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.
How we can help you?
For members of the Stolen Generations, their childhood experiences further compromise their ability to seek services. Recognition of this reality should dictate and inform how such services should be provided.
The Royal Commission also found that members of the Stolen Generations can fear the possibility of residential aged care, dreading another removal, being reinstitutionalised and reliving their experience of trauma.
Appropriate aged care was also found to be important to Victorian Stolen Generations during the Reparations consultation process.
The Stolen Generations Reparations survey indicates participants who identified as Stolen Generations need better access to appropriate aged care assistance.
The majority of Stolen Generations Reparations survey participants were aged 52 or over. This aligns with new research completed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that Stolen Generations nationally are an ageing population.
In 2018–19, more than 80% were aged 50 and over, making up approximately one in five (21%) of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in this age group.
In response, Connecting Home is seeking support and potential partnerships to explore extending its range of services to Stolen Generations to include the provision of Aged Care.
To have a yarn about how we can help or if you just want to find out more, contact us.
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.