The Healing Foundation

The repeal of Queensland’s Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry – a process that was decades in the making – will create deep hurt and wind back healing for Stolen Generations survivors, families and communities, a national body supporting survivors said today. - “The decision to rush through this bill, as one of the first acts of the Crisafulli Government, sends a strong message to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Queensland that their voices are not being listened to; that their needs do not matter,” said Professor Steve Larkin, Chair of The Healing Foundation. - “Queensland survivors were some of the first people to give evidence to the inquiry, sharing their stories of pain and trauma, and speaking their truth – speaking Queensland's truth – after having long campaigned for the opportunity to increase awareness amongst all Australians about our shared history. - “To say that it’s a huge blow that at the stroke of a pen so much progress and hope can be unravelled with no consultation or discussion, is an understatement. - “If this inquiry ends, we strongly urge Premier Crisafulli to consider alternatives for truth telling in Queensland, and to prioritise urgent support for ageing Stolen Generations survivors. We will be requesting a meeting with the Premier to raise a range of issues significant for survivors. - “Shockingly, Queensland is one of two states that have not provided redress for Stolen Generations, yet it is the state with one of the highest survivor populations. This long-standing failure of successive Queensland governments is an opportunity for the Crisafulli government to show that they are serious about delivering for the people of Queensland.” - Past government policies of forced removals had a devastating impact on Stolen Generations survivors, families, and communities. The resulting pain and suffering reverberates through communities today, and the voices and lived experiences of Stolen Generations survivors and their families are integral to driving solutions. Their voices need to be elevated, and governments need to listen. - Read the full media release hereL https://lnkd.in/gprT5hPt - - - - #healingourway #unfinishedbusiness #stolengeneratiions #firstnationsaustralia

The Healing Foundation, along with the Kimberly Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation, presented before the Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. The report titled "Redress: Journey to Justice" has been released. - The Healing Foundation’s submissions highlighted that ‘while the National Redress Scheme is about child sexual abuse, the experience is ‘much bigger’ and ‘there hasn’t been any nationally consistent framework or principles around delivering redress schemes for that experience. - Separate redress or reparations schemes for Stolen Generations have differing payments, application processes, identification requirements and support options. The Healing Foundation submitted that this ‘inconsistent approach across schemes has been re-traumatising for survivors’. - The Committee made several recommendations to improve survivor accessibility. These include extending the Scheme, allowing greater flexibility around reasonable adjustments and exceptions to application procedures, and using simplified language to avoid jargon. - The Healing Foundation supports these recommendations and, most importantly, the Committee's call for the Australian Government to collaborate with state and territory governments to establish a national framework for redress and/or reparation schemes. This would include developing knowledge on best practices, scheme design, and administration, aligning with what we hear from survivors and Stolen Generations organisations. - The National Redress Scheme is for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse, to read the report visit: https://ow.ly/Ko4m50UhavS - For further information on National Redress visit: - https://ow.ly/UYlv50UhavU - For more information about redress options for Stolen Generations survivors visit: https://ow.ly/Az9O50UhavT - - - - #healingourway #bringingthemhome #nationalredressscheme #stolengenerations #firstnationsaustralia #unfinishedbusiness

Last week, The Healing Foundation and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) had terrific community engagement sessions regarding the Territories Redress Scheme in Top End communities like Katherine, Mataranka, Jilkminggan, Binjari, and Kalano. - These sessions aimed to inform attendees about the Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, stemming from the Bringing Them Home Report (1997), and how we can advocate for communities. - Survivors, families, and organisations showed significant interest and raised many questions. The Scheme supports those removed from their families before July 1, 1978, in the Northern Territory, with applications open from March 1, 2022, to February 28, 2026. - It includes a financial and wellbeing package that recognises the harm caused by removals, aids healing of trauma, provides access to free support services, and allows survivors to share their stories. - - - - #territoriesredressscheme #bringingthemhome #healingouway #intergenerationalhealing #stolengenerations #firstnationsaustralia

The Healing Foundation is excited to share the groundbreaking Missions Connect, a Curtin University project directed by Professor Reena Tiwari in close collaboration with YOKAI, Bringing Them Home WA, Kimberley Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, and Jigalong Community Inc. and supported by the Healing Foundation. - The project is receiving widespread national and international acclaim for preserving Stolen Generations Survivors' histories through immersive virtual reality. Tony Hansen, a member of Yokai presented at the International Council of Archives Congress in Abu Dhabi. The project was also showcased at the Australian ICOMOS Caring for the Sunburnt Country conference, where Stolen Generations Survivor Timothy Flowers shared its powerful impact. - Additionally, MissionsConnect was featured at UNESCO’s Memory of the World Policy Dialogue, where global experts discussed its role in promoting peace, cultural preservation, and international understanding. - - - - #healingourway #stolengenerations #bringingthemhome #firstnationsaustralia

