Championing timely and easy access to records for Stolen Generations survivors and families

To mark National Sorry Day (26 May) in 2022, Access and Privacy regulators Australia issued a Joint statement recognising the important role of historical records in truth telling and sharing history, intergenerational healing, redress and reparations for Stolen Generations survivors and their families. In this joint statement, regulators committed to working together with the Healing Foundation and stakeholders to champion timely, easy access to records through information access schemes wherever possible, with formal access applications required only as a last resort.

The Healing Foundation Historical Records Taskforce released final principles for Nationally Consistent approaches to accessing Stolen Generations records. The Principles support implementation about access to records from the Bringing  them Home (1997) and Make Healing Happen: It’s time to act (2021) reports.

To progress this commitment, OIC will host a forum in June 2023 for staff dealing with requests for access to Stolen Generation records focussing on applying the Healing Foundation’s Principles for Nationally Consistent approaches to accessing Stolen Generation records. Presenters include representatives from the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, LinkUp Queensland and Queensland State Archives. The forum provides an opportunity for the presenters to share their experiences in assisting families to access historical records from government, including providing information about the types of records held and how to make the process of accessing historical records easier for individuals and families.