While the evidence on the detrimental effects orphanages have on children continues to grow, Australians have continued to make contributions to the international orphanage industry and the perpetuation of the institutionalization of children, says this report from ReThink Orphanages. The report “seeks to map Australia’s contribution to residential care institutions for children overseas across a number of sectors and identify opportunities for strategic engagement with various stakeholders in the Australian context.” The report presents data on Australia’s participation in the orphanage industry and offers key recommendations based on the findings. The report calls for investment in further research and data collection, further investigation into the faith-based sector’s contribution to the institutionalization of children overseas, redirection of resources and volunteers to programs that help strengthen families and communities, strengthening of supply-side regulations across sectors, and investment in child safeguarding.
