News

2023 New South Wales State Election

The 2023 NSW State election will take place on 25 March. If you’re overseas, you can still take part by applying online to vote by post. Postal vote applications close 6pm, 20 March - apply as soon as possible to ensure the ballot reaches you in time for you to vote by election day.

In-person voting won’t be available at the Australian High Commission in Malta and completed postal votes must be lodged by post. In addition, there will be a limited number of international locations elsewhere overseas where overseas electors may be able to deliver their completed postal vote packs before election day. Find the list of those locations on the NSW Electoral Commission website: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/voters/voting-options/interstate-or-overseas

For more information, visit: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/

Information regarding Former Child Migrants from Malta to Australia

The Australian Government acknowledges the deep suffering and harm faced by many former child migrants from Malta and the United Kingdom. While we cannot undo the wrongdoings of the past, we remain committed to never allowing these practices to be repeated and to caring for those in need of ongoing support.

Further Information and Support:

In 2009, then Prime Minister Rudd gave a formal apology on behalf of the nation to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. In 2012 the Australian government launched a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual Abuse, which led to a National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in 2018 by then Prime Minister Morrison.

The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who were sexually abused as children while in the care of an institution.  The Scheme acknowledges the significant trauma that institutions caused by their silence and mistreatment of children who experienced sexual abuse in their care. It began on 1 July 2018 and will run for 10 years. 

• The National Redress Scheme can provide eligible applicants with access to three things: a payment; access to counselling and psychological care; and a direct personal response from the institution responsible for their abuse.  
• For further information, including on eligibility, please see its website
• To call from overseas, please phone +61 3 6222 3455 and ask to speak to someone from the National Redress Scheme.
• Information on Redress Support Services which are specialist, trauma-informed, culturally safe, survivor centred services can be found here.

The Child Migrants Trust provides independent, specialist social work services to former British and Maltese child migrants seeking help to address issues of historical institutional abuse, and the loss of family and identity arising from child migration. Its UK office provides assistance to former child migrants originally sent to Australia but now living overseas. Please see the website for further information.

The Find and Connect program is a resource to help affected people uncover their history, trace and reclaim their identities, and build relationships with their families in hopes of healing. Please see https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ for further information.