Welcome to Connecting Home
Connecting Home is a dedicated, culturally-safe support service for the Stolen Generations across South-Eastern Australia
Creating a culturally safe wrap around service for Stolen Generations across South Eastern Australia.
Connecting Home was established in April 2010 to replace Stolen Generations Victoria Ltd. Since that time, Connecting Home has provided support to hundreds of members of the Stolen Generations and their families. We walk together with survivors of the Stolen Generations and their families on their journeys to achieve healing and to help them strengthen connections to family, community and Culture.
Wrap around support for Stolen Generations
Case Management
Connecting Home has a team of dedicated support workers, who can provide tailored assistance to Stolen Generations and their families in accessing services such as counselling, assistance with housing, service referrals, legal aid, education support and with establishing family connections.
Stolen Generations Reparations
Following the recommendations provided in the report by the Stolen Generations Steering Committee, which Connecting Homes was a key contributor to, the Victorian Government opened on 31st March 2022 the Stolen Generations Reparations Package. The package is to help address the trauma and suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, community, culture, identity and language.
Disability services and support
Since May 2017, Connecting Home has been a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services provider – specifically focused on supporting people with disability, who are members of the Stolen Generations and their families. As part of NDIS, we provide Support Coordination; Plan Management; and Direct Support Services. We can also assist with connections to community, as well as with Aboriginal and mainstream agencies and services to best meet client needs.
Stolen Generations Funeral Fund
The Victorian Government also provides the Stolen Generations Funeral Fund to support families of Stolen Generations who have passed away. Connecting Homes can provide assistance with applying for this support. Eligible applicants may receive up to $10,000 towards a funeral, a headstone or plaque and/or repatriation of your Stolen Generations family member.
National Redress Scheme Support
The National Redress Scheme is in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Applications can be made any time before 30 June 2027.
Aged Care
The 2021 Aged Care Royal Commission Final Report found that given the number of members of the Stolen Generations who will need care in the years ahead, cultural safety demands a trauma-informed approach to care.
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Upcoming Events
Christmas/New Year closure
Anniversary of the National Apology
Sorry Day
We are proud to work with
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Stolen Generations?
The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both State and Federal Governments from 1910 to the 1970s (Source: Healing Foundation).
In terms of eligibility for different Commonwealth, State or Territory Government compensation payments, the requirements can vary so please contact us to discuss further if you would like more information.
How does Connecting Home work with other organisations that support Stolen Generations, like the Healing Foundation and the various Link-Up services?
Connecting Home is quite different to these other services in that we provide tailored wrap-around support for Stolen Generations and their families aimed towards achieving healing and breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
What is the difference between Redress and Reparations?
‘Redress’ refers to the ‘National Redress Scheme’ and ‘Reparations’ refers to the ‘Stolen Generations Reparations Package’, which are two very different schemes.
In some cases, Stolen Generations survivors may be eligible to apply for both.
The National Redress Scheme is an Australian Government response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Stolen Generations Reparations Package is a Victorian Government scheme to help address the trauma and suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, culture and Country.
Both of these schemes are currently only available for limited periods so it’s important that those eligible take steps to apply as soon as possible.
While applications to the National Redress Scheme and the Stolen Generations Reparations Package can be made directly, Connecting Home can provide information about the two different schemes as well as support with making applications - recognising the stress and emotions involved for those seeking compensation.
What are the likely durations for the various processes?
There is no standard length of time for the processing of applications to the National Redress Scheme or the Stolen Generations Reparations Package.
Specifically In relation to the Stolen Generations Reparations Package, applicants that are terminally or critically ill will have their applications prioritised and may qualify for an advance payment of $20,000 while the application is being assessed.
For applications in relation to the Victorian Stolen Generations Funeral Fund, which is administered by Connecting Home, the time period from when a formal application is lodged to a decision is generally within a few weeks.
Can I apply on behalf of a family member who has passed away?
The National Redress Scheme and the Stolen Generations Reparations Package will not accept applications for persons that have already passed away.
However, family of Stolen Generations who have passed away may apply to the Stolen Generations Funeral Fund. The Fund provides support to families of Stolen Generations who have passed away since 1 January 2021. For further information about this Funeral Fund, contact us via email at sgr@connectinghome.org.au or phone(03) 8679 0777.
What is Case Management?
Our Case Management services provide support to Stolen Generations and their families. We focus on individual needs which can include support with accessing social services, helping to address wellbeing needs, providing support with access to aid cultural and/or family connections and working on building resilience and the journey towards healing. To find out more, please contact us.
Am I eligible for support via Connecting Home?
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, who is a Stolen Generations survivor or descendant of, then we are keen to hear from you about how we might be able to support your journey towards healing. Please contact us to have a yarn to see if we can help.
Can Connecting Home arrange for a Certificate of Aboriginality?
Connecting Home doesn’t arrange for or provide Certificates of Aboriginality. Generally, land councils, community-controlled Aboriginal health and/or housing organisations can assist with issuing these. Please note that Connecting Home does not insist on clients proving a Certificate of Aboriginality to access our programs and services.
What NDIS services do Connecting Homes provide?
Currently, Connecting Home provides the following NDIS services: -
- Plan Management
- Direct Support
- Support Co-ordination
If you are a Stolen Generations survivor or family member of in Victoria that requires NDIS services, please contact us to see if we can assist.
Does Connecting Home provide Aged Care services?
Presently, Connecting Home does not provide Aged Care services. However, it is a service that we are very interested to consider as part of what we offer to support Stolen Generations survivors. If you would like to discuss further with us about Aged Care, please contact us.