July 2026 update - processing time
More than 3,000 people have applied to the WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme since it opened in November 2025.
The WA Stolen Generations Redress Team is working very hard to process all applications.
The high number of applications means the wait times are longer than had been anticipated. The team is increasing its resourcing and streamlining its processes, and this is helping to bring down the wait times.
Learn more about processing times.
May 2026 update - changes to beneficiary nominations
The Scheme Outline has recently been updated to address identified risks relating to beneficiary nomination processes.
Learn more about beneficiary changes.
Important Information
This subject may be very hard to read or talk about. It may bring up difficult feelings and memories. 24/7 support services are available.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000.
Information about the Scheme
The WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme is available to Aboriginal people who were removed from their families as children in Western Australia before 1 July 1972.
Eligible applicants will receive a payment of $85,000, and, if they wish, a personal acknowledgement.
The Scheme recognises the enduring impacts of past child removal policies in Western Australia.
The Scheme is being coordinated by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
What the Scheme offers
- a one-off payment of $85,000
- opportunity for a personal acknowledgement from a representative of the WA Government.
You can apply if:
- you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
- you were removed from your family when you were under 18 years old;
- you were removed in Western Australia before 1 July 1972; and
- are a living person.
You can also apply on behalf of a family member who passed away on or after 27 May 2025, the date the Scheme was announced.
How to apply
If you are applying for yourself, or helping a living applicant apply:
- download an Application Form using the link below
- fill out the form
- print the form to sign it
OR
- if you need a paper form sent to you, please contact the Department.
Application Form - WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme
There are detailed guidelines to help with your application:
Guidelines: How to make an Application
You can nominate someone to help you with the application process by downloading and completing the Supported Applicant Form:
- please contact the Department to get a copy of the Deceased Applicant Form.
- the Scheme does not accept applications on behalf of people who passed away before 27 May 2025.
Contacting the Department
You can contact the Scheme team at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in several different ways.
Phone: 08 6552 5050
Email: WASG@dpc.wa.gov.au
Post: Reply Paid
Stolen Generations Redress Scheme
Dept of the Premier & Cabinet
Reply Paid 84912
WEST PERTH WA 6872
Scheme Support Services
The Department has partnered with Support Services who can help people apply. The following Scheme Support Services can provide practical and emotional support:
- Phone: (08) 6288 8123
- Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Email: Redress@yokai.com.au
- Office: 174 Treasure Rd, Queens Park, 6107
- Phone: 1800 830 338
- Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm
- Email: reception@ksgac.com.au
- Offices: 28 Barker Street, Broome 6725
29 Hunter Street, Broome 6725
5 Kentia Way, Kununurra 6743
- Phone: 1800 469 371
- Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
- Email: referrals@yorgum.org.au
- Offices: 176 Wittenoom Street, East Perth 6004
2A/4 Rason Link, South Hedland 6722
42 Wilson St, Kalgoorlie 6432
Additional Scheme Support Services may be available – you can contact the Department or check the website for the most up-to-date information.
Support services outside of Western Australia
If you were removed from your family in Western Australia, but now live outside Western Australia, you can ask the Link-Up organisation in your area to help with your application. Please see contact details below.
| State / Territory | Contact details |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Link-Up New South Wales Aboriginal Corporation Phone: 02 9421 4700 1800 624 332 (Free call – not available for mobile phones) Email: linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au Office: Lot 4, 2 Central Place Ropes Crossing NSW 2760 |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation (NTSGAC) Phone: 08 8947 9171 Office: Shop 1 Malak Shopping Centre 16 Malak Crescent Malak NT 0812 |
| Central Australia | Phone: 08 8959 4750 Email: congress.linkup@caac.org.au Office: 14 Leichhardt Terrace Alice Springs NT 0870 |
| South Australia | Phone: 08 8406 1600 Email: nunku@nunku.org.au Office: 182-190 Wakefield Street, Adelaide SA 5000 |
| Victoria | Phone: 03 9480 7377 1800 OUR MOB (1800 687 662) Email: linkup@vacca.org Office: 340 Bell Street Preston, VIC 3072 |
| Queensland | Phone: 1800 200 855 07 3638 0411(Brisbane) Email: contact@link-upqld.org.au Office: 3-5 Reid Street Woolloongabba QLD 4102 Office: 2/128 Spence Street Cairns QLD 4870 |
Scam Warning!
