'We did nothing wrong': Victoria's stolen generations to finally get redress scheme

Victoria's stolen generations will finally get a redress scheme after the Andrews government announced a $10 million funding injection for the landmark reform.

The scheme will be rolled out next year, with Premier Daniel Andrews promising it would be developed in consultation with Aboriginal people.

A tearful Kutcha Edwards, Eva Jo Edwards and Mick Edwards said the redress scheme was about righting past wrongs.Credit: Simon Schluter

The government is considering a range of options, including redress payments, counselling support and a funeral or memorial fund.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gavin Jennings said this scheme would ensure Aboriginal families, and particularly the stolen generations, could "find healing and reparation".

Eva Jo Edwards welcomed the government's announcement to inject $10 million to set up a redress scheme for the stolen generations. Credit: Simon Schluter

"They were torn apart by parliaments, like this one [in Victoria]," Mr Jennings said. "This one in the middle of the 20th century made decisions to kill communities, to remove people forcibly ... It was an act of genocide. It was a conscious decision made in that parliament to rip families apart."

In an emotional press conference at the Victorian Parliament on Wednesday, stolen generations members Kutcha Edwards, Mick Edwards and Eva Jo Edwards explained the pain of being removed from their families.

"I've lived with the trauma of being denied my rightful journey in life," Kutcha Edwards said. "For some unknown reason, and we don't talk about, we were snatched from our mother and father. They did nothing wrong, we did nothing wrong."

Kutcha Edwards said the redress scheme was "not about the money", it was about addressing past wrongs and trying to help Aboriginal people in their healing process.

Victoria is the last state to introduce a redress scheme for the stolen generations, and it had been a key recommendation raised at the first meeting of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.

Ms Edwards lauded the Premier and Aboriginal Affairs Minister for finally introducing the scheme, adding it was an important step in addressing the distress and hurt caused by the policy that removed many Aboriginal children from their families.

"I see this as a historic moment ... to acknowledge the wrong done to Aboriginal children – that were removed, placed in institution and treated so badly," Ms Edwards said. "That loss of culture, loss of identity, family connection."