National conference ensures First Nations children have a voice

The National SNAICC conference gave The Healing Foundation an opportunity to connect with key sector representatives across education, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, childcare, health care and many more. Our yarns focused on the benefits of the Stolen Generations Resources Kit to support teaching and learning about Stolen Generations history in the classroom. 

The three-day conference at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre had a range of incredible speakers, such as SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle, SNAICC Chairperson Prof Muriel Bamblett AM, and National Commissioner for First Nations children and young people Sue-Anne Hunter. There were also over 80 break out sessions on a variety of topics.

Ms Liddle said the event, had over 2,000 people attending, making it the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conference ever held. She shared how the conference was an opportunity to hear and share pockets of change and success in our communities across the country.  

Professor Bamblett shared her focus is to ensure children have a strong connection to culture. She reflected on how much had been achieved, together with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and allies and partners, over the recent decades. 

Giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children a voice

Commissioner Hunter acknowledged Stolen Generations survivors who built their pain into power, and those who kept culture alive through missions and massacres, as she shared her commitment to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are heard. 

“To every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child, you are not voiceless, you’ve been silenced.” 

She acknowledged her role exists due to 40 years of strong advocacy by SNAICC – the National Body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children – and the recognition that a new approach was needed to transform the system.  

In the position that was announced at the anniversary of the National Apology in February 2024, the recently appointed Hunter said Aboriginal solutions work for Aboriginal people. 

“Power on paper means nothing without partnership,” she said as she called on everyone at the conference to help them build the evidence base to drive systemic change. 

She added that community led programs, kinship models, and keeping culture at the centre of everything we do is proof that another way is possible. She also advocated for resources for children in all communities, even remote.

“Your ideas, your solutions, your dreams will drive this commissions work. We cannot accept small change we can demand transformation. We're inside the system to transform it not to become it,” she said. 

Stolen Generations school kit supports education across all year levels 

The Healing Foundation provided copies of our school resource kit in conversations at our stall – a valuable opportunity to connect and explain the benefits of the kit, and the importance of learning the history of the Stolen Generations in schools today.

The Resource Kit offers a strengths-based approach to educating all students about the experiences of the Stolen Generations and the impact of intergenerational trauma, using facts, real examples and stories. 

The kit offers guidance to teachers on how to approach these lessons for all age groups confidently and with cultural safety at the heart of each activity.

The school resource kit, aligned with the Australian school curriculum, offers lesson plans from prep/foundation to year 12. Download now:   

https://healingfoundation.org.au/resources/education-toolkits-lesson-plans/