Program 2008 Conference About Us
Program Introduction | Dhum Djirri Aboriginal Family Decision Making Program | Koorie Cultural Placement and Support Program | Link Up Victoria | Permanent Care Program | Lakidjeka ACSASS’ | Residential Care Program | Extended Care | Leaving Care Program | Kurnai Youth Homelessness Service.

LINK UP VICTORIA

Still Bringing Them Home

The Link Up Victoria program was established in 1990 to address the specific needs of the large number of Indigenous people presenting to Aboriginal services who were the victims of past government policies and practices. These policies saw large scale removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities, often referred to as the Stolen Generations.

 

Link Up is funded by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging. We assist Indigenous people, over the age of eighteen, who were adopted, placed in foster care, institutionalized or forcibly removed, to trace and be reunited with their families.

 

Our role includes assisting clients to trace family by accessing birth, death and marriage records, adoption and wardship files, locating and establishing contact with family members, undertaking case management, providing referrals to specialist counseling services, liaising with Aboriginal communities and advocating on behalf of clients. Link Up also visits Victorian Correctional Centre’s to promote our services to Indigenous men and women.

 

We are part of a nation wide service with eleven programs currently operating across Australia.

Link Up can assist with:

  • Obtaining records such as State Ward files, adoption records or archival records
  • Provide guidance and support to clients and families
  • Assist with reunions or making contact with family members
  • Provide referrals for counseling for yourself or family members
  • Facilitate support group meetings

 

Link Up provides a service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, over the age of 18, that is confidential, sensitive and culturally appropriate, giving guidance and support to both the client and their family.

 

Our passion and commitment has allowed us to build vital relationships across cultural, political and state boundaries. These relationships are essential in tracing families and reuniting them with their loved ones. We anticipate being able to assist many other people on their journey home.

 

We can't help with searching for a person you haven’t seen for a while, confirmation of Aboriginality or working out your family tree.