Hailed as a landmark justice reform, Victoria's Stolen Generations Reparations Package was designed to promote healing and reconciliation.
Launched by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews himself in March, it includes a lump sum payment of $100,000 and a personal apology from the state government.
But seven months since it started taking applications, the scheme has come under fire from some leaders in Victoria's Aboriginal community who say it is retraumatising applicants.
'Fearing the process'
Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Muriel Bamblett, who runs the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), claims the public servants in charge of the scheme are running a 'cold' process and just want to get cheques out the door.
"I think that it's quite mean-spirited in the way that it's being operated," she told NITV.
"There's an assumption by government that it's all about the money and for most Aboriginal people it's not about the money, it's about understanding … letting their voice be told and their stories told, and to be listened to."
The scheme has had a rocky few months. In July it generated massive controversy after revelations public servants had asked legendary First Nations actor and .
Charles was a cousin to Ms Bamblett, who said the late Elder was required to produce a statutory declaration proving his Aboriginality.
"I still think there are many of our people that are fearing of the process, and I think of the questions they ask around establishing identity."
The incident occurred despite applicants not being required to provide a proof of Aboriginality certificate or documentation proving their removal. The onus to find documentation is on the state government.
While the process has been criticised as retraumatising, others also say it is confusing – particularly for Elders.
People don't need to be retraumatised through a bureaucratic process that doesn't work for themSenator Lidia Thorpe
Victorian Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, a Djab Wurrung Gunnai Gunditjamara woman, said she'd been approached by several upset constituents.
"I've been to events – particularly around Collingwood and Fitzroy – where Elders are coming to me with their piece of paper saying 'Auntie, I don't understand this, can you help me, can you help me?', you know with a crumpled-up letter out of their pocket, and just with absolute despair," she said.
"People don't need to be retraumatised through a bureaucratic process that doesn't work for them, so it's actually frightening people away from accessing, it just becomes too hard."
Senator Thorpe wants a review of the scheme and for its service delivery functions to be handed over to community organisations.
"I think that process needs to be reviewed and it needs to be self-determined by communities and the people themselves and I do believe that it needs to go to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations," she said.
Committee chair urges government to listen
Despite the reparations package being the responsibility of the Attorney-General, premier Daniel Andrews fronted the press to launch the scheme himself in March.
"I know as the leader of our government and as the leader of the most progressive state in our nation, that better outcomes for Aboriginal people only happen when they are driven by Aboriginal people," he told reporters.
Yorta Yorta man Ian Hamm, who chaired the committee that developed the redress scheme, stood beside the premier as he launched it.
Ian Hamm is a member of the Stolen Generations. Source: NITV / SBS News
""I would hope they're listening to this feedback and looking at these issues that are being raised and making the corrections that they have to," he told NITV News.
There are an estimated 1200 Stolen Generations members in Victoria eligible for the scheme. As of October 11, 489 people had applied for reparations.
"There is some urgency to this because many of those expected 1,200 Victorians are getting older, some are unwell, they've waited long enough," Daniel Andrews said in March.
However, figures provided to NITV News by the Department of Community Justice and Safety reveal that as of October 28, only 117 payments had actually been issued.
A comparable federal government scheme that launched a few weeks before its Victorian counterpart appears to be processing payments much faster.
The Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme for people in the NT and ACT had received more than 500 applications, and has provided 247 payments as of October 21, more than twice the Victorian scheme.
Premier Daniel Andrews launched the scheme himself, earlier this year. Source: AAP
"Every scheme no matter how well you design it always has implementation problems, always has teething problems," he said.
"I would hope, though, that they've been recognised and I would hope that the resources that are needed to quicken up the pace of approvals have been given."
In a statement, Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes conceded the process may have been "incredibly traumatising" for people.
"I would urge people who think they could be eligible to apply for this scheme and to contact the Department if they're having difficulty with the process..."
The state government is monitoring the scheme to determine if it needs any extra resources.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice and Community Safety also confirmed it is the government's responsibility to find relevant documents for applicants.
