The Uniting Church today issued an unreserved apology to the so-called forgotten children who suffered neglect and abuse in homes run by the church and its agencies.
The apology follows a senate inquiry into the treatment of children in institutional care, which found many suffered at the hands of caregivers over the past 100 years.
The report called for formal apologies from the Federal and state governments, churches and agencies that looked after children in that time.
Today, Uniting Church national president Reverend Dean Drayton issued an apology on behalf of the church and its agencies.
"I deeply regret that some children were let down while in the care of the Uniting Church and former Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches," Rev Drayton said.
"The inquiry painted a disturbing picture of life for many young people who lived in institutional care.
"The Uniting Church, through its agencies, managed a number of these facilities and, sadly, some did not provide the love, nurturing and care that the children in them so rightly deserve."
Rev Drayton said the church welcomed the inquiry's recommendations and hoped that mistakes made in the past would never be repeated.
The Uniting Church had also developed new models for providing care and services to children and was constantly working to improve them, he said.
The report, tabled in Federal parliament at the end of August, took 17 months to investigate, and took evidence from hundreds of victims, carers, church groups and governments on the extent of harm to former wards of institutions.
The report made another 39 recommendations including the setting up of a national reparations fund, with contributions from governments and churches.