• Territories Stolen Generation Redress Scheme
• Let’s Yarn About Sleep
• “Those aspirations are not lost” – Yes23 Campaigners reflect on where to from here
• Community foster care to be provided by SWAMS
• Hopes reopened pools will boost health outcomes
• Sector Jobs

The image in the feature tile is from the Territories Stolen Generation Redress Scheme.

The NACCHO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News is a platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Territories Stolen Generation Redress Scheme

Sharing or reading this information might bring up difficult memories and feelings. There is 24/7 support available if you need help managing the emotional impacts of this information.

Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme provides redress to survivors. Two years after the announcement of the Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, over 700 Stolen Generations survivors have received redress, with close to $60 million paid in total. According to Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme Branch Manager, Erin Selmes, this represents significant progress for the Federal Government Scheme.

“We have worked in partnership with Stolen Generations survivors and networks to deliver this important Scheme in a culturally appropriate and trauma informed way” she said.

“It’s very pleasing to see Stolen Generations survivors receive redress and acknowledgement of their experience. I hope that more survivors will take the step to consider applying for the Scheme”.

Stolen Generations survivors who were removed as children from their families and or communities in the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory (before self-government) or the Jervis Bay Territory, can apply for redress. The Scheme is open for applications until 28 February 2026.

The Scheme offers eligible individuals a redress payment of up to $75,000 and a healing assistance payment of $7,000. It also offers the opportunity for Stolen Generations survivors to have their story about the impact of their removal acknowledged by a senior government official, should they wish. Applicants do not need to have records about their removal to apply but may wish to share any documentation.

Free support services are available to help applicants throughout the application process—they can access these services even if they are just thinking about applying. Support to submit applications is available through local Link Up services. Independent, culturally safe and trauma informed legal and financial advice is available through knowmore Legal Service on 1800 566 966 or 1800KNOWMORE.

If a member of the Stolen Generations passes away on or after the Scheme was announced on 5 August 2021 and they would have met the eligibility criteria, their family will be able to apply on their behalf.

How to apply

To apply for the Scheme, fill in an Application for redress form:

• download a copy from gov.au/apply
• Call the Scheme on 1800 566 111
• Email the Scheme on help@territoriesredress.gov.au
• Write to the Scheme at Reply Paid 83394, Canberra ACT 2601
• Visit your local Link Up service for a copy.

To find out more about the Scheme, visit territoriesredress.gov.au email or call 1800 566 111.

Further support and assistance:

• 13YARN 13 92 76
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
• Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Let’s Yarn About Sleep

Obstructive sleep apnoea is about twice as common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with non-Indigenous Australians. However, the sleep-related respiratory disorder is significantly under reported in First Nations communities. The Let’s Yarn About Sleep program in QLD is hoping to change that, by acknowledging the importance of sleep not just to physical and mental health, but to spiritual health. The program uses traditional knowledge as a key part of its culturally responsive model of care.

Let’s Yarn About Sleep project coordinator and Kalkadoon woman Roslyn Von Senden says, “Sleep loss deprives us of opportunities to connect with our culture, our ancestors and who we are as traditional custodians of the world’s oldest surviving culture. That leads to poor emotional and mental health, affects our wellbeing and results in chronic conditions.”

The program provides culturally responsive model for local diagnosis and management of, and education about, obstructive sleep apnoea in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This has involved consultation with 12 First Nations communities, and training Aboriginal health workers and nurses to deliver the program. Community Elders also guide the tram to integrate cultural practices such as didgeridoo sessions for men. The didgeridoo is an important part of cultural ceremonies and playing the Aboriginal musical instrument reduces the severity of sleep apnoea. It strengthens the muscles of the throat and the back of the tongue, which are key muscles associated with sleep apnoea.

Read the full The Conversation article here and learn more about Let’s Yarn About Sleep here.

“Those aspirations are not lost” – Yes23 Campaigners reflect on where to from here

Yes23 leaders this week expressed ongoing commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s calls for Voice, Treaty, Truth, and rallied supporters at emotional virtual town hall events that acknowledged pain and grief from the loss of the Voice referendum. Yes23Campaigner, leading filmmaker and Arrernte/Kalkadoon woman, Rachel Perkins urges supporters to continue to step up on Indigenous issues, “Even though we’ve been defeated in this moment, that does not mean that we will let go of those aspirations: they remain strong, and they have remained strong for decades and we will not lose sight of them.

“So, however the Voice is created in the future, whatever the mechanisms for Treaty, state and federal, that come, those aspirations are not lost,” she said.

Asked how she felt, three weeks on, Ms Perkins said it helped to attend events like the town halls, “to connect with everyone again,” but her overall response was “comparable to a grief in some ways.” She said there is “some anger there,” but she is trying to channel it into positive activities and is beginning to think about what’s next.

Read the full Croakey Health Media article here.  

Community foster care to be provided by SWAMS

The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) has been awarded a WA Government contract to provide children’s Out of Home Care (OOHC) Services. SWAMS is one of five new ACCOs who will deliver OOHC services across the state. The appointment was made after the Department of Communities acknowledged that ACCOs are best placed to provide and ensure culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in OOHC.

“SWAMS is best positioned within the Aboriginal community, making family or kinship care options more suitable,” said SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson.

“Improved opportunities for early reunification and strengthened family and cultural connections will lead to greater stability for children as well as the ability to remain on Country, connected to family, community and culture, in culturally safe care arrangements.”

Read more here.

Hopes reopened pools will boost health outcomes

Children in some of the NT’s hottest communities have had to resort to swimming in crocodile infested rivers, due to a shortfall of qualified lifeguards at public pools. Temperatures in the Roper River community of Ngukurr have recently soared into the high 30s and the humidity topped 80 per cent, prompting the local Yugul Mangi Aboriginal Corporation’s youth officer Gene Daniels to take action. Roper Gulf is one of several local governments which has partnered with the YMCA to work towards reopening their pools, using its qualified lifeguards.

YMCA NT Chief Executive Matt Feutrill said he hopes reopening pools will boost health outcomes. He said benefits associated with chlorinated water include controlling skin infections such as scabies, eye infections, trachoma, and ear infections.

“All the communities around, like Minyerri, Hodson Downs and Urapungu schools will be able to use the pool at Ngukurr, and with Borroloola, the Robinson River school kids will be able to use that one too, so hopefully we’ll get really good health outcomes right across the region,” he said.

Read the full ABC News article here.

Sector Jobs

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.