On 27 March 2019, The Healing Foundation is launching a new resource kit for teachers and students to educate young people about the Stolen Generations and make it easy for school communities to start the conversation in a safe and age appropriate way.

Around Australia, many Aboriginal people don’t know who their families are, as a legacy of the Stolen Generations policies. Yet few Australians understand the ongoing impact of unresolved trauma—and very little about the Stolen Generations has been taught in schools.

The Healing Foundation has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous teaching professionals, parents, early childhood specialists and curriculum writers to develop the kit. Each year level includes four activities that can be done over a day, week, month or term and align with National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and throughout the year.

The teaching resource has been developed to introduce students from Foundation to Year 9 to some of the firsthand experiences provided by Stolen Generations members. While the policies and suffering of the Stolen Generations is only one part of the ongoing story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is an essential one to learn and to teach so students have a full understanding of some of the true histories of Australia.

The units focus heavily on the stories, music, poetry, dance, art and writing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are members or descendants of members of the Stolen Generations and who are still on their healing journeys. The emphasis in each year level has been to show that while the impacts of the Stolen Generations are still being felt, they are also being overcome and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures are strong and enduring.

To mark the launch of these exciting new resources, The Healing Foundation is offering $700 grants to school communities to hold events about the Stolen Generations in the lead up to National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week 2019. Grant applications open on 27 March and close on 10 April. To find out more or apply visit www.healingfoundation.org.au/schools