Vice Chairman Of The Board of F.A.C.T. (Forgtten Australians Coming Together) at Tuart Place - Fremantle, WAU, AU
We are the West Australian resource service for care leavers—adults who were in any type of out-of-home care during childhood, including foster care and children's Homes. Care leavers are Forgotten Australian, former Child Migrants, and members of the Stolen Generations. Our governing body is Forgotten Australians Coming Together Inc. (FACT). FACT is Western Australia's representative body for people who were in out-of-home care during childhood, including Former Child Migrants from the UK and Malta, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian-born care leavers. As an organisation started by care leavers for care leavers, FACT's understanding of this area is informed by first-hand knowledge. In 2011, FACT commissioned extensive research to inform the development of a WA Resource Service. The findings of this research, which included a Consultative Workshop and a postal survey sent to 961 Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants, supported key recommendations of the Senate Inquiries and existing research in Australia and overseas.This information was used to develop Tuart Place. The agency's continuing improvement will be informed by feedback from service users and external evaluations.Tuart Place is an innovative participant‐led organisation. Tuart Place was founded by care leavers and is governed by its participants, together with other FACT Inc Board members from a wide range of professional backgrounds.At the heart of Tuart Place is a place to call our own where we feel safe, accepted and can truly be ourselves. Tuart Place has a ‘no wrong door', ‘one stop shop' approach to service delivery that is client centred and non‐bureaucratic. Tuart Place staff create and sustain a safe environment with a specialist trauma informed approach that encompasses all elements of our services. ‘Helping ourselves, helping others' is the essence of our social activities, newsletters, peer support and leadership.