The lived experience and long-term outcomes of adults who have experienced physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect as children in care

People who have lived in child welfare institutions and other substitute care as children are known to have suffered significant abuse and disadvantage in their life course. There is international concern about the trauma and... [ view full abstract ]

People who have lived in child welfare institutions and other substitute care as children are known to have suffered significant abuse and disadvantage in their life course. There is international concern about the trauma and victimisation many of them experienced while in care and the significant and lifelong impacts of abuse in care. Adult care leavers’ lived experience of the conditions of their care and their current outcomes will be profiled through a national research study conducted in Australia. Using a mixed methods approach this national research undertaken by the author explored the range of experiences and outcomes for those who experienced residential and foster care. The study included surveys, personal interviews and focus groups, the sample comprising 700 respondents across Australia. Findings reveal emotional, physical and sexual abuse occurred frequently and concurrently. Educational neglect was rampant and many left care illiterate and innumerate. Children were also subject to hard physical labour from a very young age. Children who entered care at a younger age, spent longer durations in care, had more placements and had limited or no contact with family of origin were most susceptible to maltreatment. The consequences of maltreatment in care extended well beyond their childhoods persisting into adulthood. Results indicate that those who experienced poly victimization through multiple types of abuse had generally worse outcomes in various domains of well-being. The presentation will draw on both quantitative findings and voices of research participants. Implications of the findings for redress and reparation, and for policy and practice in contemporary out of home care systems will be discussed. This presentation will also provide an overview of the landscape of Inquiries and major justice mechanisms used to address the problem of abuse in out-of-home care in the Australian context.