Nunkuwarrin Yunti’s Link-Up SA Program is funded by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Federal), and also receives reunion funding from the Department of Premier & Cabinet, Aboriginal Affairs & Reconciliation (State).
We provide family tracing, reunion and counselling services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who have been separated under the past policies and practices of the Australian Government. Assistance is also provided to people over the age of 18 years who have been adopted, fostered or raised in institutions.
The program is not funded to provide genealogy assistance, to locate missing persons or to find family members that have been separated due to family break downs.
Please note that priority is given to 1st generation clients.
Link-Up provides:
- Client contact and assessment
- Client and family support
- Research of client files and other relevant information
- Counselling support
- Financially contributing to reunions according to need
- Initial family contact and/or approach
- Ongoing support for clients and family following reunion
- Public awareness
- Privacy, trust and confidentiality
Bringing Them Home is the title of the Australian “Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families”. The report marked a pivotal moment in the controversy that has come to be known as the Stolen Generations.
The enquiry was established by the federal Attorney-General, Michael Lavarch, on 11 May 1995, in response to efforts made by key Indigenous agencies and communities concerned that the general public’s ignorance of the history of forcible removal was hindering the recognition of the needs of its victims and their families and the provision of services. The 700 page report was tabled in Federal Parliament on 26 May 1997.
Two reports were produced;
- a formal 700 page report titled “Bringing them Home” and subtitled “Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families”
- a less formal and shorter Community Guide titled “Bringing them Home – Community Guide” and subtitled “A guide to the findings and recommendations of the National Inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families”
The report concluded among other things that “Indigenous families and communities have endured gross violations of their human rights. These violations continue to affect Indigenous people’s daily lives. They were an act of genocide, aimed at wiping out Indigenous families, communities and cultures, vital to the precious and inalienable heritage of Australia.”
‘It never goes away. Just ’cause we’re not walking around on crutches or with bandages or plasters on our legs and arms doesn’t mean we’re not hurting … I suspect I’ll carry these sorts of wounds ’til the day I die. I’d just like it not to be so intense, that’s all.’ — Bringing them Home.
The Bringing them Home Report included a recommendation on the establishment of services specifically to support the needs of members of the Stolen generations.
“11. That the Council of Australian Governments ensure that appropriate Indigenous organisations are adequately funded to employ family reunion workers to travel with clients to their country, to provide Indigenous community education on the history and effects of forcible removal and to develop community genealogies to establish membership of people affected by forcible removal.”
Federal Government’s Stolen Generations Reparations Payment announcement
On 5 August 2021, the Federal Government announced that Stolen Generation survivors in ACT and NT can apply for a Reparation payment of $75000 as part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
This government announcement may raise questions for many Link-Up SA clients.
It’s important to note that Nunkuwarrin Yunti Link-Up SA, DOES NOT deal with monetary reparation matters. The Link -Up SA team is here to help with re-unions, family tracing and other healing services to the Stolen Generations so please contact us on 08 8406-1600 or linkup@nunku.org.au.
For enquiries on the Federal Government Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme, please contact the Department of Premier and Cabinet on (08) 8226 8900 OR the Healing Foundation on (02) 6272 750.
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To subscribe to the Link-Up Newsletter, email linkup@nunku.org.au or call (08) 8406-1600.
