Funding boost ensures short-term stability – long-term guarantees needed

A 12-month funding boost from Federal Government signals commitment to support the crucial work of progressing urgent and unmet needs of ageing Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy announced on National Sorry Day that The Healing Foundation will receive up to an additional $1 million for its work with survivors and their descendants, including community-led and trauma-informed programs. 

An additional one-off funding of up to $1.6 million will be made available to the eight Link-Up service providers across Australia. 

Federal Government funding delivered in 2026-27 will enable The Healing Foundation and Link-Up services to be able to continue their work supporting survivors.

While funding is positive, The Healing Foundation continues to call for long-term commitment from the government to ensure organisations that support Stolen Generations survivors, and their descendants not only continue to exist, but thrive.

CEO Shannan Dodson said The Healing Foundation, Link-Up services and Stolen Generations organisations look forward to working with governments on capacity building of the sector and how to further support healing and justice for survivors for the foreseeable future.

“The Healing Foundation welcomes the funding boost on National Sorry Day – it will ensure that organisations that work directly with and advocate for survivors can continue their critically important work,” she said.

“We will continue to work with the Federal Government on what sustainable funding and long-term planning will look like for all organisations that support Stolen Generations survivors.”

This Sorry Day the Healing Foundation launched its action plan From Sorry to Action: A plan to act on Bringing them home.

Sector support – specifically with priority to have a strong network of Stolen Generations organisations that are adequately funded – is among key asks in the plan.

The plan calls on coordinated action from leaders to action urgent reform across five key areas. Further to sector support, this also includes health, social and emotional wellbeing, ageing, records access, redress and acknowledgements, education, research and data, sector support and governance and accountability.

The Healing Foundation Board Chair Professor Steve Larkin said the new action plan is a practical tool to outline what is needed from all governments, organisations and anyone in contact with survivors to action the urgent, unfinished business of Bringing them home.

“A systematic approach is needed – real change will require coordinated action from all political parties, all governments, organisations and anyone working with Stolen Generations survivors,” he said.

“Leaders must move beyond apologies and take accountability – long term and sustainable funding is one of many commitments we’re asking for.”