Stolen money opened
Aboriginal Victorians from the Stolen Generations can soon apply for $100,000 in reparations.
The Victorian Government has put together a reparation package for Stolen Generations survivors, which is offering payments of $100,000 Aboriginal Victorians removed from their families in the state before 1977.
The $155 million package will become available at the end of March. It is intended to recognise the lasting suffering caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families by the government and other agencies.
Eligible people will reportedly be able to apply for reparations of $100,000 and a personal apology from the government, as well as access to healing and reconnection to Country programs and opportunities to share their story.
More than a thousand people are expected to be eligible, with terminally and critically ill applicants to be prioritised.
Victoria's First Peoples’ Assembly co-chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson says the redress scheme will help address the disadvantage that resulted from the policies that created the Stolen Generations.
“The damage inflicted on our people when government authorities ripped families apart and stole our children runs across generations and the disadvantage it caused is ongoing,” Aunty Geri has told reporters.
“I don't believe there is anything that can heal that trauma or ever repay that loss but the scheme announced today will go some way to helping people address the disadvantage caused by the inhumane practices our people have been subjected to.”
The announcement of the funding scheme this week leaves Western Australia and Queensland as the only jurisdictions not to have announced reparation schemes for the Stolen Generations.