Open Place - Support Service for Forgotten Australians
Did you grow up in a Victorian orphanage or home prior to 1990?
Our Open Place Support Service for Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers can help you with specialised, state-wide support, advocacy and direct assistance.
This includes:
- Records searches and family searches
- Counselling
- Social support groups
- Coordinated support
- National Redress support
- Community education.
Open Place also runs a Drop In Centre in Richmond, where you can come and meet up with other Forgotten Australians/Pre-1990 Care Leavers, chat over a meal, access computers and printers, shower, engage in activities and enjoy a monthly community lunch.
We recognise the lifelong impacts of childhood trauma.
We recognise those who had children taken away from them.
The Open Place suite of services is funded by the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Relationships Australia Victoria has been the provider of Open Place since 1 July 2020.
Crisis support
We are not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero).
For urgent support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, SuicideLine Victoria on 1300 651 251, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.