Stolen Generations survivors Raelene Rosas, Jenni Caruso, call for change after Darwin meeting

Advocates say the aged care system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and risks retraumatising members of the Stolen Generations and denying them the quality of life they deserve.

Panellists from the National Archives of Australia, NIAA and Stolen Generations organisations discuss how to overcome barriers to survivors accessing their records with Jenni Caruso (right) at the Darwin conference. Picture: Supplied

Stolen Generations advocacy organisations are calling for better funding and “the change we so desperately need” following a gathering of more than 100 representatives in Darwin.

The group of 19 organisations called on governments, churches and NGOs to respond to the “unfinished business” of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s 1997 Bringing Them Home report.

“This is the first time that this group of organisations dedicated to supporting Stolen Generations survivors has come together like this,” Healing Foundation chair Steve Larkin said.

“All Stolen Generations survivors are now aged over 50, where access to the right care as they age is crucial.

“Our current aged care system is not fit for purpose and risks retraumatising many and denying them a quality of life they are not only entitled to but deserve.”

Eastern Arrente woman and Stolen Generations survivor Jenni Caruso said the event was “a healing moment for a lot of people”.

“There has been a lot of listening to what survivors and organisations are saying about our needs as we age, about the issues we are facing in accessing our records, about the funding challenges for our volunteer-run organisations,” she said.

Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation CEO Raelene Rosas (right) with her mother, Stolen Generations survivor Eileen Cummings. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NT Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Raelene Rosas said “something big” was happening “for our survivor organisations and for the country”.

“Momentum is here, the fire is burning,” she said.

“We are organising together as a sector, to speak as one voice and push for the finalisation of the Bringing Them Home recommendations and to bring about the change we so desperately need.”

The group called for “adequate and sustainable funding” and the continuation of the truth-telling process “until all Australians know the truth and reparations have been made”.

The survivors also called for “consistent and urgent redress” as part of a broader reparations package that includes survivors, family and community healing and cultural restitution.

Healing Foundation chief executive Shannan Dodson said there was “no time to waste” as “we can’t lose any more survivors before they see justice”.

“We all committed to galvanising as a sector to bring together knowledge from across the country and hold governments and institutions to account,” she said.

Originally published as Stolen Generations survivors Raelene Rosas, Jenni Caruso, call for change after Darwin meeting