Indigenous
Stolen Generations Victoria
Stolen Generations Victoria (SGV) was incorporated in June 2005. SGV was established as a result of the recommendations arising from the 2003 Stolen Generations Taskforce Report, commissioned by the Victorian Government. The Taskforce identified the need for an independent, community-controlled Stolen Generations organisation for Victoria. VCOSS is a member of SGV’s Service Reference Group. The Service Reference Group has a membership of 16 organisations, mostly statewide Koori and community controlled organisations.
Further, the 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the 1995 National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Children from their Families clearly indicated that culturally appropriate services and programs were needed to address the specific needs of the Stolen Generation.
The primary aims of Stolen Generations Victoria are:
- To be a lead organisation in the coordination of service delivery, the development of policy and to stimulate public debate on Stolen Generations matters
- To be a key source of information, advice, education, research and counselling about Stolen Generations matters in Victoria
- To build and maintain a strong and responsive Stolen Generations service network
- To have an evidence base to inform service delivery, program development and policy
Over the next twelve months, Stolen Generations Victoria will be establishing a range of support and referral services that will assist Stolen Generations peoples to reconnect with their families, communities, culture and land. The first meeting of the Service Reference Group was held on 16 October 2006. This meeting was a successful information-sharing event and focussed on formulating the Group’s Terms of Reference and its future directions for providing input into the SGV development of culturally sensitive, respectful and appropriate service delivery for Stolen Generations.
National Sorry Day2007 Understand Us: Stand by Us
Held every year on the 26th May, Sorry Day 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report, which was the result of an inquiry into the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families. One of the recommendations of the report was that a National Sorry Day should be declared.
Sorry Day offers the community the opportunity to be involved in activities to acknowledge the painful and devastating impact of the policies of forcible removal on Australia's Indigenous peoples, and to commit to taking steps to support the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. In Victoria, Sorry Day 2007 is being auspiced by Stolen Generations Victoria.