Reconciliation and Social Justice Library

Bringing them Home - Community Guide

Responses by governments and churches

The Inquiry investigated and made recommendations on three ways governments could assist people affected by forcible removal:

• giving people access to their personal files and information recorded about their families;

• funding family tracing and reunion services like Link Up; and

• funding Indigenous mental health programs dealing with grief and loss,

Access to personal and family records

The Inquiry found that most people have access to their own files but there are many difficulties:

• finding the file itself;

• some files have been lost or destroyed;

• different departments have different rules;

• there may be a fee;

• the waiting time can be lengthy; and

• church records are hard to access.

The Inquiry found that many people need counselling when they read their files.

There are a lot of untrue things about me on those files. I have cried about the lies on those files.

There's letters written there in my handwriting and I go berserk, I can't handle it. I can't go near them because I see my handwritten letters there as a little kid. You know, `May I see my brothers and sisters? I haven't seen them for a long time. They're dear to my heart'. `Do you know where my mum is? Can I please see my dad?' There's letters written back by them that my behaviour didn't warrant visits. There's letters there saying that if I didn't improve my behaviour that I would not be able to be with my brothers and sisters and that I would never see my parents again.

The Inquiry recommended that counselling and support should be made available through Indigenous family tracing and reunion services.

Funding for Indigenous community-based family tracing and reunion services

The Inquiry found that Indigenous family tracing and reunion services exist in most states and territories. But their coverage is patchy:

• there is none in the ACT and only one worker in SA; none in Kimberley, Pilbara or Goldfields in WA (one is planned for Kimberley);

• services vary from assistance only with records in SA to comprehensive assistance and support in NSW;

• getting professional counselling is difficult; and

• travelling for reunions is not funded.

The Inquiry recommended Indigenous community-based family tracing and reunion services be established in each region and funded to meet all the needs of clients for as long as they need it.

A holistic and community-based approach to mental health

The Inquiry found that most mental health services are inappropriate for Indigenous people's needs:

• Indigenous people view mental health differently to non-Indigenous people;

• non-Indigenous doctors and nurses often lack understanding of Aboriginal or Islander culture;

• social and community well-being is often ignored;

• rural and remote communities don't get the same services as cities and towns; and

• too many Indigenous people end up in mental hospitals or prison. Prevention

The Inquiry recommended the focus should change from the individual who seems to be suffering mental illnesses to the needs of the whole community. Funding should go to community-based prevention services that take a holistic view of health and a cultural perspective on health and well-being of the whole family and community. Where specialists are needed they should work in partnership with Indigenous healers.

The Inquiry recommended that all those who work with Indigenous people -- doctors, police, judges, magistrates, social workers -- be properly trained. Their training must include information about the history of forcible removal and the effects of forcible removal on children, families and communities. This is a prerequisite for the provision of good services to Indigenous communities. Family tracing and reunion services and Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies are appropriate organisations to provide this training.

The Inquiry recommended that these services employ Indigenous people. Indigenous people should be trained and culturally appropriate Indigenous trainers should be employed. Scholarships and traineeships should be set up by governments for Indigenous people to become healers, health workers, genealogists, archivists, researchers and counsellors.

The roles of churches and missions

The Inquiry found churches played a major role in forcible removals by providing accommodation and other services to the children in line with government policy.

With hindsight, we recognise that our provision of services enabled these policies to be implemented. We sincerely and deeply regret any hurt, however unwittingly caused, to any child in our care -- The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Australian Province.

In addition to acknowledging and apologising for their roles, the Inquiry recommended that churches can help now by:

• providing access to the personal and family records they hold;

• providing or supporting culturally appropriate counselling services; and

• returning mission and institution land to Indigenous people.

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