Evidence Library

Aunty Sherry Balcombe is a Ocala and Muluridji woman of the Gunjan and Djabugay nations.

In this submission, Aunty Sherry Balcombe reflects on how lucky she was to be educated and have great community support. She expresses her desire to give back to the Aboriginal community and her hopes for change for Aboriginal children to reduce the number who are institutionalised or end up in jail.

This submission provides some points from the life of Suzanne Nelson, including the impact of being removed as a child and placed in a home. The submission talks about the importance of culture and sense of humour and the spirit that intertwines.

Patricia Hayes is a Bidwell woman.

This submission details Patricia’s experience growing up after she was taken away from her mum at the age of eight weeks old, and lived in 36 different homes. The submission speaks to the abuse Patricia experienced in the homes. It also details Patricia’s experience meeting her mother for the first time at the age of eight. Patricia thinks that the cycle of Aboriginal children been taken away and placed into state award needs to stop.

This submission provides historical “Previous History of -” documentation.

Wilfred Carter (Willow) is a Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk man.

This submission is a transcript of Willow discussing his upbringing at Lake Tyers Mission. It outlines the difficulties and trauma Willow experienced growing up as an Aboriginal man in the 1960s, including a loss of language and culture.

This submission is from a proud Palawa woman. In this submission, she reflects on her parents’ upbringing and intergenerational trauma, the forced removal of her son and his subsequent suicide, her experience at the Coroner’s Court, the importance of culture, and her hopes for the Aboriginal community.

This submission details a family’s experience of failures and injustice within the child protection system.

Lily Woodward’s submisison describes the abuse and challenges she faced as a child in the child protection system and her subsequent experiences of having her own children removed.

Anita Mobourne is a Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, and Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk woman.

This submission is a transcript of Anita talking about her family’s experiences, her working life and the importance of connection, culture and identity.