VACCA and Link-Up Host 14th Anniversary of the National Apology to Stolen Generations

Home > Media > VACCA and Link-Up Host 14th Anniversary of the National Apology to Stolen Generations

13 February commemorates 14th Anniversary of the day the Australian Government said sorry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in parliament, acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by the forced removal of their children from family, community, culture and country.

VACCA and Link-Up Victoria, in partnership with Connecting Home and Darebin City Council, are hosting a free online event to commemorate the Anniversary of the National Apology on Sunday 13 February.

The event gives all Australians the opportunity to pay their respects to all Stolen Generations, both the living and those who have passed on to the Dreaming. It provides a voice for the Stolen Generations and tells them that they have not been forgotten.

Link-Up Victoria’s Aunty Bev Murray says it’s an important day in history that should be nationally commemorated like other historical days in this country.

“We need to see Stolen Generations markers in all major cities and rural towns, the Anniversary of the Apology should be commemorated by all levels of Government and government departments, local Councils, secondary schools and universities. A lot has changed in the last 14 years to ensure that the Apology was not a token gesture, but a lot more needs to be done,” said Ms Murray.

The journey to national apology in 2008, began with the Bringing Them Home report – the findings of an inquiry instigated by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1995.

VACCA’s CEO Muriel Bamblett says, “the Apology represents a significant and necessary step in the truth-telling process. But it’s 25 years on from the Bringing Them Home report being published and too many of the 53 recommendations have only been partially implemented or not real action at all. We are still working towards bringing our people home. We will continue to ask questions, hold Government to account over their inactions and ensure that the stories of the Stolen Generations are told so that they are never forgotten,” She said.

Through commemorative events, development of educational resources about the Stolen Generations, and placement of markers in cities across Victoria we can continue to

encourage conversations about the nation’s true history and acknowledge the trauma faced by those who continue to feel the impacts of being removed from family, culture and Country.

EVENT INFORMATION

National Apology to the Stolen Generations

Sunday 13 February, 2021

  • VACCA, Link-Up Victoria, Connecting Home and City of Darebin invite you to join us for an online event to commemorate the 14th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. · Livestream the event via the VACCA Facebook page or website from 10.30am on 13 February, 2022.
  • Guests include Muriel Bamblett, CEO Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), a Welcome to Country from Aunty Di Kerr, Ian Hamm, Chair, Connecting Home, Stolen Generations member Eva Jo and featuring music from Archie Roach and Briggs.

For event enquiries contact Bev Murray - Program Manager, Link-Up Victoria on 0402 095 567 or bevm@vacca.org


About LINK-UP

Link-Up Victoria provides support to the Stolen Generations, helping them to find and reunite with family, reconnect to culture, proudly walk their Country and reclaim their Aboriginal identity.

Link-Up is the only service in Victoria to provide reunions for the Stolen Generations. These reunions help create connections to family, culture and Country to encourage healing and gives survivors a sense of who they are and where they belong.

To access Link-Up Victoria’s services, visit www.linkupvictoria.org.au or call 1800 OUR MOB (687 662)

About VACCA

The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is the State’s leading Aboriginal child and family services organisation, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people and families in the community for over 40 years, as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation.

Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we work towards the healing of the Aboriginal community by strengthening the safety, wellbeing and culture connectedness of vulnerable community members, particularly children.

 

For all media enquiries, contact Nikita Blom, Communications Manager VACCA. | T: 0422 048 352 E: nikitab@vacca.org

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material. To listen to our Acknowledgement of Country, click here.