VACCA welcomes the Andrews Government announcement of the Interim Funeral Fund which was established to support families of Stolen Generations who have passed to access financial support to cover funeral expenses. This is an important element of the Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme which is expected to commence later this year. Such support is retrospective to the beginning of this year, helping to provide justice and recognition of the devastating impacts experienced by the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families under various government policies that are still being felt today.
VACCA provides a number of services that supports the Stolen Generations including Link-Up Victoria and Narra Jarra Noun and is involved in the Stolen Generations Reparations Steering Committee. We have advocated strongly for the Reparations Scheme for many years as we know that receiving compensation and recognition of the devastating trauma the Stolen Generations endured is crucial to their healing journey. The Interim Funeral Fund as part of the broader Reparations Scheme, will bring Victoria in line with the United Nations’ Van Boven Principles, detailed and endorsed in the Bringing them Home Report as the appropriate framework for responding to the gross violation of human rights.
Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, VACCA’s CEO says “supporting families of Stolen Generations in their time of grief is a crucial part of their healing journey. The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme, alongside the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission will bring long overdue recognition, compensation, justice and healing for our people.”
For all media enquiries please contact Sarah Gafforini, Director Office of the CEO | sarahg@vacca.org