NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Leslie Williams has apologised to the Stolen Generations as she welcomed this week's release of the parliamentary Inquiry into reparations for people forcibly taken from their families.
The report's 35 recommendations included the creation of a reparations scheme for Stolen Generations survivors, more fundinig for collective healing programs, the creation of a scholarship scheme for survivors and their descendants, help with funeral expenses, priority access to social housing for Stolen Generation survivors and the creation of a memorial for survivors.
It also recommended better training for government staff, seeking Commonwealth Government support for a health card for Stolen Generation survivors and establishing museums at the sites of former homes including the Kinchela Boys Home and the Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls Training Home.
Dozens of survivors and their relatives came to Parliament for the tabling of the report, including Aboriginal elder Aunty Isabel Reid.
Taken from her family at the age of seven, Aunty Isabel was moved to Cootamundra Girls Home where Aboriginal girls were trained as domestics.
"We were kidnapped - I was coming home from school with my brother and my sister and picked up in a truck," she said.
"We were good kids, dressed nice and everything, and we were taken away and put in cells for the night."
Aunty Isabel said she was confident the Government would adopt all recommendations.
"I think the recommendations seem to be very, very good," the 83-year-old said. "And I'm sure we'll get each and every one of them - I'm very positive."
Ms Williams said she would work closely with Stolen Generations members and their representative organisations to give the report close consideration.
"Today I make my own apology to the Stolen Generations - past government practice had a profound effect on Aboriginal people," she said. "Stolen Generations survivors have demonstrated exceptional strength and resilience in bringing their experience to light."
She said the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation and the Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation continued to receive financial, peer and operational support to help their work with survivors and in promoting education and healing.
Aboriginal Affairs was also working with stakeholders to improve access to family records for Stolen Generations survivors and their families.
The government's response to the report will be delivered by December.
