In Australia's postwar decades, close to half a million children across the nation were raised as state wards, foster children, or "Home Children" - in orphanages and children's homes. Tragically, many thousands suffered emotional and physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect in this sort of care. Most are now middle-aged or older, but still carry painful memories and unresolved issues.
On Monday (November 16) at 11am, a historic moment will take place in Federal Parliament when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will formally apologise on behalf of the nation, to the generation known as the Forgotten Children, as well as more than 7000 former child migrants.  Leonie Sheedy is the president of CLAN - the Care Leavers of Australia Network. We spoke to her earlier this year about some of the things that this generation suffered... Now she's Canberra preparing to attend tomorrow's apology, and she joins me now.