The First National Link-Up Conference – the success of Indigenous family tracing and reunion
Current topicThe inaugural National Link-Up Conference was held 18-20 March 2003 in Fremantle, Western Australia. The conference focused on the Link-Up services established or enhanced as part of the implementation of recommendations from the Bringing them home report (view report).
The Link-Up network facilitates tracing and reuniting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members. The conference highlighted Link-Up’s achievements, including the successful reunion of more than 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders including some from as far away as the United States, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Commonwealth Government funding for Link-Up services was allocated to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) over a four year period from 1998/99 to 2001/02 with allocation of further funds to 2006.
The conference also showcased the innovative Building Solid Families (BSF) program and included presentations by BSF participants. Over the last financial year the program facilitated 59 reunions, case managed 87 individual cases, conducted 392 general counselling sessions, developed 438 care plans, provided general guidance and support to 975 individuals and provided over 3,000 people with information. The BSF program, initiated by the Western Australia Department of Health and ATSIC, has been widely recognised as a national best practice model with Commonwealth authorities strongly encouraging other states to emulate it.
The conference was attended by about 130 participants, including Link-Up coordinators from around Australia, families reunited through Link-Up services, and representatives from ATSIC and Aboriginal affairs and health organisations.
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet held a mini Internet café at the conference. Staff introduced conference delegates to the online information and services offered through the HealthInfoNet website. The effect of forced separation on the social and emotional wellbeing of individuals was a feature of a number of conference presentations and delegates showed particular interest in the information provided on the HealthInfoNet’s Social and emotional wellbeing webpage.
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet would like to thank the conference organisers and delegates for their support of our initiative.
For further information view:
- Western Australia Department of Health media release
- Memorandum of Understanding Reproduced with the kind permission of the Department of Community Services, WA.
