Anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report

26 May

On 26 May 1997, Bringing them home was tabled in the Australian Parliament. The report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families documented forced removal and set out recommendations for recognition, healing and change.

The inquiry and survivors’ testimony

The inquiry was conducted by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, now the Australian Human Rights Commission. Its work drew on the experiences of people affected by laws, policies and practices that separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from family, community, culture and Country.

The report’s significance rests in part on the courage of those who gave testimony. Personal accounts are evidence of lived experience, not material to be used without regard for the people behind them. Some testimonies and historical records can be distressing, and readers should choose when and how to engage.

Recommendations and unfinished responsibilities

The report set out recommendations intended to support healing and reconciliation. Their scope reached beyond a public statement of regret to practical responsibilities towards survivors, descendants and families. Reading the recommendations helps distinguish what the inquiry actually sought from later summaries of its legacy.

The Healing Foundation continues to connect the report with current survivor-informed priorities. Its From Sorry to Action plan for 2026–2028 identifies work across areas including health, records access, redress, education and support for the organisations working with survivors. This makes the anniversary a point for considering accountability as well as remembrance.

Why the anniversary is on 26 May

The Australian Human Rights Commission confirms that the report was tabled on 26 May 1997. The anniversary commemorates that parliamentary tabling. The report’s preparation and later use belong to a longer process of inquiry, recognition and advocacy.

The first National Sorry Day followed on 26 May 1998. The report anniversary and Sorry Day therefore share a calendar date, but mark different beginnings. The National Apology on 13 February 2008 is another related milestone. Separate entries help explain the relationship without conflating the events.

Using the report in learning

Start with an appropriate overview before moving into testimony. Use the Commission’s learning sequences and professional learning guidance to judge age suitability and prepare for sensitive content. Do not ask learners to act out removal or require a personal family response.

A useful activity is to follow one recommendation from the original report into a current survivor-led resource. Ask what was proposed, who needed to act and how progress could be demonstrated. Respect the agency of survivors and descendants, including their right to decide which stories they share and on what terms.

Sources and further reading

The resources below provide historical records, First Nations perspectives and pathways for further learning. Some historical material contains names and images of deceased people, outdated language or distressing content. Follow the guidance provided by each publisher.

Online sources and longer reading

Bringing Them Home. Australian Human Rights Commission. The report, historical context, testimony and confirmation of the 26 May 1997 tabling date.
https://humanrights.gov.au/bringing-them-home/index.html

Report recommendations. Australian Human Rights Commission. The recommendations themselves, organised by theme for closer reading.
https://humanrights.gov.au/bringing-them-home/the-report/report-recommendations.html

From Sorry to Action. The Healing Foundation. Current survivor-informed priorities and practical responsibilities arising from the report.
https://healingfoundation.org.au/what-we-do/from-sorry-to-action/

National Sorry Day. The Healing Foundation. Explains the related annual commemoration and why action remains necessary.
https://www.healingfoundation.org.au/stolen-generations/national-sorry-day/

Our related products and resources

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