PRESS RELEASE
4 January 2010
Inaugural board of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing
Foundation
On 13 February 2009, the first anniversary of the Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples,
the Australian Government announced its intention to establish a Healing Foundation. The
Foundation will address trauma and aid healing in Indigenous communities, with a particular
focus on the Stolen Generations. The government has committed $26.6 million over four
years to the Foundation.
The Inaugural Board was recently appointed and held their first meeting on 14 December
2009. The Directors of the Inaugural Board bring to the table, diverse expertise, experience,
professionalism and integrity and have made a commitment to assist in the healing of the
nation. Once operational the Foundation will provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people support to help them overcome the cycle of trauma and grief arising from forced
removals and the impact of past government policies.
The Foundation is the outcome of a consultation process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities throughout Australia, which was conducted between May to August
2009. The Board of Directors were appointed as a response to the Voices from the
campfires: Establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Healing Foundation report.
The Chairperson of the Healing Foundation, Florence Onus, states “While the Apology to
Australia’s Indigenous peoples and its acknowledgment of the legacy of colonisation, forced
removals and other past government polices was an important first step on the road to
healing, it must now be followed by concrete policy responses. This includes the provisions of
culturally appropriate healing services to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
to begin the process of recovering from trans-generational trauma. We the inaugural Board
of Directors are committed to assist in the healing of our people, the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait islander people of this nation”.
There was consistent support for the establishment of the Foundation, which participants
agreed should have three broad roles:
Supporting grassroots healing initiatives by providing funding and workforce
development:
Health promotion, education and training in the prevention and treatment of
trauma and
Evaluating and documenting best practice in healing.
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The overwhelming preference of participants was for the Foundation to operate
independently of government, with a goal to become self sustaining through
partnerships with philanthropic organisations, universities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander organisations and other bodies.
The Board of Directors will conduct a press conference to announce the Foundation launch
date and provide photo opportunity to media. Details are:
Date: Friday 8 January 2010
Time: 10.30 AM
Place: Stamford Plaza Adelaide, 150 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Further information contact Brenda Campe – Foundation Secretariat on 0451148380
NEWS 
