New funding for schools to share Stolen Generations history

Schools around the country can now apply for grants of up to $700 to hold events about the Stolen Generations.

The grants were announced by The Healing Foundation at the launch of their Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students, at Trangie Central School near Dubbo in NSW.

The Healing Foundation’s Chair Prof Steve Larkin said the grants would support school communities to run activities based on the new resource kit that increase understanding about Australia’s Stolen Generations history.

“We’re encouraging schools to involve local Stolen Generations members in activities relating to the resource kit between May and July. This might include storytelling, art and music about the healing journeys of Stolen Generations members and their descendants,” Larkin said.

“Most Australians have a great deal to learn about this chapter of our nation’s history, and the best way to turn that around is to start educating our kids about it.”

The Healing Foundation’s Stolen Generations Reference Committee Chair Ian Hamm said sharing the truth of Australian history is an important part of healing for the thousands of children who were forcibly removed from their families between 1910 and the 1970s.

"My hope is that this funding will assist schools to build and share knowledge about the Stolen Generations, as an important foundation for ongoing healing."

Trangie Central School’s Deputy Principal Dimiti Trudgett said learning about the Stolen Generations encourages reconciliation for all Australians.

“As an important part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, it supports the healing process for those impacted both directly and indirectly by acknowledging, comprehending and correcting the past,” she said.

“We have trialled a number of activities from the resource kit with our secondary students and the response has been positive. The resources are not only educational, but are genuine and engaging. Our students particularly enjoyed the video case studies and computer components.”

The new Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students was developed by The Healing Foundation in consultation with Stolen Generations members, teachers, parents and curriculum writers.

It includes suggested lesson plans for Foundation Year through to Year 9 and professional learning tools for teachers. Each year level includes four activities that can be taught over a day, week, month or term and align with National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, mapped to the Australian Curriculum.

The lesson plans, case studies and other resources are available to download from The Healing Foundation website. Hardcopy versions of the kit can be ordered by emailing [email protected].

Grant applications opened on 27 March and close on 10 April. Visit www.healingfoundation.org.au/schools