EXPLAINED: HOW TO APPLY FOR WA'S STOLEN GENERATIONS REDRESS SCHEME
Members of the Stolen Generations in WA can apply for the redress scheme announced on May 27. (Photo: Helmy Setiabudi Pexels)
Survivors of the Stolen Generations in Western Australia will receive compensation payments of $85,000 via a redress scheme that Premier Roger Cook said hopes to acknowledge a “sorrowful and shameful part of our history”.
“No amount of money could ever make up for the experience of Stolen Generations members and their families, and the ongoing effects on people’s lives,” he said, announcing the scheme a day after National Sorry Day.
If this topic raises feelings of sadness or distress, and you need support, please call 13 YARN on 13 92 76 to connect with crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
You can also call Lifeline 24/7 on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 or chat online by clicking the link on this website. More help is available on Mensline on 1300 789 978 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Read on for details on how to register for the scheme, how to apply and what happens next.
How much money is available?
A payment of $85,000 is available to survivors of the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families as children because of devastating assimilation policies.
Who is eligible to apply?
Living survivors who were removed from their families when they were under 18 years old in the years before July 1, 1972.
Why has this date been chosen?
The date in 1972 marks the point when the government’s policy of removing Indigenous children from their families was officially ended.
How many people are affected?
As many as 100,000 Aboriginal children were taken from their families in Western Australia prior to 1972. Up to 3,000 people are estimated by the WA government to still be alive.
What if my parent or grandparent was a Stolen Generations child but has now passed away?
The scheme is only available to living survivors of the Stolen Generations.
However, if a member of the Stolen Generation passed away on or after the date of the scheme’s announcement, May 27, 2025, then living family members are able to apply on their behalf.
I’m eligible. How do I apply?
The first step is to register your interest and receive regular updates on the scheme which will include details such as when and how to apply. Click here to access the registration form.
It is important to understand that filling out this form is not an application to receive redress money. It is to register for updates about when to apply and how to apply. Keep an eye on your email for these updates.
What will happen next?
In the second half of this year formal applications will open, with payments expected to start being delivered from late this year.
What documents do I need?
Removal must have been by government or non-government agencies such as police, churches, missions or welfare organisations. Evidence of this can be personal testimony and community knowledge. It can also be from adoption and school records.
What if I need help to apply?
Head to this website - click here - and scroll down to Western Australia. A list of organisations is available that offer help.
How long will it take for money to arrive in my bank account?
Formal applications open in the second half of this year, payments are expected to begin from later this year but may take up to 12 months to be processed.
What if I was taken from my family while living in another state or territory, but I now live in WA?
You must apply for the scheme in the state or territory where you were living when you were taken away from your family.
If you were taken from your family as a child in WA but now live in another part of Australia you are still able to claim compensation by applying to the WA scheme.
Can I still apply for the redress scheme in another state or territory?
Only the Territories including Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory as well as Victoria are continuing to accept applications for redress.
Queensland has not yet established a redress scheme.
Some states and territories are continuing to accept applications from people whose relative passed away on or after the announcement of the scheme in that state.
Here is the breakdown:
Northern Territory - Applications are still open until August 2027.
Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory - Applications are open until August 2027.
Queensland - The only state with no redress scheme.
New South Wales -The scheme is no longer accepting applications.
Victoria - Applications are still open until March 2027.
Tasmania - The scheme is no longer accepting applications.
South Australia - The scheme is no longer accepting applications.