Support group for former child migrants

Former Maltese child migrants in Western Australia have formed their own support group. It is the first such group since the initial contingent of Maltese child migrants arrived in Western Australia over 50 years ago. The number of child migrants from Malta between 1950 and 1967 was 310, including 51 girls.

C-MOM was formed through an initiative of the Maltese Professional and Business Association of Western Australia and with the collaboration of the Christian Brothers Ex-Residents Services (C-BERS).

It aims to have a monument erected in Malta to commemorate a unique experience in Maltese history. It also seeks to achieve greater recognition in Malta for former child migrants. C-MOM further wishes to encourage the Maltese government and Church to take steps to document and preserve all records relating to child migration.

Heading C-MOM is a former child migrant and distinguished academic, Prof. David Plowman.

Prof. Plowman has published over 100 books, monographs and journal articles on Australian economics and industrial relations.

He has also carried out consultancy work with major Australian employer and employee groups, government departments and the Japan Institute of Labour Studies.

Prof. Plowman was the foundation Head of the School of Management at the University of Western Australia. He continues to be active in teaching and publishing.

C-MOM's deputy chairman is Dr Paul Psaila-Savona, recently retired executive director of public health at the health department of Western Australia.

He had held this highest statutory office for 10 years. Dr Psaila-Savona is a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine with the Royal Australian College of Physicians and a Member of the Faculty of Occupational Health with the Royal College of Physicians (London).

Western Australia's Chief Justice, David Malcolm AC, has accepted C-MOM's invitation to be its patron.

He was appointed Chief Justice of Western Australia in 1988 and in 1990 Lieutenant Governor of Western Australia.

In 1992 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. He is the chairman of the advisory board of the Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia, president of the Western Australian Branch of the International Commission of Jurists and a member of the board of directors of the Society for the Reform of Criminal Law.

The C-MOM committee has representatives from former Maltese child migrants, the Maltese Professional and Business Association of Western Australia and the Christian Brothers Ex-Residents and Students Services (C-BERSS). It has already received expressions of support from leading Church and government officials in Western Australia.

Female Maltese former child migrants are greatly under represented in C-MOMs' current database. C-MOM is therefore particularly interested in making contact with this group of former child migrants.

One of C-MOM's initial concerns is to locate as many former Maltese child migrants as possible, inform them of the nature of the project and to invite them to participate in its operation.

Any reader knowing the whereabouts of Maltese former child migrants are urged to inform them of this notice. All those interested in learning more about the project may contact the Child Migrants of Malta, 12, Alvan Street, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008 (Dr Paul Psaila-Savona, Tel (08) 9345 2809, e-mail: paul.psaila.savona@health.wa.gov.au)