From the beginning of the 20th century until 1985, this organisation was responsible for providing residential care for children. The Methodist Children’s Home (later known as Lentara) was established under our original name of Methodist Central Mission (later re-named Adelaide Central Mission, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide and now Uniting Communities. In the 1970s, Lentara was closed and a number of suburban cottages operated until 1985.

Uniting Communities, and its predecessor entities, has also been responsible for the provision of care to children and young people through a number of other services and homes. These include some services which Uniting Communities currently delivers through such programs as Ruby’s and Jo’s residential homes as well as others which no longer operate such as the Big Brother Big Sister program or Kuitpo residential and treatment services.

Whilst Uniting Communities has always sought to provide the optimum level of care and protection for all who have been involved in its services we recognise that in some cases we have failed to deliver on this commitment.

We acknowledge with sorrow that some children and young people in our homes, institutions and care may have experienced:

• Neglect of their social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs

• Physical violence, sexual and emotional abuse perpetrated by staff who should have been trustworthy

• Emotional and social trauma and on-going harm.

Uniting Communities apologises unreservedly to those who have been abused and the families of those who may have experienced abuse in our institutions, homes and care for the trauma they experienced.

We recognise that those who have experienced abuse in any form have suffered harm through the actions of those in whose care they were entrusted. We acknowledge the subsequent pain and suffering that has been endured and how this has been further compounded by an inability to listen to the voices and stories of those who have suffered abuse.

We join with the Commonwealth and State Governments and the Uniting Church in Australia in issuing our genuine and heartfelt apology to anyone who has suffered abuse in our care.

Following the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse all governments have committed to supporting a National Redress Scheme. The Uniting Church in Australia has also agreed to participate in this scheme and Uniting Communities will join the scheme as a member of the Uniting Church Redress response. The National Redress Scheme provides for a more streamlined process for seeking and received redress for those who have suffered sexual abuse as children and young people in an institution or care facility.

If you have been the subject of sexual abuse in an institution or home or service delivered by Uniting Communities (or a precedent entity of Uniting Communities) you can seek redress by contacting the National Redress Scheme through:

Call: The National Redress Scheme on 1800 737 377 Mon to Fri 8am - 5pm local time

Website: www.nationalredress.gov.au

Email: complaints@dss.gov.au

Mail:

NRS

Reply Paid 7750

Canberra BC ACT 2610

Australia

The National Redress Scheme has been established to provide redress in the form of a redress payment, access to counselling and psychological assistance and a direct personal response from the institution involved if sought. The scheme relates specifically to those who suffered sexual abuse as a child whilst living in or being cared for in an institution or by an organisation prior to 30th June 2018.

Whilst the National Redress Scheme specifically relates to instances of sexual abuse it is acknowledged that for some children and young people other forms of abuse including physical or emotional abuse, or neglect were experienced. In these circumstances we would invite you to raise these matters directly with Uniting Communities by either writing to the Chief Executive, 43 Franklin Street Adelaide 5000; ringing on 08 8202 5886 or emailing on (enquiries@unitingcommunities.org with a subject line of Personal Complaint).

Uniting Communities has an established procedure for responding to complaints of past abuse perpetrated by staff or volunteers of Uniting Communities which is available through the following link (https://www.unitingcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Addressing-Complaints-of-Past-AbuseProcedures.pdf), which explains how we will respond to a complaint that is made.