In Western Australia, the removal of mixed-descent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children from parents into church-run institutions has caused ongoing damage to the social and emotional wellbeing of survivors and their descendants. Curtin University and Aboriginal organisations are attempting to utilise a number of defunct mission sites as Healing Centres for Stolen Generation survivors. But the rapid deterioration of missions and restricted access constrain use of the sites. Virtual reality offers a safe and accessible alternative to physical access. Layering this digital environment with knowledge and the lived experience of survivors and interweaving past and present experiences has the potential to provide a powerful platform for healing survivors and their families. A key aspect of this project was to ensure that a strength-based approach is used where Aboriginal people power share and collaborate in the projects ensuring that they have tangible control over their story and heritage.
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