The Wire

The experiences of children growing up in institutional care during the 20th century is the topic of a new book by Dr. Joanna Penglase. Orphans of the Living details the personal experiences of care leavers from the 1940’s through to the 1970’s, including Penglase herself. Institutional care,,either though state government wards or in church or charity-run homes, was used for around half a million children up until it was phased out in the 1970’s. It became the focus of a major Senate Inquiry last year. The report, titled Forgotton Australians, detailed the abuses and suffering that were common place for children in homes or wards and in amongst it’s 39 recommendations, there was recognition by state governments and churches of the hurt and abuse suffered by care leavers. Since the report was finalised in March 2004, there’s been little action taken on those recommendations. Dr Joanna Penglase is not only the author of the new book Orphans of the Living, but also a co-founder of the Care Leavers Action Network. She spoke to Bill Birtles: