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.
Gumleigh Boys Homes © UPA of NSW
The United Protestant Association of NSW (UPA) established 13 children’s homes between 1940 and the early 1980s. For a further 10 years or so these large institutional homes were replaced by a number of smaller Group Homes or Family Cottage Homes. Over those two periods, some homes were well managed and some were not.
The Homes
Melrose Boys Home, Pendle Hill – Sunnylands Boys Home, Wollongbar – Adelaide Walker Home, Strathfield – Woodlands Boys Home, Newcastle – Rathgar & Rathmore Homes, Grafton – Ellimeek, East Maitland – Ellimatta Girls Home, East Maitland – Glen Eden, Glen Innes – Buena Vista, Orange – Gumleigh, Wagga Wagga – Lillimur, Dubbo – The Laurels Girls, Kogarah – Murrayvale Girls Home, Albury.
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 safe and nurturing environment that children need to thrive. Emotional, physical and sexual abuse did occur at times 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.
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
Download Information:
If you know someone who was in care with UPA
If you were in care with UPA
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.