The Stolen Generations Immersive Hub at Curtin (SGIH) has developed an innovative online cultural Symposium on the Stolen Generations for the Department of Justice. The Symposium was officially launched by the Commissioner for Corrective Services, Brad Royce, earlier this year.

The Symposium, titled “Taken Away – Stolen Generations, Intergenerational Trauma, and Healing,” showcases the profound work of the MissionsConnect project. It brings to life the experiences of Stolen Generations Survivors during their time in church-run missions, using virtual reality reconstructions to vividly narrate their stories.

In collaboration with Bringing them Home/Yokai and Stolen Generations Survivors, the Symposium offers a carefully curated, trauma-informed journey through the history of the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families and lands, exploring the often painful lived experiences of Survivors.

A highlight of the Symposium is a virtual recreation of the Limen 2.0: At the Fence exhibition, initially held at Curtin University in 2023. This virtual environment allows participants to explore at their own pace, accessing MissionsConnect content and individual Survivor stories.

The symposium aims to foster understanding, compassion and awareness of this complex and painful chapter in history while honouring the strength, compassion and resilience of Indigenous communities.

The Symposium will be available on demand for Department of Justice staff for the next two years, providing a valuable resource for fostering cultural understanding and professional development. The Department of Justice is committed to Truth Telling and acknowledged that this work would not be possible without the Elders who have shared their life experiences in a raw and vulnerable way.

Congratulations to Stolen Generations Immersive Hub Director, John Curtin Distinguished Professor Reena Tiwari, Research Officer Dr Penny O’Connor and the team on the successful launch of this impactful work.