Entry page For your use Committee Coordinators Workers Growing in
understanding History Key Ideas Today StructuresReports FAQ Readings Glossary Practice
implications History The DreamingThe Land The Law & The Lore Family and kinship Image and identity Self-determination Practice tips Policy Upper Hunter Acknowledgements Test your
knowledge
Copyright | Feedback

Link-Up

Link-Up is an Aboriginal organization founded in 1980 and based in New South Wales. Link-Up works with Aboriginal adults who were separated from their families when they were children. They may have been raised by non-Aboriginal people in institutions, private homes or foster homes or adoptive homes.

Most of the children separated from their families grew up not knowing nothing or very little about their Aboriginal families, heritage or culture.

When the children became adults many didn’t go home because they were not sure if anyone would recognize them or even remember who they were. Some did not even know their real names or where they originally came from.

Link-up is for all Aboriginal people who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions.

What does Link-Up do?

• Assists both the separated people who have not yet made their way home and the families of people who have been separated from their child/children.
• Offers counseling/support to people to assist them with some of their concerns or unanswered questions before, during and after the journey home.
• Helps people by assisting them with options when making decisions relating to their reunions. Some people prefer firstly to write letters or talk on the phone. Clients may want to go by themselves or have Link-up go with them to the reunion. The decision is theirs.
• Continued counseling/support is available to the client and their new found families for as long they want and need assistance.
• Can assist people who, even though they have met their families, are still having problems coping with the experience they had as children after they were separated.
• Counselling and support is also offered to the adoptive/fostered parents.