Bringing family together

Link-Up (Qld) helps Stolen Generations survivors and descendants reunite with family, country and culture. Our core service is tracing family history and organising reunions, whether in person, at a gravesite, or on traditional Country.

We work closely with each client to:

  • Carefully research family records and documents
  • Trace living relatives and connections
  • Organise and support reunion travel
  • Provide one-on-one guidance through a dedicated case worker

All services are free and confidential, and available to people aged 18 and over who were forcibly removed as a result of past government policies and practices.

After your reunion, we continue to walk alongside you. Clients are offered follow-up counselling sessions with our Social and Emotional Wellbeing team, and invited to join regular morning teas and healing activities. These gatherings offer a safe space to connect with others on similar journeys, reflect, and continue healing at your own pace and in your own way.

If you’re curious about where you come from or want to find missing family, we’re here to help you take that first step.
Contact us to speak with a case worker and begin your journey.

Family Photo
Family Photo

We provide the following services:

  • Family history research and family tracing to locate family members for the purpose of reunion
  • Assistance for family reunions, return to country, community or graveside reunion
  • Social and emotional support before, during and after a reunion
  • Healing activities e.g. healing camps, support groups, counselling, digital story telling, art and music therapy
  • Referals to other agencies
  • Community events and education sessions

We can’t help you with:

  • Family tracing, family tree research or proof of Aboriginality for people other than Link-Up Stolen Generations clients and their Aboriginality has been established.
  • Native title, land rights, compensation or reparations claims
  • Financial assistance outside our core business services
  • Locating missing persons
  • Relocation
  • Funeral expenses, including gravestones and monuments
  • More than one reunion

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Link-Up (Qld) reunion cost?

Link-Up (Qld) reunions are planned within a specific budget. The size of the reunion and the number of participants depends on the specific budget allocated for the reunion. Link-Up (Qld) covers the cost of all approved reunion expenses.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for Link-Up (Qld) services, you must be over 18 years old, of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and have experienced separation from family and community due to past government policies, or be a descendant of someone who was removed through adoption, fostering or institutionalisation.

How long will it take to find my family?

Tracing a client’s family history can be a complex and time consuming process. We let our clients know the process of family can take a few short months to years. Finding family depends on the availability of information on records, there are many organisations who hold records and it takes time to research each case. Our research officers and caseworkers are experienced at utilising a wide range of resources to identify and locate a person’s family. However, it is important to understand that in certain cases we may not find any records. Link-Up (Qld) have a Social and Emotional Well Being counselling team that are available to offer support to clients during this process and after the reunion has taken place.

Finding your family is important to us, Link-Up (Qld) have over 2000 clients who are looking for their family. We ask for your understanding as we respectfully give highest priority to first Stolen Generation people.

How will I feel throughout the process?

We at Link-Up (Qld) understand that you have taken a big step to approach us to help you find your family. We understand that as well as being excited about finding family, there may also be fears and anxieties. The reunion process can be a mixed bag of dips and highs. For this reason, we have a counselling team who you can access if you wish to call or pop in to see to talk about any issues you may want to discuss or explore. We can help with problem solving, or you may wish to come to our community events or be in one of our support groups. We can refer you to people who you may need specialised help with.

Where does the reunion take place?

We take our guidance from our clients, there can be many factors to consider – we travel to communities Australia wide.

Where can I find a JP?

Most local communities have JP’s. You can search for a JP in your area online, visit your local lawyers office, police station or Court House. For more information on what JP’s do and where you can find them, please visit the Queensland Government Justice of the Peace information page here or call 1300 301 147.

Can Link-Up come to me?

Yes, we travel to see our clients where possible.