The only one of its kind in Australia, the Australian Orphanage Museum (AOM) is dedicated to exhibiting the authentic accounts of people who grew up in Orphanages, Children's Homes and Foster Care in Australia.
Established by the Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) in 2001, the museum started as a small collection of objects and memorabilia to tell the true stories of vulnerable people that endured a dark chapter in Australian history.
The museum now comprises over 2,000 items, and CLAN is always looking for new donations of photos and artefacts to further share the stories of Care Leavers and preserve this history for future generations.
The museum's diverse exhibits explore three continuing themes: The History of Child Welfare in Australia, The Children's Voices, and Care Leavers Activism. The narratives are presented in ways that respect the rights of Care Leavers to present their own accounts and tell their experience of growing up in institutions.
The museum has an extensive library which includes 760 books plus videos, audio cassettes, media articles, reports, theses, manuals and other research documents.
Group bookings are welcomed by appointment.
The museum is in central Geelong and there is a bus stop out the front. There is also street parking nearby.
Facilities
- Family Friendly
- Non Smoking
- Carpark
- Lawn / Gardens
- Gallery / Museum
- Interactive Centre
Other
- Visitor Information Centre
Accessibility
- Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
- Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
Offers
Caters for people who have a wheelchair
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