There are some areas that extend beyond the scope of Wattle Place’s work, which have a great impact on the members of our community. In those areas, Wattle Place looks for opportunities to advocate for the groups we support to ensure their perspectives are included in and inform decision-making, policy development and program and service design that impacts them.
Wattle Place welcomes opportunities to work with other organisations, services and sector representatives, where appropriate, to amplify the voices and perspectives of the groups with whom we work.
Our counsellors and caseworkers advocate strongly for the individuals they work with, but it is clear that, in many cases, changes across the whole system are required to really make a change in the lives of all those we support.
Our Current Advocacy work
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Aged Care
One of the greatest concerns among many of the people who were placed in out of home care as children, or mothers who lost babies to adoption, is that they will once again be dependent on others as they age, maybe even having to go into nursing homes. Unfortunately, the aged care system is not working well for people with the specific vulnerabilities faced by the groups we support. Facing vulnerability and re-institutionalisation is a terrifying prospect, one that many simply cannot face.
Wattle Place is taking steps to influence changes to the aged care system that will benefit care leavers, survivors of child sexual abuse and mothers who’s newborn baby was taken through forced adoptions. Steps so far include:
Forum: Addressing the complex needs of Forgotten Australians in Aged Care
In June 2019, Wattle Place hosted a forum inviting representatives from the Aged care sector to increase awareness in the Aged care sector about the complex needs of Forgotten Australians, Stolen Generations and Former Child Migrants in aged care, to equip the sector with the knowledge and determination to provide safe, appropriate, nurturing care and to inspire action on planning for and appropriately accommodating these vulnerable groups as they age.
The National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians
Wattle Place participates in the National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians. This Roundtable was established following on from the 2019 forum. A group of interested individuals and organisations, convened by the Forde Foundation in Queensland, meet to discuss ways to tailor and improve Aged and Community Care models to ensure that Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers gain better access and more appropriate services as they age. The Roundtable includes specialist service providers, mainstream aged care providers, researchers and individuals passionate in ensuring aged and community services are more individualised, responsive, tailored and of the highest possible quality.
National Aged Care Forum in Sydney
Wattle Place partnered with the National Aged and Community Care Roundtable for Forgotten Australians to host “A New Era in Ageing for Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers” Forum in 2025.
The forum brought together advocates with lived experience, researchers, service providers, and policymakers to focus on the challenges in aged and community care faced by Forgotten Australians and other Care Leavers and explore innovative solutions and reforms that will enhance care quality and accessibility.
Partnership with Uniting Aged Care NSW
Supporting Trauma Aware Aged Care for Care Leavers
The purpose of this partnership is to promote collaboration, communication, and continuous improvement in the care and support of Care Leavers/Forgotten Australians moving into or already residing in Uniting NSW Aged Care services.
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UTS Shopfront project
Design Project – Wattle Place was fortunate to be involved in a UTS shopfront project in 2nd Semester of 2025. Through this project, final year students in the Socially Responsive Design subject/Visual Communications, created flyers and posters designed to highlight the challenges faced by Forgotten Australians in GPs, Hospitals and Centrelink offices. These documents provide an important point of You can view the finished documents here.
Research Project –
If you would like to discuss a project with Wattle Place, please contact us.