The national body that supports Stolen Generations survivors and their organisations has welcomed today’s announcement of a redress scheme for Western Australian survivors, following many years of local advocacy.
The Healing Foundation’s CEO and Yawuru woman Shannan Dodson said she felt an overwhelming mixture of emotions for WA Stolen Generations survivors and their families.
“Across Western Australia, survivors and descendants have been fighting tirelessly for years for justice and redress. I pay tribute and honour all the Stolen Generations organisations that have advocated and stood alongside survivors throughout this long journey,” Ms Dodson said.
“No amount of money will make up for the trauma inflicted on Stolen children, but redress is validation of their experience, and some compensation for the pain they’ve suffered,” Ms Dodson said.
Aunty Jenny Day, interim CEO of Sister Kate’s Home Kids Aboriginal Corporation said today’s announcement is “an acknowledgement that we exist”.
“It’s an acknowledgement about the history of poor legislation. The government is finally accepting that it was bad and that it happened. To deny a child to live with family has effects that are intergenerational,” Aunty Jenny said.
WA survivor and co-Chair of Bringing Them Home WA, Tony Hansen said “by acknowledging such a brutal history, and evil policies that ripped the hearts out of children and families, this day will go down in history as a powerful moment of truth-telling.”
The Healing Foundation’s chairperson Professor Steve Larkin urged the Government of Western Australia to move swiftly to introduce the scheme, while ensuring appropriate consultation with survivors and their organisations.
“We congratulate the Government of Western Australia on recognising Australia cannot wait another generation before acting to support ageing Stolen Generations survivors,” Professor Larkin said.
“This scheme will have positive flow on effects through the generations and throughout the state, but time is of the essence.”
The Healing Foundation looks forward to working with Stolen Generations organisations and the WA Government to ensure Stolen Generations organisations are adequately and sustainably supported to provide wrap around services. And that the design and implementation of the scheme is survivor-centred and built on best practice examples in Australia and internationally.
The Healing Foundation hopes this positive action by Western Australia will encourage all governments to consider a National Healing Package of priority changes to enable remaining survivors to live out their days with dignity.
For more information visit www.healingfoundation.org.au
Information for survivors will be made available here https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/stolen-generations-redress-scheme
