The WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme opened on 10 November 2025. The scheme is available to Aboriginal people who were removed from their families as children in Western Australia before 1 July 1972. Eligible applicants receive a one-off payment of $85,000 and an opportunity for a personal acknowledgement from a representative of the WA government….
Premier Jacinta Allan delivered a formal apology to people who historical abuse and neglect as children in institutional care in Victoria on 8 February 2024. Members of both houses of parliament gathered in the Legislative Assembly for the speech delivered by Jacinta Allan. It included these words: Today we acknowledge a shameful chapter in our…
Redress for Historical Institutional Abuse opened on 10 December 2024. The redress scheme is for people who lived in a Victorian institution as a child for a period of at least 6 months, before 1 January 1990, and experienced physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect in the institution. People found eligible for this redress…
The Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Schemee was announced by the Victorian government in April, 2025. The scheme provides financial redress and support to the many mothers who continue to live with the serious, complex and ongoing effects of their experience of forced separation. The establishment of a scheme for mothers whose babies were forcibly removed…
As part of the UK Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which ran from 2015-2022, the Inquiry investigated child migration programs to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Research and hearings took place in 2017, and the Investigation Report was published in March 2018. The Inquiry asked a series of questions about child migration schemes,…
The Royal Commission on Penal and Prison Discipline was appointed on 8 August 1870 to inquire into and report upon the condition of the penal and prison establishments and penal discipline within the Colony of Victoria. It was also tasked with inquiring into the working of the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act 1864 and Victoria’s…
A Royal Commission was appointed to examine the State Children Department and Charities Department, and report on “the working and management thereof, and any improvements which ought to be made in such working and management” (Final Report, Royal Commission on State Children’s Department and Charities Department, p.2). The commission held 42 sittings and examined 77…
The Western Australian government’s Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs commenced an inquiry into past forced adoptive policies and practices on 22 February 2023. The impetus for this inquiry was a petition with 318 signatures, presented by Jennifer McRae and tabled in the Legislative Council on 15 November 2022. The terms of reference for…
The Royal Commission appointed to Inquire into the Care and Reform of Youthful Delinquents was established in Western Australia on 11 May 1943 and reported on 10 August 1943. Key recommendations included establishing a cross-Departmental Children’s Council, ‘drastically’ restricting the publication of Children’s Court proceedings; improving remand facilities and constructing secure detention facilities for boys…
A Royal Commission on Youth Employment and the Apprenticeship System was established by the Western Australian government on 5 April 1937 and the Report was tabled on 28 February 1938. The systems of training at Fairbridge Farm School, the Unemployed Boys’ Farm at Wokalup, Werribee Farm School and Tardun Farm School were described and a…
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