b'Stephen explores his past My past was a blur and I needed clarity.StephenThe experience of being in out-of-home care as aWe waded through the documents and for child or young person can have a lasting impactthe next 3 hours the emotional roller coaster on a persons life. Many seek to understand moreride ensued. Anger, pain, hurt, helplessness, about what happened in their past and how theirhopelessness, says Stephen.placement has shaped their present. The records only covered 2 years of his childhood The Uniting Heritage Service exists to supportfrom the age of 4 to 6, but it was a start. Catrionas individuals and the families of individuals whosearch continued and just a few months later,spent time in out-of-home care services run byshe was able to locate the rest of his records the former Methodist, Presbyterian or Unitingwith OzChild.Churches in Victoria. It helps people accessBy this stage, COVID-19 restricted his ability to informationsuch as childhood records, photosmeet with Catriona in person, so his records were and other documentsso they can betterposted to him to read and digest.understand their own personal history.In 2019, Stephen reached out to the HeritageI was one of the lucky kids in the process. I could Service to access his records. He had spent hissee the social workers involved actually cared, the childhood in foster homes, childrens homesdepartment did try to do the right thing and make and with stepfamilies. Later in life, he settledthe best choices for me.down, married, had children and led a successfulUncovering his past has not been easy, but Stephen corporate career.acknowledges that the discomfort has been helpful One day, everything changed. Stephen lost his jobin validating his feelings and taking the guesswork and his home. His wife left with his children and heout of his past.hit rock bottom. At the age of 50, he was left toI finally feel like I do exist now. There are records, wonder where it all went wrong. evidence that my memories arent imaginative but I could only put it down to my childhood. A part ofthat it did happen. Thank you Uniting for supporting history I had managed to bury for many years. Myme on this journey of discovery and healing.past was a blur and I needed clarity.IC This story reflects our commitmentStephen met Heritage Service manager Catriona,to injustice confronted and publicwho began the search for foster care and adoptionpolicy influenced.records. She was successful, and in NovemberStephen is one of many people who reached out to our Heritage 2019, Stephen and a close friend went back to Service this year to access his records. see Catriona. Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2019-2020 23'