DOCUMENT 6
Enquiries by Former Child Migrants and
their families
STATEMENT OF
INTENTThe first episode of child
migration by Catholic child care agencies was to Canada, from
the 1870s until the 1930s.The second was the Australian Child
Migration Scheme which started in 1938 just before the onset of
the Second World War, resumed in 1947 after the War and continued
until 1965. During this time Catholic agencies in the UK worked
within the legislative framework of the British and Australian
governments in nominating children for migration to Australia.
The total number of children sent under the scheme during this
period was approximately 3,000, of whom we believe about 1,250
came from Catholic children's homes and agencies. Most of these
were sent under the auspices of the Catholic Child Welfare Council
acting on behalf of Diocesan agencies and religious orders.The
child migrants going to Australia via CCWC as agent, can be divided
into two main categories: those sent by the Diocesan child care
agencies and those sent by religious orders, such as the Sisters
of Nazareth. A few individual children were sent at the request
of their families. A further small category of children were recruited
by Australian institutions in direct contact with Catholic children's
homes in the UK. Some of these children became known to CCWC after
they had left.We now know that the experience of being sent to
a country at the other side of the world, placed in large institutions,
away from familiar faces and environments, with no knowledge of
their birth families and without any possibility of access to
them has had a profoundly adverse effect on many of these migrants.Whilst
CCWC (acting as agent) sending children out to Australia passed
on responsibility for them to the Australian Church agencies,
today CCWC accepts a commitment to these former migrants and their
birth families through the provision of information and of professional
social work services. CCWC therefore recommends to its member
agencies and others that they should help those who seek knowledge
and counselling.CCWC and member agencies and orders will endeavour
to work with both individuals and with organisations advocating
on their behalf, to share as sensitively and responsibly as possible
what information is available.Our practice will be guided by standards
of good social work practice and pastoral care.
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