Aim: To raise awareness of the unique journey and requirements of end-of-life planning and support for Stolen Generations Survivors from Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation

Background: This presentation showcases the 18-month journey of legacy, end of life planning and support for Stolen Generation Survivors from Kinchela Boys Home. The Kinchela Aboriginal Boys’ Training Home site is located in the Kempsey Shire region of NSW. Established in 1924, Kinchela housed young Aboriginal boys between the ages of 5 and 15 years, who had been forcibly removed from their families. Between 1924 and 1970, it is thought that between 400-600 boys lived at Kinchela. Kinchela was known as a particularly harsh and abusive environment, with formal investigations conducted into this as early as the 1940s.

Many of the survivors have died, the last generations of survivors from the boys’ home are ageing and moving towards end of life. A need to record the survivors’ legacies and provide safe spaces for end-of-life planning was identified. As a result of the survivors being forcibly removed as children from their families, and the ongoing trauma they experienced into their adulthood, their needs when it comes to legacy planning, end of life planning and support are complex and unique.

Tools:
Our presentation will showcase processes and tools that have been incorporated and developed to support end of life planning and recording legacies.

Purpose:
Our presentation showcases the:

- journey we have undertaken to ensure culturally safe processes to record the legacies of the survivors;

- challenges and moments of positivity we have encountered along the way and;

- ongoing requirements that are needed to support the remaining survivors and descents to move through end of life with respect, care and dignity.