The Healing Foundation July 2024 newsletter

CEO Message 

Ngaji gurrjin,

It's been a busy few months for the Healing Foundation and Stolen Generation Organisations (SGO's), especially with the marking of National Sorry Day. Below is a reflection of the commitment given every day to ensure all Australians remember that the Stolen Generations history still impacts on the lives of our communities today and the urgency to address intergenerational trauma and support survivors and descendants to access redress, records, appropriate healing services and care.

I’ve had the privilege of engaging with many across the sector and across the country. Thank you all for your time and the opportunity, these discussions are integral to the work of the Healing Foundation and I welcome more opportunities for the future. 

We’ll also be continuing to share new videos and content across our channels. Please give us a share, like or comment to ensure more Australians see these important messages. Also let us know if there are any great community stories and opportunities we can share and further amplify.

Thanks so much again to everyone who helped to spread the word about National Sorry Day 2024 and the urgency of acting to support Stolen Generations survivors before it's too late.

Gala mabu,

Shannan Dodson,

CEO, The Healing Foundation

National Sorry Day 2024 wrap up

National Sorry Day 2024 wrap up

Thousands around the country took part in National Sorry Day events in May, with your help, we reached well over a million people in the last week of May alone through TV including Channel Ten, ABC, WIN News plus print and online news, social media and radio. Some of our videos were watched more than 60,000 times and shared widely by both organisations and individuals. 

Below are two National Sorry Day 2024 recap videos featuring some of the activities organised to elevate the voices and needs of Stolen Generations survivors this Sorry Day:

National Sorry Day Events and Engagement 

The Healing Foundation were kept busy throughout May ensuring there were opportunities for community to come together the address the Bringing Them Home Report's unfinished business, and amplify the significance of National Sorry Day on May 26.

National Sorry Day Policy Forum

Organised with the First Nations Portfolio of the Australian National University, The National Sorry Day Policy Forum's aim was to engage policy makers and sector leaders to ensure understanding and recentering of the unfinished business of the Bringing Them Home report and elevating the importance of commemorating National Sorry Day. The forum included a keynote speech by Yawuru man Professor Peter Yu, a panel discussion with Professor Yu and former Attorney-General Michael Lavarch AO, Stolen Generations survivor Dr Jennifer Caruso, The Healing Foundation Board Chair Professor Steve Larkin and Elder Aunty Dr Matilda House who also joined.

The event reached hundreds of people, with attendees online and in-person ranging from government officials, policy makers and advocates, to community members, academics, and Stolen Generations survivors.

The full policy forum can be viewed here, with a highlights version also available for viewing here. 

National Sorry Day Bridge Walk 

Thousands of supporters marched across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Canberra on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country in the first National Sorry Day Bridge walk since before COVID in 2019.

A partnership between The Healing Foundation and Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, the event saw Canberrans of all backgrounds pay respect to Stolen Generations survivors including more than 100 primary school students, proudly holding banners they had made as part of the bridge walk’s banner competition.

Cooee Festival

The Healing Foundation joined thousands of attendees at Cooee Festival in May; a Link-Up NSW celebration of culture and resilience. It was great to amplify the unfinished business of the Bringing Them Home report and promote the Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students, with many kits headed straight for classrooms around the region.

Stolen Generations funding boost

The Healing Foundation welcomes The Albanese Labor Government's commitment of support for Stolen Generations survivors with $3.5 million for community-led healing activities through The Healing Foundation. This includes:

The new funding, over the next two years, will support Stolen Generations organisations to deliver impactful, tailored and locally focused community-led healing activities through The Healing Foundation’s existing Collective Healing Grant program.

The Healing Foundation will work closely with Stolen Generations organisations to ensure their leadership of the expanded grants program. Their guidance will help ensure the grants are flexible, useful, and address the unique healing needs and aspirations of Stolen Generations survivors, their descendants and communities.

The Healing Foundation Chair said, “We hope today’s announcement will bring us a step close to developing an ongoing, sustainable funding model for Stolen Generations organisations that are all across the country,”

The Healing Foundation will continue to advocate for long term, concerted investment in locally led healing for Stolen Generation survivors, and the organisations who represent them.”

