Forde Inquiry into abuse of children in Queensland institutions
Apology to those harmed in Queensland institutions during their childhood signed by the Government in collaboration with churches.
Hard copies of the certificate are available from the Department's Forde Policy Officer.
The Queensland Government commissioned the Forde Inquiry, held in 1998-1999, to investigate the treatment of children in licensed government and non-government institutions in Queensland. The terms of reference of the Inquiry covered 159 institutions during the period 1911 to 1999 and excluded foster care and institutions providing care for children with disabilities or those suffering from acute or chronic health problems.
The inquiry found that abuse had occurred and that children had suffered and continue to suffer the legacy of this pain. The Inquiry made 42 recommendations relating to contemporary child protection practices, youth justice, provision of counselling and support services to victims of abuse, redress and reconciliation activities.
In response to the Inquiry's recommendations, the Queensland Government implemented a broad range of initiatives in the areas of child protection reform, youth justice practices and the redress of past abuse.
Key initiatives in the area of redress of past abuse include:
- establishment and funding of community based support services specifically designed to assist people who experienced abuse in Queensland children's institutions, detention and foster care
- establishment of the Forde Foundation Trust Fund
- establishment of the Redress Scheme
- development of reconciliation processes between former residents, churches and the government
- processes for dialogue between former residents and the government.
See Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (August 1999). Appendix 5 contains a full list of institutions covered by the Forde Inquiry.
Reconciliation initiatives
Apology - In response to the recommendations of the Forde Inquiry, the Queensland Government in collaboration with religious authorities issued a joint formal statement of apology in 1999 to those harmed in Queensland institutions during their childhood. Hard copies of the apology certificate are available from the department's Forde Policy Officer.
Reconciliation processes occur as planned between groups of former residents, church authorities and the Queensland Government. Each year during Child Protection Week a Remembrance Day event forms part of the week's activities to acknowledge the abuse which occurred to those in church and state care. Information about this event is available for the Historical Abuse Network.
A Remembrance Statue commemorating the experiences of former child residents of Queensland institutions is located in Roma Street Forum Area, Brisbane City. The statue is an initiative of former residents and funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The statue was developed in 2004 with the cooperation of the Brisbane City Council and the Department of Communities. Information about this initiative is available from the Historical Abuse Network.
Access to Queensland Government records
The Department of Communities (includes the former Department of Child Safety) hold records relating to:
- people who were under the care and protection of the State and placed in orphanages/institutions (eg Tufnell, Neerkol, Nudgee, Queen Alexandra Home, Silky Oaks), family group homes and foster care; and
- people who were under the care and control of the State and placed in detention centres (eg Westbrook and Wilson).
Access to departmental records is available under the Right to Information Act 2009 and Information Privacy Act 2009.
To access record information see publications and resources.
Information about the records held by church and community agencies which ran children's homes is contained in a publication: Missing pieces – Information to assist former child residents of children's institutions to access records.
Last reviewed: 13 July 2009