NEWS:

BRINGING HOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES: Contributions wanted.

Stories, poems, artwork and photographs from Indigenous people removed from their families are now being sought by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) for a publication to mark the 10th anniversary of the Bringing them home report on 26 May.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma has called for contributions from people which record their individual experiences of the tragic practice of forcibly removing Indigenous people from their families.

“We want to hear from people about their stories of being removed from their family or see visual interpretations of reconnecting with family and culture,” Mr Calma said.

“The publication is also a way for us to record the experiences people have had since HREOC’s Bringing them home report brought the issue of forced removal to the attention of the Australian public 10 years ago.”

The Bringing them home report was the result of a 1995 national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

The inquiry received 777 submissions and undertook extensive hearings in every capital city and in many regional and smaller centres around Australia.

Mr Calma said the project was an important way of ensuring the public recognised the achievements many Indigenous Australians had made since being forcibly removed from their parents in their early lives.

Advertisements calling for people to submit their stories, artwork and photos have been running in the Indigenous media since late April. Contributions will be accepted until 1 June 2007.

For information on conditions of entry go to www.humanrights.gov.au/bth/

Media contact: Louise McDermott 02 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597

 

Release of Evaluation of Government-Funded Services available to the Stolen Generations.   Also see media page.

The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health commissioned Urbis Keys Young to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs. The evaluation covers four programs:

* the Link Up program
* the Bringing Them Home Counsellors' Program
* Social and Emotional Well Being Regional Centres and
* Mental Health Service Delivery Projects

The evaluation commenced in March 2006, and consisted of an extensive consultation with service providers, relevant associated organisations and with clients of the funded services. This was the first time that a wide and diverse range of clients was consulted in an evaluation. Click on the title link above or visit our media page to learn more.


Senator Andrew Bartlett's Stolen Generations Compensation Bill:

Senator Bartlett has introduced a Bill for an Act to provide for ex gratia payments to be made to the stolen generation of Aboriginal children, and for related purposes. Download the following PDF files to read it and the exposure draft.