The journey of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation began in 1997 when the Bringing them Home Report, a Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families, was tabled in Federal Parliament. Among its many recommendations was that healing should be included in wellbeing services provided to survivors of the Stolen Generations.
Following the Apology, and as part of the Council of Australian Governments’ Closing the Gap strategy, funding was provided to establish a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing foundation to address the harmful legacy of colonisation, in particular the history of child removal that continues to affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
From May to August 2009, a national consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was held on the role and structure of a healing foundation. On 30 October 2009 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation was established.
But the story of healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia started long before that.
