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The Bringing them home (BTH) program supports a national network of counsellors to provide a support service for all Aboriginal people who have been affected (either directly or indirectly) by past government policies and practices regarding the removal of children from their families. This program is one component of a number of Australian Government initiatives addressing issues related to the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. The other main components are the Mental health program, the Link-up program and the Social and emotional wellbeing regional centres (SEWB RC) program.
The BTH program was established in 1997 as a part of the Australian Government's response to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's publication Bringing them home that reported on the findings of an inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
The BTH program supports BTH counsellors nationally to provide counselling to individuals, families and communities affected by past practices regarding the forced removal of children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Most of the BTH counsellor positions are situated within Aboriginal community-controlled health services that are run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Ideally, each BTH counsellor possesses both formal mental health qualifications and cultural sensitivity skills. This may not always be possible, but it is advisable that both skills are available within a BTH team. The majority of BTH counsellors are Indigenous, though the proportion has declined slightly over the years.
The BTH program was included in an independent evaluation undertaken by Urbis Keys Young for the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH). The report Evaluation of the Bringing them home and Indigenous mental health programs was publicly released in 2007.
In 2007-08, BTH and Link-up counsellors reported approximately 38,700 client contacts. For 2007-08, 18% of BTH and Link-Up services reported operating without a counsellor. This is less than the 23% reported over 2006-07, and a significant decrease from the 29% reported for 2002-03.
Abstract adapted from Department of Health and Ageing
Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848
Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: (02) 6289 1555
Freecall: 1800 020 103
Email: oatsih.enquiries@health.gov.au
This handbook is a guide for all Bringing Them Home (BTH) and Link Up counsellors and their managers. It describes the requirements for providing these counselling services which helps to ensure that all BTH and Link Up counselling services across Australia meet the same standard.
The handbook includes the following information:
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the publication Bringing them home report, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission invited Indigenous people across Australia to talk about their experiences of removal, their thoughts ten years on from the Bringing them home: National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families Inquiry, and their hopes for the future. This report compiles the results of this invitation.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
The project arises from the Commonwealth Government response to the recommendations of Bringing them home: The report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families, which reported to the Federal Parliament in 1998. The aim of the project was to record the diverse experiences of people directly affected by the separation of Indigenous children and shed light on the legislative and policy mechanism which shaped the policies of forced removal.
There are 340 interviews in the collection, conducted primarily with families and children with direct experience of forced removal, as well as with those who worked with the children in institutions, who cared for them and were involved with policy, administration and implementation.
Access conditions to the 736 tapes vary. Summaries and transcripts are generally available
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
This report presents the findings from the service level data collected from Bringing Them Home (BTH) services and Link Up Counsellors. The information collected includes: the number of clients; episodes of care provided; service resources; staffing profiles; and the range of activities undertaken by the services. In 2007-08, 76 services had BTH and Link Up funded counsellor positions. The counsellors saw 9,190 clients during this year, with a total of 38,700 client contacts.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
In 2006, the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health commissioned Urbis Keys Young to evaluate the Bringing Them Home and Indigenous Mental Health Programs. Four programs were covered in the evaluation: the Link-Up Program; the Binging Them Home Program; the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Regional Centre Program; and the Mental Health Program.
The evaluation consisted of a consultation with service providers, associated organisations and clients of the services. The evaluation was advised by a Reference Group with membership from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
