February 13th, 2021 marks the 13th Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. We encourage you to use this date to reflect on the truth of our history and just how far we have to go. Despite this apology, the forced removal of children has not ended in this country – government agencies are still separating First Nations children from their families at a rate almost 10 times greater than the non-Indigenous population.
Now, 13 years on from the National Apology, the number of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care has doubled. There were 20,077 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care on 30th June 2019. One in every 16.6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in Australia are in out-of-home care.
As Children’s Ground Founding Chair William Tilmouth says:
“Our kids don’t need to be fixed. Our kids need to grow up as Aboriginal children with rights and opportunities, with a voice and the ability to control their own destination.”
In the lead up to the February 13th anniversary, we ask you to listen to First Nations voices and learn the true history of this country. Share the below tiles on social media to show your support for First Nations families and help educate your networks about the Stolen Generations, past and present.
