TAFE TALK FAILED SYSTEM

TAFE Ultimo – A Powerful Day of Truth and Healing

Today we wrapped up a deeply moving and unforgettable session at TAFE Ultimo, where our team presented the lived experiences of the group formerly known as the Forgotten Australians — who now want to be known as the Remembered Australians.

The room was filled with emotion, reflection, and strength. There were a lot of tears, but also a deep sense of connection and understanding. Ray Leary, Kenny Leary, Aunty Elian (June Knop), Liam Kiernan, and Lawrie Higgins each delivered honest, raw, and courageous testimony. Every speaker brought the weight of history and the light of resilience. You all did an absolutely incredible job — thank you.

Although Mark D’Sliva couldn’t speak today, he was very much with us in spirit. His story continues to shape the journey of this movement, and we look forward to including his voice in future sessions and the documentary.

A heartfelt thank you to Saileshwar Pillay, whose support made today possible. His commitment to trauma-informed education is unwavering, and we’re honoured to share that he has now asked us to return each semester to continue these talks across TAFE. That’s the kind of change we believe in.

We also want to give a massive shout-out to Victor Hawk, who captured some truly powerful behind-the-scenes footage. His work gives us the chance to keep these stories alive beyond the classroom. We’ll be posting some of his images and clips from today’s speeches in the coming days.

These moments — the voices, the tears, the courage — will form part of our upcoming documentary Failed System, which explores the lasting legacy of institutional abuse in Australia and the strength of those who survived it.