Family tracing and reunion services are available to members of the Stolen Generations throughout Australia via the national Link-Up program. These services include:
- researching family and personal records
- emotional support when accessing family and personal records
- finding family members
- assistance and support at family reunions
- support and counselling before, during and after family reunions.
Link-Up gives priority to first generation members of the Stolen Generations who have directly experienced removal or separation from family and community, especially those who are elderly or have urgent health concerns.
Link-Up also provides services to subsequent generations of family members who have been affected by intergenerational trauma related to removal, and to members of families and communities from whom children were removed.
AIATSIS Family History Unit and Link-Ups
The AIATSIS Family History Unit works closely with Link-Ups to help members of the Stolen Generations to find their families and to find out about their family history.
- In conjunction with Link-Ups, AIATSIS has developed a Cert IV in Stolen Generations Family History Research and Case Management.
- AIATSIS also offers ongoing research support in family tracing.
- AIATSIS has memorandums of understanding with institutions located in Canberra and can assist Link-Ups to find and retrieve documents from the following institutions; ACT Heritage Library and ACT Territory Records, Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, National Library of Australia, and the Noel Butlin Archives Centre.
Link-Up locations
There are Link-Up organisations in most states and territories. Contact the Link-Up in the state or territory where you currently live. Even if you or your ancestors lived and were removed from family in another location, your local Link-Up will be able to assist you.
There are no Link-Up services in the ACT or Tasmania.
- Pre-1988 welfare services in the ACT were delivered by New South Wales.
- Link-Ups in other states and territories can assist those seeking information about Tasmania, particularly Link-Up Victoria.
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Link-Up New South Wales Aboriginal Corporation
Link-Up NSW assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the Stolen Generations – those who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions under government policies of the time. Link-Up helps members of the Stolen Generations trace their families and be reunited with them (or their gravesites, country or kin).
Lot 4, 2 Central Place, Ropes Crossing NSW 2760
PO Box 185, St Marys NSW 2760
Free call: 1800 624 332 (not available from mobile phones)
Ph: 02 9421 4700
Fax: 02 9673 4740
Email: linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au -
Link-Up Northern Territory – Northern Territory Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation (NTSGAC)
NTSGAC helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people separated from their families under the past laws, practices and policies of Australian governments to undertake family tracing and family reunions with counselling support. Link-Up counsellors at NTSGAC give priority to Stolen Generations clients, especially the elderly and those requiring urgent assistance due to health concerns.
Shop 1 Malak Shopping Centre, 16 Malak Crescent, Malak NT 0812
PO Box 43372, Casuarina NT 0811
Ph: 08 8947 9171
Fax: 08 8947 9173 -
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Link-Up Service
The Congress Link-Up Service works with Aboriginal people and families living in Central Australia who were separated from their families through forced removal, fostering, adoption or institutionalisation. They assist with family history research and reunion, family tracing, graveside reunions, return to country, support before, during and after reunions and healing activities.
14 Leichhardt Terrace, Alice Springs
Ph: 08 8959 4750
Email: congress.linkup@caac.org.au -
Link-Up Queensland
Link-Up Queensland provides services to individuals, families or communities who have been affected by past Australian government removal policies and practices, including separation through adoption, fostering, removal or institutionalisation. It provides family history research assistance to members of the Stolen Generations.
Free call: 1800 200 855
Email: contact@link-upqld.org.auBrisbane office
3-5 Reid Street, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
PO Box 3229, South Brisbane, QLD 4101
Ph: 07 3638 0411Cairns office
2/128 Spence Street, Cairns QLD 4870
PO Box 298, Bungalow QLD 4870
Ph: 07 4041 7403 -
Link-Up South Australia – Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA Inc.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti’s Link-Up SA Program provides family tracing, reunion and counselling services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who have been separated under the past policies and practices of the Australian Government.
Adelaide office
182-190 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000
PO BOX 7202, Hutt Street, Adelaide, SA 5000Ph: 08 8406 1600
Ph: 08 8406 1600
Fax: 08 8232 0949
Email: nunku@nunku.org.au (for general enquiries) -
Link-Up Victoria
Link-Up Victoria helps Indigenous people over the age of eighteen who were adopted, placed in foster care, institutionalised or forcibly removed to trace and be reunited with their families. Among its services are tracing family, conducting reunions and delivering counselling for Stolen Generations.
340 Bell Street, Preston, VIC 3072
PO Box 191 Preston Post Office, Preston VIC 3072
Free call: 1800 OUR MOB (1800 687 662)
Ph: 03 9480 7377
Fax: 03 9484 5403
Email: linkup@vacca.org -
Link-Up Western Australia – Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation
Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation provides Link-Up services to Aboriginal people affected by past government policies relating to the removal of children. Case workers coordinate family research, client reunification, back to country and overall Link-Up activities. The Link-Up team works closely with Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) counselling services to provide a holistic support service.
Email: reception@yorgum.org.com
Perth office
3 Brammal Street, East Perth WA 6722
PO Box 236, Northbridge WA 6865
P: 08 9428 3700
F: 08 9227 0514
Email: linkup@yorgum.org.auSouth Hedland – Link-Up
Suite 4/3 Brand Street, South Hedland WA 6722
Ph: 08 9140 4029
Fax: 08 9227 0514Kalgoorlie – Link-Up
34 Dugan Street, Kalgoorlie WA 6430
Ph: 08 9091 6359 -
Link-Up Western Australia – Kimberley Stolen Generations Aboriginal Service
The Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Service in Broome helps members of the Stolen Generations find information about their family and locate their family members. It also helps reunite family members who have not met before.
28 Barker Street, Broome WA 6725
PO Box 2775, Broome WA 6725
Free call: 1800 830 338
Ph: 08 9193 6502
Fax: 08 9193 5693
Email: admin@kimberleystolengeneration.com.au