CEO Message

Ngaji gurrijin, 

It was only a few days ago that we heard the sad news of the passing of one of our greats, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG. A Yankunytjatjara woman, Aunty Lowitja was a Stolen Generations survivor and respected leader who fought her whole life for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Vale Aunty Lowitja, we mourn your passing but stand committed to continue your work.  

Of the legacies left by Aunty Lowitja her work on the National Apology to Stolen Generations, and subsequent creation of The Healing Foundation, is one that resonates closely. On the coming Tuesday, 13 February there will be events marking the Anniversary of the National Apology across the country, we encourage you to join and stand with survivors and hear their calls. We must remember the commitments made to survivors, and the intent underlying the Closing the Gap statement; to face the truth of our history and address the ongoing impacts that remain.   

I continue to be inspired by the work of Link Ups and Stolen Generations organisations across the country and look forward to supporting and amplifying their work through our Collective Healing Grants. 

In preparation for the 16^th anniversary of the National Apology, I remind you that reflecting on the Apology is important, it is not the of counting anniversaries that future generations will be shaped by, it is the actions we take and the change we make.   

Gala mabu, 

Shannan Dodson 

CEO  

Vale Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG 1932 – 2024

The Healing Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of a woman that has dedicated her life to advocate for the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue. 

Pre-Budget Submission 2024 - 2025

We have called on the federal government to urgently address a key recommendation made nearly 30 years ago in the Bringing Them Home report, that all Stolen Generations survivors have access to redress. In addition, there must be an investment in The Healing Foundation’s capacity to deliver on the priority areas of Ageing, Records Access and Management, and Building a Sustainable Healing Sector for survivors.

THF Leadership Engagement 

Our CEO Shannan kicked off our engagement work for 2024 with a visit to Kaurna Country in South Australia to meet with organisations including Nunkuwarrin Yunti and Blackwood Reconciliation Group. Joined by members of the Engagement and Delivery Team, Royden Fagan and Talia Collins, we had some great yarns about the healing work they are doing with survivors, including a focus on supporting access to historical records.  

We left inspired by the dedication of the organisations and the resilience of the survivors who they stand alongside. The visit reaffirming for us the importance of localised collective action to both, supporting healing processes for Stolen Generation Survivors, and ensuring the wider community is educated on the truth through survivors’ stories. 

Further north we had a wet and windy visit to Larrakia Country, where our Katherine based Territory Redress Lead, Veronica Williams, was joined by Leonie Williamson. When it comes to the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme and the National Redress Scheme we are always seeking insights into how the schemes are rolling out, and ideas on how we can work better for Survivors.  

Our first stop was the Knowmore Darwin Office to join a meeting with their visiting leadership team and representatives from Relationships Australia redress services team. Over a working lunch we got to meet with officers responsible for rolling out a range of services including engagement, legal and financial counselling.  

We also got in time to have a cuppa with the hardworking team at the Northern Territory Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, and hear about some of their challenges and priorities for their work this year. The organisation has a long history of delivering a range of services for Territory survivors as a Link Up, including supporting Territories Stolen Generation redress scheme applicants. We look forward to continuing these discussions into the coming year, and finding more ways we can work together with services in the Top End for survivors.  

Comprehensive redress for Stolen Generations survivors is one of the important calls of the Bringing Them Home Report (1997). The Report recognised that redress would be an important step towards healing for Stolen Generations survivors.

The Territories Stolen Generations Redress scheme is one of the redress programs that is currently operating that may be relevant to Survivors. To find out more about the scheme and whether someone you know might be eligible please click below.

Healing Our Way Season 2

LAUNCHING MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY

Thank you for supporting healing!