Former Children in UPA Homes

UPA’s commitment to the National Redress Scheme

The National Redress Scheme has been introduced to acknowledge and support people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse. The UPA of New South Wales has joined the Scheme and welcome contact from any former children in UPA care through the National Redress Scheme.

Further information is available by visiting www.nationalredress.gov.au or by calling the National Redress Scheme line on 1800 737 377.

The United Protestant Association of NSW (UPA) established 13 children’s homes between 1940 and the early 1980s, when these larger institutional Homes were wound down and closed. From that time until the mid 1990’s to 2023 when we transferred the programme to Allambi Care, UPA then established some smaller Group/Cottage Homes in Orange (4 cottages), Newcastle/East Maitland (2 cottages), Wagga Wagga (1 cottage), Wollongbar/Murwillumbah (2 cottages), we then transferred our child care efforts into providing Foster Care under the name of UPA Youth Care (several hundred foster care placements throughout the Far North Coast Region.  Over those three periods, some homes were well managed and some were not.

The Homes
Adelaide Walker Home, Strathfield – Buena Vista, Orange – Ellimeek, East Maitland – Ellimatta Girls Home, East Maitland – Glen Eden, Glen Innes – Gumleigh, Wagga Wagga – Lillimur, Dubbo – Orange Group Homes – Melrose Boys Home, Pendle Hill – Murrayvale Girls Home, Albury – Newcastle/East Maitland Group Homes – Rathgar & Rathmore Homes, Grafton – The Laurels Girls, Kogarah – Sunnylands Boys Home, Wollongbar –  Wagga Wagga Group Home – Wollongbar/Murwillumbah Group Home – Woodlands Boys Home, Newcastle.

Publicly, we sought to be trusted by children, parents, and the State, but we freely acknowledge that in many of our homes we failed to provide the loving, safe and nurturing environment that children need to thrive. Some emotional, physical and sexual abuse did occur in those homes. We are ashamed of those failures and offer our sincere and deep apology for the harm caused.

Today, we seek to make amends by listening and believing, offering access to records, reporting to authorities, funding counselling services, making redress payments. We welcome contact from any person who once resided in a UPA children’s home.

Currently there are several cases that could be heard in the courts. We are pleased when we hear a “guilty” plea and welcome the prosecution process. Whenever we receive an allegation of abuse we work with NSW Police to ensure that each person has the opportunity to be heard and information gathered. We are committed to ensuring privacy is protected and that care, support and services are readily available.

Our Contact details at UPA are:
After Care Support: Graham Hercus Telephone 02 8998 5600 or email: graham.hercus@upa.org.au
CEO: Tim Thorndyke Telephone 02 8998 5600 or email: tim.thorndyke@upa.org.au

Additionally, the following organisations provide a range of information and support services for care leavers:
Wattle Place – NSW Support Service for Forgotten Australians
Wattle Place is operated by Relationships Australia. Centrally located at Harris Park in Western Sydney, Wattle Place can be contacted on 1800 663 844 (freecall from a fixed line phone) or 02 9633 5395.
Find and Connect website
The national Find and Connect web site contains historical information about where records are held and how to access them, and links to resources for care leavers.
The Find and Connect web address is www.findandconnect.gov.au.
Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN)
CLAN is a national, not-for-profit advocacy organization based in Bankstown, NSW. CLAN members and others are offered information, advocacy, counselling, referrals, a bi-monthly newsletter, library, museum and a website.
CLAN can be contacted on 1800 008 774 (freecall from a fixed line phone) or 02 9709 4520 or 0425 204 747, or at support@clan.org.au.  The website is www.clan.org.au.