Stolen Generations Alliance: Analysis of Bringing Them Home

Speeches, 2007	Buy Sorry Day Flowers	Background Information	Education kit
Implementing Bringing them Home	Recent Media	Contact Information	Home

JOURNEY OF HEALING

Analysis of Bringing Them Home: Recommendations relevant to local reconciliation groups working with Indigenous groups to advance the implementation of the Bringing Them Home report.

Recommendations	Thought-starters on possible implementation in local areas.
1. Oral histories	(a) Ascertain whether there are persons in the area who were affected by the forced removal of children policies and who wish to have their stories recorded permanently. (b) If yes, inform Dr Gwenda B Davey at the National Library in Canberra and follow her advice. (c) Alternatively, recruit two respected people locally to tape the stories of any persons described in para. (a) and send the tapes to Dr Davey in Canberra.
5(b). Apology by police forces	Invite the local Officer in Charge of Police to contribute to any local celebration of the Journey of Healing, provided he is supportive of the Reconciliation process.
7(b). Commemorations other than Sorry Day - monuments, etc	(a) In WA, approach the State Minister and Lord Mayor to explore renaming Heirrisson Island and making it an Aboriginal Museum Reserve. (b) If there are any places in the local area where the stolen children were housed or other places of significance to the removal policies, seek permission to erect a momument or plaque to commemorate the significance of the site.
8(a). Education - compulsory History units in schools	Explore with the Principals of local schools (primary and secondary) whether the history of the stolen generations is adequately covered in the compulsory curriculums in the School and encourage any necessary change.
9(a). Peak Professional bodies: medical, legal and socia	Lobby peak bodies in each State or Territory to ensure adequate continuing education in removal policies so as to Continuing education ensure sensitive professional care for Indigenous peoples.
9(b). Universities	Liaise with Aboriginal centres in each University in a joint approach to administration to include a compulsory unit in Aboriginal Studies for all undergraduates.
11. Return to Country	First identify any elderly members of the Stolen Generations in the local area who long to see their country before they die, then find out where their country is and secure the permission of the current occupier to enter on the land for a couple of days. Seek funds from local service clubs or the business community to send them together with an escort to their country.
12. Strengthening language, history and culture centres	The survival of Aboriginal languages is fundamental to the retention of culture. Lobby Federal and State Government or community sources for funding to strengthen any centres in the local area or establish new ones as may be necessary. Consult Australian Summer Institute of Linguistics (S.I.L.)
27. Access to Records	Consult Indigenous sources on adequacy of current arrangements and if improvement is necessary consult the relevant Government agencies and Churches.
33-36. Local Indigenous healing and well-being perspectives	In consultation with local Indigenous agencies, seek local funding to enable the agencies to improve their services, including health and mental health programs, and parenting skills and family well-being programs.
37. Prisoner services	Work with the relevant prisoner-servicing agencies to increase the number of prison visitors available.
40. Counselling Services	Enlist local community support for Indigenous or culturally-sensitive counselling services to local Indigenous citizens.
42-53. The best interests of the Indigenous children	Encourage advocacy at every level of community life on behalf of Indigenous children - in family life, schools, employment, and in the juvenile justice system.