Apology to the Stolen Generations
A deeply significant moment in our history — our apology to the Stolen Generations is a sincere and ongoing commitment to truth-telling and reconciliation.
Royal Far West Apology to the Stolen Generations
Royal Far West offers our deepest apology to Survivors of the Stolen Generations and their families.
Royal Far West, as a child health institution, now in our 100th year, played a role in a broader system that enabled the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, culture, and Country.
We acknowledge that some children came to Royal Far West for medical care and never returned to their families and understand that not everyone had the same experience.
For many, these actions caused – and continue to cause – significant trauma. They contributed to the breakdown of families, the loss of identity, culture, and language, and have resulted in profound intergenerational harm.
To those who were taken, to the families who never saw their children again, and to the communities who continue to carry the weight of this legacy – we are truly sorry.
We cannot undo the harm that was done. But we can, and we must, commit to truth-telling, accountability, and healing.
Our apology is not symbolic alone. It is grounded in a commitment to action and two-way learning.
- We commit to providing culturally safe and responsive services for First Nations children and families.
- We commit to building and supporting a diverse workforce that reflects and understands the communities we serve.
- And we commit to ensuring that every child and every family we work with is treated with dignity, respect, and cultural integrity.
Today marks an important moment in Royal Far West’s Reconciliation journey. We are committed to learning from the past, strengthening relationships with First Nations peoples, weaving cultural understanding and respect across everything we do. This apology represents an important step in that ongoing journey – one built on honesty, humility, and action.
We are listening, we are learning, and we are striving to do better – walking together on our long journey toward healing and reconciliation.
We offer our deep commitment to continue walking alongside you – with support, care, and a healing purpose.
– The Royal Far West Apology to the Stolen Generations was given by then CEO Jacqueline Emery, Thursday 11th December 2025
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We would like to hear from you
Our apology is the first step toward truth telling and reconciliation.
If you would like to share your story with us, in your own time and on your own terms, we will visit you on country to listen to you. We want to learn from your experiences so this cannot happen again.
Any information you share will be in the strictest confidence. We offer our deep commitment to continue walking alongside you – with support, care, and a healing purpose.
Apology to the Stolen Generations
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Royal Far West is passionately committed to ensuring we provide culturally safe and accountable health, education and disability services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, organisations and communities. We are also committed to advocating for equal access to services for all regional families, particularly our First Nations families. ”
Jacqueline Emery
Chief Executive Officer
Learn more about Royal Far West
Coolamon Connection Journey
Honouring cultural traditions while embodying the heart of Royal Far West’s mission: to connect, support, and nurture families across generations.
The story behind our 100-year Coolamons
Celebrating connection and culture: The gift of Coolamons
Yiran Birrang (Long Journey)
Created by Skye Burton to commemorate the Royal Far West 100-year celebration, Yiran Birrang (Long Journey) is a deeply symbolic painting that captures the essence of connections formed between families, communities, and RFW.
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart
We are passionately committed to working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to realise the vision of the Uluru Statement.