National Link Up meeting 

In April, The Healing Foundation attended a national Link-Up meeting in Adelaide where priorities were highlighted around need for ongoing funding for Stolen Generations Organisations, prioritised access to records, nationally consistent compensation and culturally safe Aged Care for survivors. Link-Up’s provide valuable family tracing and reunion services for Stolen Generations survivors.

It is an opportunity for The Healing Foundation to hear from Stolen Generations organisations about issues faced by survivors, and what support and advocacy is needed. THF provided an update on the Round 9 Collective Healing Grants that all the Link-Up’s received, along with other Stolen Generations organisations and survivor-centred projects, totalling over $1 million.

The Healing Foundation heard from the Link-Up’s about key support areas needed to access historical records effectively. Challenges faced by researchers were discussed emphasising timely and trauma-informed access based on individuals' right to information about themselves for family identification purposes.

Historical Records Taskforce Meeting 

The Historical Records Taskforce brought together representatives from Link Ups and records holding institutions from across the Country, to discuss key priorities for addressing the urgent barriers that remain in accessing historical records for Stolen Generations survivors.

One of the urgent pieces of unfinished business from Bringing Them Home, consistent access to historical and contemporary records for survivors requires critical attention across the country. The Taskforce identified that access to private held collections – such as church collections – is a key priority, as well as better descriptions of the records that are held in various places, and the need for policy and legislative change so that survivors can access their family records, and piece together their story as part of their healing journeys.  

Taskforce member and survivor Kath Apma Penangke Travis spoke of the complex challenges of accessing private records and the urgency to compel these records.

Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme update

The Healing Foundation has been connecting with communities across the Northern Territory, Queensland, and ACT about the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme.

Working closely with Stolen Generations Organisations, knowmore Legal Services, and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has been invaluable in distributing information to the community and hearing from survivors.

This feedback is now shaping The Healing Foundation's next steps to ensure all eligible Stolen Generations Survivors receive culturally responsive information. For more about the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, click here or call knowmore Legal Service at 1800 566 966 for free legal and financial advice.

AIATSIS Summit 

CEO, Shannan Dodson, presented on the urgent need to address the unfinished business of Bringing Them Home, emphasizing the need for tailored trauma-aware approaches to help Stolen Generations survivors, including improved access to records and nationally consistent redress schemes.

Dr Gemmia Burden, Senior Research and Policy Advisor, presented a deep dive into the importance of records access highlighting the importance of records access and the barriers survivors face. Gemmia drew focus on the need for policy change, education, and cross-sector support to improve access to records which drew on feedback from consultations with record holders and users.

Did you catch our poster at AIATSIS Summit 2024?

The Healing Foundation was thrilled to present our Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students poster at the recent AIATSIS Summit. 

If you want to learn more about the kit, get in touch via email resources@healingfoundation.org.au .

The Healing Foundation wants YOU or someone you know, to come work with us! We have several vacant roles that we are currently recruiting for including:

• Senior Manager Communications & Development to build and implement a strategic approach to communications, philanthropic funding and fundraising. This role can based in either Canberra or Brisbane. For further information visit: https://www.seek.com.au/job/76978454
• Lead Program and Grants to lead the review and implementation of a Grant Program supporting Stolen Generations Organisations and survivors. This role involves close collaboration with the Senior Manager, providing leadership and advice on program policy and grant management practices. This position will be a 2 year fixed-term contract, with the possibility for extension. This role can based in either Canberra or Brisbane. For further information visit: https://www.seek.com.au/job/76978949
• Territories Redress Engagement Officer - Remote to support the Territories Redress Scheme delivery. The officer will be based in the Northern Territory and must have the capacity to work remote from The Healing Foundation Offices. This position will be a 2 year fixed-term contract, with the possibility for extension. Regular Travel is a requirement of the role. For further information visit: https://www.seek.com.au/job/76977903

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that partners with communities to support and amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors, families and communities.

Thank you for supporting community healing!