❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on the implementation of the Bringing Them Home Report recommendations, including funding and involvement of the Stolen Generations. The answer provides details of implemented recommendations, funding allocations across various departments, and methods of engaging with the Stolen Generations.
AnsweredQoN 2177Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Bringing the Home Report, I ask -
(1) Which recommendations of the Report that are the responsibility of the State Government have been implemented to date?
(2) How much funding has been allocated in the 2004-2005 Budget to implement recommendations of the Report?
(3) How has the Minister involved members of the Stolen Generations in the implementation of the recommendations of the Bringing them Home Report?
(1) Which recommendations of the Report that are the responsibility of the State Government have been implemented to date?
(2) How much funding has been allocated in the 2004-2005 Budget to implement recommendations of the Report?
(3) How has the Minister involved members of the Stolen Generations in the implementation of the recommendations of the Bringing them Home Report?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 August 2004
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Response time
46 days
1. The Bringing Them Home (BTH) Report is a whole-of-government responsibility with 27 WA commitments in the theme of family tracing and reunion services. These commitments fall under recommendation 1, 11, 21-25, 27, 29 and 30 and have all been addressed through collaborative partnerships between relevant Commonwealth and State Government agencies.
Other commitments which have been progressed from the BTH report relate to:
· acknowledgement and apology (Recommendations 5a and 5b)
· rehabilitation (Recommendation 33)
· education and training (Recommendations 8, 9, 34 and 35)
· issues of contemporary separation relating to Recommendation 42
WA has been recognised for its commitment to addressing the recommendations in an independent evaluation report prepared for the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) and released publicly in January 2004.
The evaluation report identified outstanding issues relating to unfulfilled commitments by all governments and it was agreed at the MCATSIA meeting in November 2003 that future national monitoring reports would be released every two years. Each jurisdiction will continue to monitor and report on its individual responses on an annual basis.
2. The Department for Community Development contributed approximately $515,000 for the continued operation of the Family Information Records Bureau (FIRB) and support for the records taskforce and in preservation of records, upgrading appropriate systems to manage records and promotion of family tracing services.
The Office of Aboriginal Health (OAH) allocated approximately $824,000 to the Building Solid Families Program (BSFP), which complemented Commonwealth contributions to total approximately $1.6 million.
This State contribution provides for services in direct relation to recommendations 21-25, 27, 30 and 33.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) has allocated $100,000 to its Reconciliation Program. Bringing Them Home activities are incorporated in this program. A further $200,000 is allocated to provide the DIA’s Family History Service. This allocation goes towards promoting the family history program and preserving family history records, and relates to recommendations 22 and 27 of the Report.
The Department of Justice has no specific allocation for programs or services in direct response to the BTH Report, however, it is a signatory to the WA Aboriginal Justice Agreement, which is consistent with recommendation 42 and presents a partnership approach between Aboriginal people, communities and Government to dealing with justice related issues at a local, regional and State level.
The Department of Education and Training (DoET) incorporated policies and practices in relation to recommendation 8a to ensure that Aboriginal studies is compulsory in all schools in WA. It also committed to support inclusion of modules on the history and continuing effects of forcible removal of Aboriginal children when they are available from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
It is now compulsory for all DoET staff to undertake cultural awareness training. This relates to recommendation 9a. Additionally, in relation to recommendation 21, records management information for DoET incorporates the Premier’s instruction to Ministers regarding the retention of records relating to Aboriginal people (Premier’s Circular 2003/02).
Total specific funding for 2004/05 as outlined above for implementing recommendations for the BTH Report is approximately $1,639,000.
3. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has involved members of the Stolen Generation in implementing the recommendations of the BTH Report through family tracing and referral services undertaken by FIRB and DIA and the BSFP link-up services undertaken by OAH.
The State Government, as outlined in the Statement of Commitment to a New and Just Relationship, will continue to provide an appropriate engagement process regarding current Indigenous issues related to BTH.
Other commitments which have been progressed from the BTH report relate to:
· acknowledgement and apology (Recommendations 5a and 5b)
· rehabilitation (Recommendation 33)
· education and training (Recommendations 8, 9, 34 and 35)
· issues of contemporary separation relating to Recommendation 42
WA has been recognised for its commitment to addressing the recommendations in an independent evaluation report prepared for the Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) and released publicly in January 2004.
The evaluation report identified outstanding issues relating to unfulfilled commitments by all governments and it was agreed at the MCATSIA meeting in November 2003 that future national monitoring reports would be released every two years. Each jurisdiction will continue to monitor and report on its individual responses on an annual basis.
2. The Department for Community Development contributed approximately $515,000 for the continued operation of the Family Information Records Bureau (FIRB) and support for the records taskforce and in preservation of records, upgrading appropriate systems to manage records and promotion of family tracing services.
The Office of Aboriginal Health (OAH) allocated approximately $824,000 to the Building Solid Families Program (BSFP), which complemented Commonwealth contributions to total approximately $1.6 million.
This State contribution provides for services in direct relation to recommendations 21-25, 27, 30 and 33.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) has allocated $100,000 to its Reconciliation Program. Bringing Them Home activities are incorporated in this program. A further $200,000 is allocated to provide the DIA’s Family History Service. This allocation goes towards promoting the family history program and preserving family history records, and relates to recommendations 22 and 27 of the Report.
The Department of Justice has no specific allocation for programs or services in direct response to the BTH Report, however, it is a signatory to the WA Aboriginal Justice Agreement, which is consistent with recommendation 42 and presents a partnership approach between Aboriginal people, communities and Government to dealing with justice related issues at a local, regional and State level.
The Department of Education and Training (DoET) incorporated policies and practices in relation to recommendation 8a to ensure that Aboriginal studies is compulsory in all schools in WA. It also committed to support inclusion of modules on the history and continuing effects of forcible removal of Aboriginal children when they are available from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
It is now compulsory for all DoET staff to undertake cultural awareness training. This relates to recommendation 9a. Additionally, in relation to recommendation 21, records management information for DoET incorporates the Premier’s instruction to Ministers regarding the retention of records relating to Aboriginal people (Premier’s Circular 2003/02).
Total specific funding for 2004/05 as outlined above for implementing recommendations for the BTH Report is approximately $1,639,000.
3. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs has involved members of the Stolen Generation in implementing the recommendations of the BTH Report through family tracing and referral services undertaken by FIRB and DIA and the BSFP link-up services undertaken by OAH.
The State Government, as outlined in the Statement of Commitment to a New and Just Relationship, will continue to provide an appropriate engagement process regarding current Indigenous issues related to BTH.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.