Aboriginal families and communities in New South Wales have been profoundly affected by separation and we are struggling to find our way home - home to family, country, community and home to our Aboriginal identities - home to where we belong.

The separation of Aboriginal children from their families and communities began in NSW as soon as Europeans set foot on our land. In 1788, an Aboriginal boy named Andrew was found in the bush and taken to live with the British colonists (Fletcher 1989). By April 1789, two Aboriginal children, Nanberry (a boy about 10 years) and Abaroo (a girl about 14) also lived with Whites (Kenny 1973, pp9-10).

NSW was the first State to be colonised by Europeans, and the laws, policies and practices of separation were developed and perfected here. Officials had the power to remove any child under any pretext, for not even a court hearing was necessary.

The belief that it is in the best interest of Aboriginal children to be removed from their culture and assimilated justified the systematic disruption of Aboriginal families and has been allowed to prevail.

Separation is not past history - it continues today and the serious and ongoing trauma on Aboriginal people goes unrecognised.

Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation was founded around 1980 to assist all Aboriginal people who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions to find their way home.

We also assist the children and youth of today who are or have been in jeopardy of being removed from their family.

Our website provides information for people who wish to become clients and also those who would like to trace their family tree (see Mapping Your Journey).

If you have been affected by policies of removal, please feel free to contact us at anytime for a confidential discussion.

Since Link-Up NSW was originally established it has grown and now has four different services including a its own counselling service and a Foster Care Agency. Please click here to see our Services section for more information.