Here's some useful info for indigenous families:

For immediate help in a crisis situation, please call:

Lifeline:
13 11 14

Kids Help Line:
1800 551 800

ABSTUDY

Find out about all the different payments that students can get through Abstudy. There's lot of variables, like whether the student is living at home or away from home, at high school, or at TAFE or uni. Generally speaking, once a child is in grade 8, they are eligible for a 'term allowance' which covers the cost of books and uniforms, and is paid at the beginning of each term. It is means tested, but if you are on a health care card, you usually are deemed eligible. Then once high school kids get to year 11 they can get a fortnightly payment similar to Austudy.

This is just a general guide!! For more accurate and up-to-date information, check out Centrelink's Abstudy website, and to apply, it is fairly easy to call 132317 and they will process most of your application over the phone. (Unfortunately, Centrelink staff in Stanthorpe are not familiar with Abstudy so better assistance can be given over the phone that connects to a regional office)

TRACING YOUR FAMILY

Aboriginal and Islander people have often discovered that trying to get family history is hard. Families were broken up and dispersed to other parts of the country, poor records were kept of those people who were taken, and often indigenous people had their names changed, adopting the surnames of their employers.

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) has a family history unit where you can search through names and find any sort of records, written or photographical. Try it and see! It's like a treasure hunt!

Another avenue of tracing your family can be through Linkup. This organisation specifically helps to reunite those who were adopted, fostered or otherwise taken away from their families and don't know how to track them. Linkup also provides counselling and referrals to other agencies.