Support Services
There are also specialised support organisations that may be helpful to you.