Some people might contact you and try to talk you into making an Application, asking for a percentage of a future payment. They might claim to be from a law firm or a government department. This type of targeted scam is called claim farming or claims harvesting.
It is important to know:
- You do not need to pay to apply to this Scheme.
- You do not need to pay a support service to help you apply.
- Nobody should be asking for a fee or a percentage of any future payment.
You might be at risk if:
- You get unexpected calls, texts, or emails about making an Application.
- Someone pressures you to sign papers or sign up with a law firm.
Protect yourself:
- Don’t share your personal details with people you don’t know.
- Contact the Department if you’re unsure, want to ask for help, or to report suspicious activity.
- Raise with family or speak with someone you trust.
If you think you have been approached by a scammer, please let the Department know. We want to help keep everybody safe.
July 2026 update - processing time for applications
Show moreProcessing times for applications
More than 3,000 people have applied to the WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme since it opened in November 2025.
The WA Stolen Generations Redress Team is working very hard to process all applications.
The high number of applications means the wait times are longer than had been anticipated. The team is increasing its resourcing and streamlining its processes, and this is helping to bring down the wait times.
Depending on circumstances, processing times could take approximately 10 months. Some applications may take longer than this, if there are difficulties in obtaining relevant historical records. People with terminal illness or aged 85+ are being prioritised where possible and most have received their outcome within a shorter time.
We ask for your patience as we continue to take all steps necessary to check every application is genuine and has the best opportunity of being found eligible.
Why does it take so long to process applications?
To protect applicants from people who might try to steal their identity or take advantage of them, and to make sure each application is thoroughly checked, the Department must complete several steps. This includes:
- entering all the information into a computer system that keeps the information safe
- carrying out necessary checks to prevent fraudulent claims
- gathering historical records
- assessing the information against the eligibility criteria
- verifying identification documents and bank details
These processes take time, and some applications may take longer than others, depending on whether they have all the necessary information or if further record searches are required.
Getting progress updates
If you have received confirmation that we have your application, you do not need to do anything further at this stage. The Department will contact you if it needs further information or if there is an update on your application’s progress. However, if you already have government records and are willing to provide these to the Department, this may help with processing your application. Please note that making a Freedom of Information request for these documents will not help your application, as the Department is already requesting access and such requests will only slow the process down.
Every application is important to us, and our staff are very conscious and respectful of how difficult this process is for many applicants. We understand the process is causing some people considerable distress, however we ask that our staff are also treated respectfully.
We also take the personal information of all applicants very seriously. We cannot speak to anyone apart from the applicant unless they have authorised a Nominee to speak to the Department for them. This can be done by completing a Supported Applicant Form.
May 2026 update - changes to beneficiary nominations
Show moreChanges to beneficiary nominations
The Scheme Outline has recently been updated to address identified risks relating to beneficiary nomination processes.
The scheme cannot process payments to beneficiaries where the beneficiary nomination form (Question 16) and the declaration and consent (Part 7) have not been signed by the applicant personally.
This will apply retrospectively to all Applications received to date.
If a Power of Attorney, Legal Guardian or Administrator has completed an Application on behalf of an Applicant, they cannot nominate a beneficiary on behalf of the Applicant.
Where the Department has already received an Application from a Power of Attorney, Legal Guardian or Administrator with the beneficiary nomination at Question 16 filled out:
- The purported nomination of a beneficiary(ies) will be disregarded.
- The Department will contact the Applicant or the Power of Attorney, Legal Guardian or Administrator, directly to invite the Applicant to complete a beneficiary nomination personally, if they have the legal capacity to do so.
- If no replacement nomination is made by the Applicant personally, and if the Applicant passes away before payment is made to them, the payment will be made in accordance with the Applicant’s Will or, where there is no Will, in accordance with the Administration Act 1903 (WA).
This is an important measure to ensure the integrity of the Scheme, manage legal risks and reduce the chance of family conflict.
Our team is working hard to contact anyone impacted and we thank you for your patience
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