Requesting Information

How to access your personal information

Put your request in writing and include:

Address and phone number
Date of birth (if known)
Name at birth

Approximately what year you entered the Orphanage or Children's Home
Any other information that you think will assist in locating your records

Provide a copy of identification such as:

Birth certificate
Drivers licence
Death certificate (If you are applying as next of kin for a relative's records)

A search and processing fee of $40 is requested, but this will not apply if you have difficulty paying or if you are from Koorie or other Indigenous background (as recommended in the "Bringing Them Home" report).

The Heritage worker will contact you prior to processing your request to discuss:

What information you might be looking for
What information we can and cannot release given privacy considerations
What support may be made available to you during this process and after
How long it may take to locate and organise the information for you
Opportunities for you to view the photographic collection and films if you would like.

Write to:

The Heritage Worker
Child & Family Services Ballarat
115 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat 3350

Or phone 03 5337 3333 and ask to speak to the Heritage Worker.

Our Vision: Wellbeing, respect and safety for all children and families

Our Mission: Our mission is to strengthen and empower individuals, families and communities in order to heal from the oppression of disadvantage, alienation from culture and social connections and the trauma of abuse and violence

185

employees working at CAFS
to help strengthen and
empower individuals, families
and communities

2,386

phone calls received
for family support
for the year ended
30 June 2011

$3.75m

in client debts written off
by creditors such as banks
and utilities
with CAFS help

CAFS Values

Flexibility: Being adaptable to changing circumstances in the workplace, prioritising work, addressing what is most important and taking advantage of new and emerging opportunities.

Resilience: The capacity to recover from setbacks, overcome obstacles and impediments, and the ability to learn from experience and identify areas for self development.

Client/Member focused: Prioritising the needs of clients and members, aiming for best outcomes for clients and members, being focused on the outcome and following through with commitments.

Inclusive: Recognising the rights of others, being committed to social justice and social inclusion, making equitable decisions and respecting and valuing difference and diversity in all its forms.

Ethical: High standards of personal integrity, being truthful and reflecting expected standards of behaviour consistent with the CAFS Code of Conduct and professional Codes of Ethics.

Collaborative: Working with others to achieve common goals, engendering a spirit of teamwork, listening actively, inspiring confidence and demonstrating empathy when confronted with adversity.