CEO of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service Julie Tongs says that eighteen years after the first Sorry Day, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are being removed at greater rates than ever before. The decrease in positive health outcomes and increase in incarceration rates have shown governments across Australia are still not listening to First Nations people, which is clearly shown by the continuing failure of their own Closing The Gap targets.

“Although it is 16 years since the first National Aboriginal Sorry Day Bridge Walk occurred, the reasons for Sorry Day events are now more relevant and important than ever – and nowhere was this more so than in the national capital,” Julie said.

“Removal levels were a national disgrace then. They are even more of a disgrace today.

“Removal rates are increasing exponentially. They are worse today than 16 years ago.

“In Canberra 25 percent of all children in Out of Home care in the 0 to 17 age bracket are Indigenous children.

“In other words an Aboriginal child born in the ACT is 20 times more likely to be taken into care than a non-Indigenous child.

“That must ring alarm bells. It is a national disgrace,” Ms Tongs said, adding this statistic also had to be seen against the fact that Indigenous people made up only around two percent of the ACT population.

“Winnunga has highlighted this shocking situation and is now working with the ACT Government on practical ways to ensure that the removal rate is reduced and reduced significantly.

The 2016 Winnunga Sorry Day Bridge Walk will be held on Friday, May 27 beginning at 10.45am for an 11am start. The point of congregation will be at the base of the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the corner of Albert Street and Bairne Drive, Regatta Point.

Ms Tongs said a Welcome to Country will be delivered by Aunty Agnes Shea, and there will be entertainment, a smoking ceremony and healthy options for lunch along with coffee, tea and water.

“Due to the current alarming rate of removal of Indigenous children I still want to repeat as I have each year that the Sorry Day Bridge Walk provides the opportunity for all Australians to walk together in the spirit of reconciliation, of healing and remembering.

“The walk is now an established part of Canberra’s Sorry Day events and has grown from a mere 10 people in our first walk, six years ago, to over 2,000 people including many Canberra public and private schools who took part in the walk last year”.

Ms Tongs said the all Sorry Day walks had deep meaning.

“They are a way of achieving greater healing for the Stolen Generations while allowing all Australians to move forward together.

“Sorry Day is still a part of our healing and that so many Australians now recognise this and join us on the walk in Canberra is significant and deeply appreciated by Indigenous Australians”.

“We need to acknowledge those that have gone before us,” Ms Tongs said.