Recommendation 52

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That funding should be made available to organisations such as Link-Up which have the support of Aboriginal people for the purpose of re-establishing links to family and community which had been severed or attenuated by past government policies. Where this service is being provided to Aboriginal people by organisations or bodies which, not being primarily established to pursue this purpose, provide the service in conjunction with other functions which they perform, the role of such organisations in assisting Aboriginal people to re-establish their links to family and community should be recognised and funded, where appropriate.

Context

The Royal Commission acknowledged the continuing impact of the legacy of child separation and the need for expanded services such as Link-up which deal with the emotional and psychological legacy of misguided child placement policies. The work of Link-Up in NSW in working to address the impact of child separation and institutionalisation. 

Note whilst this recommendation is not directed at CSNSW, however, CSNSW implemented a response.

Detail of implementation

CSNSW no longer pays for inmate birth certificates on behalf of link up (1996). However, CSNSW does pay for Aboriginal inmate’s birth certificates, via the Aboriginal Strategy Directorate, High Intensity Program Unit (HIPU) funding, and the vulnerable persons birth certificate program, which can be used for link up.

The Aboriginal Strategy Directorate funding is available to all Aboriginal inmates, once every 5 years. The directorate will also fund birth registration for Aboriginal inmates, as there can be issues with Aboriginal people’s births being registered and/or how they have been registered due to past policies.

The HIPU funding is available to all HIPU participates.

The vulnerable person birth certificate program is available to vulnerable inmates, Aboriginal inmates have been identified as a vulnerable group, with less than $500 in their account and no more than 6 months, and no less than 3 months, before their earliest possible release date.