ICAN Director Daphne Naden

Black Star Radio’s Mark Hogan talks with ICAN Director Daphne Naden about the ACBF/Youpla Funeral Benefits Program.

The Program is an important interim step along the road to provide financial assistance for funerals and Sorry Business to families left without funeral insurance due to the collapse of Youpla (formerly known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund). It is not a compensation scheme.

First Nations communities need culturally appropriate options that recognise families and communities have different needs. This first step it will take a lot of pressure off the families that are suffering right now. There is more work to be done to ensure that the 30,000 other people who have been impacted receive an appropriate response.

Other useful contacts

● Mob Strong Debt Helpline - 1800 808 488 or www.facebook.com/mobstrongdebthelp

● Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network - 1800 369 878 or www.ican.org.au

● Financial Counselling Australia - www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au

Below is part of the press release from the Save Sorry Business Coalition

For almost 30 years, the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund, trading as Youpla, aggressively sold poor-value funeral plans to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

Youpla actively preyed on the culturally significant practice of Sorry Business with many people paying tens of thousands of dollars to the company to ensure their families could afford a dignified and culturally appropriate Sorry Business. Successive federal governments and regulators have been aware of the exploitative practices of Youpla for many years.

First Nations and consumer groups warned the Federal Government in 2019 that the fund would collapse. Despite the warnings, policymakers chose to watch the fund collapse instead of stepping in.

The Save Sorry Business Coalition is a First Nations-led campaign supported by 130 organisations and over 20,000 Australians who are seeking a fair and enduring resolution for the 30,000 First Nations people harmed by the misleading and deceptive conduct of Youpla and the massive and prolonged failure of government and regulators over two decades.