In September, Over 100 people from Stolen Generations organisations, including Stolen Generations survivors, came together in Garramilla/Darwin to connect and create collective knowledge on the work being done across Australia to support ageing Stolen Generations survivors. - The group of 19 organisations reaffirmed their commitment to the Bringing them home report recommendations, and called on governments, churches and NGOs to respond to the unfinished business of Bringing them home. - It was the first time that this group of organisations dedicated to supporting Stolen Generations survivors has come together like this to galvanise as a sector, bringing together knowledge from across the country and hold governments and institutions to account. - It is our privilege to now share the finalised Stolen Generations Organisation Gathering 2024 report which includes high level session notes and evaluation findings. - A massive thank you to all attendees for your time and the opportunity to connect, we welcome more opportunities for the future and promise that the Gathering 2024 is only the beginning for furthering the solutions to heal ourselves and our people. - To read the report and find other Gathering content visit: https://lnkd.in/gGPKgYt7 - - - - #healingourway #stolengenerations #bringingthemhome #firstnationsaustralia

The Healing Foundation had the opportunity to attend an uplifting night celebrating Blak excellence at the Indigenous Governance Awards 2024 last week. - The Awards are an initiative of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, Reconciliation Australia and BHP Foundation. Held every two years the Awards recognise and celebrate innovation and excellence in governance by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across Australia. - Held in conjunction with the 2024 Reconciliation Conference, where The Healing Foundation’s Board Member Ian Hamm spoke as part of a panel on Economic Development. Joined by Vonda Malone (Qld Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry) and Naomi Moran (incoming NSW Treaty Commissioner), Ian and the panellists unpacked economic independence within the context of social justice and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. - Click the links below to see the award winners and resources: - https://lnkd.in/g8R9DTRa - https://lnkd.in/gcqQpHcV - - - - #healingourway #blakexcellence #firstnationsaustralia #stolengenerations #intergenerationalhealing

Teachers! Are you prepping for 2025? We've just published a brand new lesson plan that features the podcast Healing Our Way! - You can find complete transcripts of all 6 episodes of Healing Our Way, as well as an accompanying lesson plan and worksheet on our website! - Navigate to the Stolen Generations School Kit for Teachers and Students page and go down to year 9 to find everything you need to bring the podcast into your classroom. - Grab the resources from our website now: https://lnkd.in/giDvhXi8 - - - - #healingourway #stolengenerations #firstnationsaustralia #teachingresources #teachingresourcesaustralia #education #intergenerationalhealing #healing #bringingthemhome

The Healing Foundation congratulates the team at Yokai in Western Australia for winning Best Human Rights Film at the Tokyo International Cinema Awards for their documentary 'Genocide in the Wildflower State.' - This must-see film features Stolen Generation survivors sharing powerful testimonies of isolation, abuse, and humiliation. It demands justice and accountability from Western Australian parliaments that have failed to make redress. It is about helping to heal the trauma in the community, and building understanding in broader Australia. - This recognition highlights the strength and resilience in telling our stories, drawing attention to our history and survival. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. Some of our staff were fortunate to attend a recent screening of the film in Meanjin/Brisbane which Yokai hosted. Don't miss your chance to see and support this important film. - - - - #bringingthemhome #genocideinthewildflowerstate #stolengenerations #unfinishedbusiness #truthtelling

It's always a pleasure to work alongside Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the brilliant work you do for community

Truth telling and healing is the only way forward for QLD Stolen Generations survivors - The Healing Foundation's statement on the Queensland Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry. The decision to stop the Queensland Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry is deeply hurtful and detrimental to the healing process for ageing Stolen Generations survivors, a national body representing survivors said today. “This decision does not contribute to unity for Stolen Generations survivors, it will add to their pain and suffering,” The Healing Foundation’s board chair Professor Steve Larkin said. “As far as we are aware the Premier has not provided any alternative to the inquiry; denying survivors the opportunity to share their stories as part of their individual and community healing is an act of divisiveness in itself. “As the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that provides a platform to amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families, The Healing Foundation strongly urges Premier Crisafulli to reconsider his decision. “Meet with us, and with Stolen Generations survivors to understand why truth telling and healing is important not just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but for all Australians. “For many survivors, speaking their truth is healing, and a chance to get their story on the record and work through their trauma. “For true understanding, reconciliation and action to address the needs of survivors, all Australians need to know the truth of our history, and the impact of colonialism on our people. Read the full statement: https://ow.ly/Fx6s50TYyFR