17th Anniversary of the Apology: 13 February 2025
On 13 February 2008, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acknowledged the past wrongs of government policies involving forced child removal with a National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
The intergenerational trauma caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is still felt deeply in our communities. It is passed down and contributes to many of the issues faced by our young mob, including family violence, substance abuse and self-harm.
As Healing Foundation CEO Fiona Petersen said, addressing the underlying trauma of these issues through healing is the only way to create meaningful and lasting change.
“It’s important that we as a nation provide a safe environment for Stolen Generations survivors and their families to speak for themselves, tell their own stories and be in charge of their own healing.”
Thursday 13 February 2025 marks the 17th Anniversary of the National Apology – a day for us to honour the resilience and strength of our Stolen Generations survivors. To acknowledge their pain and loss and the need to stand together as we keep the truth telling going and move towards healing.
Why is National Apology Day important to DDHS?
Danila Dilba is committed to cultural safety, self-determination, and healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), DDHS exists because of the impacts of colonisation, including the forced removal of children, and works to provide culturally safe and holistic health care for the community.
National Apology Day aligns with the DDHS mission to:
- Acknowledge historical injustices and their ongoing impacts on health and wellbeing;
- Support community healing by providing safe spaces for reflection and connection;
- Advocate for culturally safe health services that address intergenerational trauma; and
- Strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
Ways to honour our Stolen Generations survivors
Looking for ways to support and honour our Stolen Generations survivors? Learning more about the history behind the National Apology is always a good start. Visit these sites to find out more:
- National Apology to the Stolen Generations | The Healing Foundation
- NTSGAC | Northern Territory Stolen Generations
If you want to host an event at your workplace or in your community, consider some of the following:
1. Community Reflection and Yarning Circle
- Invite Elders and community members to share stories and experiences in a culturally safe space.
- Focus on healing, resilience, and moving forward together
2. Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country
- Conducted by Larrakia Elders to cleanse and bring cultural strength to the event.
- Reinforce the connection to Country and spiritual wellbeing.
3. Healing and Wellbeing Workshops
- Focus on mental health, trauma recovery, and self-care.
- The workshops could include traditional healing practices, bush medicine education, and/or art therapy.
4. Cultural Art and Storytelling Workshop
- Invite local Aboriginal artists to facilitate a community mural or art project reflecting themes of healing.
- Storytelling sessions for younger generations to learn about history in a culturally safe way.
5. Youth Engagement and Education Activities
- Partner with schools to deliver culturally appropriate education on the Stolen Generations.
- Encourage young people to express their reflections through art, poetry or music.
6. Apology Breakfast or Morning Tea
- A time to reflect and acknowledge the significance of the day.
- Invite staff, community members, and partner organisations to strengthen relationships.
7. Community BBQ and Gathering
- A space for informal connection and yarning.
- Include music, dance performances, and family-friendly activities.
8. Moment of Silence and Reading of the Apology
- Hold a minute’s silence for those affected by past policies.
- Read the full text of the National Apology as a sign of respect and remembrance.
To access the full text of the National Apology, please click here: https://www.indigenous.gov.au/reconciliation
Need to yarn?
The trauma caused by past government policies can show itself in many ways. If you need to yarn, today or any day, visit your local DDHS clinic and ask about our Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) services or call 13 YARN (13 92 76).
