The Australian government has implemented just five of the 83 recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report, which was tabled in parliament 29 years ago. Ricky Hampson, a survivor of the Stolen Generations, says this. He's now urging the government to act on all the recommendations.
Ricky Hampson, 61, grew up believing he'd been adopted after his mother, who was living at Parramatta Girls' Home at the time, gave birth to him. He didn't discover the truth - he was a survivor of the Stolen Generations - until four or five years ago.
Hampson enlisted the help of Link-Up, a family tracing and reunion service for members of the Stolen Generations. The service informed him that his family came from the Armidale and Walcha areas on Dhanggati land.
"This country has got a lot of truth-telling to do," Mr Hampson said.
On National Sorry Day, Hampson and other advocates are urging the government to act on all the recommendations of the landmark report into Indigenous children forcibly removed by the government. The ACT's Aboriginal community-controlled health service, Winnunga Nimmityjah, is also frustrated by the government's lack of progress towards implementing the report's recommendations. They're frustrated because they don't see enough being done.
The Healing Foundation released its own report last year, which found only 6 per cent of the recommendations in the 1997 Bringing Them Home report had been fully implemented. Professor Steve Larkin, chair of the Healing Foundation, said it's urgent to act on the report's recommendations as more members of the Stolen Generations age without seeing justice. They're aging, and they won't see justice if something isn't done soon.
The government has announced an additional $2.6 million in funding for 2026-2027 for Stolen Generations, including $1 million for the Healing Foundation and $1.6 million for Link-Up services. However, advocates say more needs to be done to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They don't think this is enough.
For Hampson, it's crucial that future generations of Indigenous children understand what happened to survivors of the Stolen Generations. He believes that improving access to records and redress among survivors, particularly for those living in remote locations, is essential. It's essential because they need to know what happened.
- 83 recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report
- 5 recommendations implemented by the government
- $2.6 million in additional funding for 2026-2027
- 6 per cent of recommendations fully implemented
- National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the truth of Australia's shared history and the ongoing impacts of the Stolen Generations
As the country marks National Sorry Day, Hampson's story is a reminder of the need for truth-telling and action. The government's lack of progress in implementing the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report has left many survivors feeling frustrated and disappointed. They're frustrated, and they're disappointed.
Yet, despite the challenges, there is hope for change. The efforts of community leaders and groups such as Link-Up and the Healing Foundation are working towards a future where survivors of the Stolen Generations receive the support and justice they deserve. They're working towards a better future.
And as Hampson says, it's time for Australia to take the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report seriously. The government needs to prioritize rolling out fully subsidized, culturally safe, trauma-informed aged care for survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need to prioritize this because it's what's needed.
It won't be easy, but it's a step towards healing and reconciliation. As Professor Larkin says, the only way for change to happen is for everyone to walk together, side by side, and stop the racism and divisive behavior. They need to walk together and stop the racism.
But for now, the focus is on National Sorry Day and the need for action. The government's announcement of additional funding is a start, but more needs to be done to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need more support.
So what's next? The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report. This includes improving access to records and redress among survivors, as well as providing fully subsidized, culturally safe, trauma-informed aged care. They need to prioritize this.
It's time for Australia to take the first step towards healing and reconciliation. The country has a lot of truth-telling to do, and it starts with acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all Australians. They need to acknowledge the past.
The story of Ricky Hampson and other survivors of the Stolen Generations is a reminder of the need for action and change. It's time for the government to take the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report seriously and work towards a future where all Australians can heal and reconcile. They need to take it seriously.
As the country moves forward, it's essential to remember the past and the struggles of the Stolen Generations. The government's lack of progress in implementing the recommendations of the report has left many feeling frustrated and disappointed. They're feeling frustrated.
However, there is hope for change. The efforts of community leaders and groups such as Link-Up and the Healing Foundation are working towards a future where survivors of the Stolen Generations receive the support and justice they deserve. They're working towards a better future.
And as the country marks National Sorry Day, it's a reminder of the need for truth-telling and action. The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report and work towards a future where all Australians can heal and reconcile. They need to prioritize this.
But it's not just about the government; it's about all Australians coming together to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. It's about acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all. They need to come together.
The story of Ricky Hampson is a reminder of the importance of truth-telling and action. It's time for Australia to take the first step towards healing and reconciliation, and it starts with acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all Australians. They need to take the first step.
As the country moves forward, it's essential to remember the struggles of the Stolen Generations and the need for support and justice. The government's announcement of additional funding is a start, but more needs to be done to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need more support.
And as the country marks National Sorry Day, it's a reminder of the need for action and change. The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report and work towards a future where all Australians can heal and reconcile. They need to prioritize this.
The story of Ricky Hampson and other survivors of the Stolen Generations is a reminder of the need for truth-telling and action. It's time for Australia to take the first step towards healing and reconciliation, and it starts with acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all Australians. They need to take the first step.
So let's take the first step towards healing and reconciliation. Let's acknowledge the past and work towards a better future for all Australians. It's time for Australia to take the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report seriously and work towards a future where all Australians can heal and reconcile. They need to take it seriously.
It's time for action, and it's time for change. The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report, and all Australians need to come together to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need to come together.
The story of Ricky Hampson is a reminder of the importance of truth-telling and action. It's time for Australia to take the first step towards healing and reconciliation, and it starts with acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all Australians. They need to take the first step.
As the country marks National Sorry Day, it's a reminder of the need for truth-telling and action. The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report, and all Australians need to come together to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need to come together.
And as the country moves forward, it's essential to remember the struggles of the Stolen Generations and the need for support and justice. The government's announcement of additional funding is a start, but more needs to be done to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need more support.
The story of Ricky Hampson and other survivors of the Stolen Generations is a reminder of the need for truth-telling and action. It's time for Australia to take the first step towards healing and reconciliation, and it starts with acknowledging the past and working towards a better future for all Australians. They need to take the first step.
So let's take the first step towards healing and reconciliation. Let's acknowledge the past and work towards a better future for all Australians. It's time for Australia to take the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report seriously and work towards a future where all Australians can heal and reconcile. They need to take it seriously.
It's time for action, and it's time for change. The government needs to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report, and all Australians need to come together to support survivors of the Stolen Generations. They need to come together.