Australian Government helps Stolen Generations tell their stories

The Australian Government will build on the National Library of Australia’s oral history project by contributing $100,000 to enable the Stolen Generations to share their stories of survival, struggle and healing.

The project will give Indigenous people the opportunity to tell their own stories through an online resource.

The Bringing Them Home report into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families documented the strength and struggles of many thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It highlighted how important it is for people affected by the past policies of removal to tell their individual stories.

And sharing those stories with other Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, is an important step in reconciliation.

It is also an essential part of the healing process and carries on traditional story telling practices.

The Government is committed to practical measures to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians affected by past policies of forcible removal.

These include additional funds of $15.7 million, announced earlier this year, to support the work of the Bringing Them Home network of counsellors and caseworkers.

With the employment of another 12 caseworkers this year, we aim to bring the number of reunions to 225, honouring the election commitment of 1000 reunions over four years.

These measures reflect the Government’s commitment to healing the nation in a very practical way.