The Healing Foundation is partnering with Jumbunna Research at the University of Technology Sydney to deliver a national research project focused on improving access to records for Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants.

This project seeks to understand the challenges survivors face when trying to access personal and historical records, and to identify opportunities for greater control and use of these records in healing, truth-telling, and advocacy.

What the project involves 

• Interviews and surveys with Stolen Generations survivors and relevant workforces to gather lived experiences and sector insights
• A research report with findings and recommendations to support national advocacy and policy reform
• A review and update of the Better Access to Stolen Generations Records archival training module to reflect current needs and best practices.

This work is guided by Indigenous research principles and ethics, ensuring that the voices and leadership of Stolen Generations communities are central throughout the project. 

Culturally safe and prioritised access to records

Timely and culturally appropriate access to records is an essential component of healing for many Stolen Generations survivors. The Healing Foundation outlines a best practice approach to records access that prioritises survivor needs and cultural safety.  

Culturally safe and prioritised access looks like:  

• Consistent and prioritised access across jurisdictions under permissive access principles, including: standardised application processes, expedited timeframes, waiving of fees, access to restricted records, transparent redactions, and trauma-informed return of records  
• Access to private collections 
• A trauma-informed and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led workforce  
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing support throughout the records access journey
• Investment in and prioritised access for Link-Ups and other Stolen Generations organisations that support survivors to access family history information  
• A right of reply to correct offensive, inaccurate, disparaging, and/or culturally inappropriate records.

Barriers to records access for survivors 

Many Stolen Generations survivors and families face significant challenges in finding and accessing their records including:  

• Lack of national standard prioritised access: each state and territory has different legislation and processes
• Varying conditions, application forms, viewing conditions, redaction practices, wait times and fees
• Complex processes that can create or trigger trauma
• Records provided in ways that are not trauma-informed or culturally safe which may cause further traumatisation.

Private records  

Private collections — held by non-government organisations — contain valuable family history materials such as correspondence, research notes, administrative documents, genealogies, employment records, photographs, images and drawings, and physical materials.  

These include church records of former missions and institutions, anthropology papers, pastoral station records, education records, personal diaries and papers, and local history collections.

Accessing private collection records can be particularly challenging due to:

• Lack of legal protections for conservation or access or repatriation  
• Discretionary access controlled by record holders
• No guarantees of transparency or permanence.