Lyla Lindsey
The Australian government's policies of assimilation were a set of protection and assimilation policies that impacted harshly on Indigenous people. The policies were adopted in 1937 and continued until the mid-1960s. The aim was to force Indigenous people to be 'absorbed' into the rest of the population, effectively attempting to erase their culture, family ties, and communities. The policies included separate education for Aboriginal children, town curfews, alcohol bans, no social security, lower wages, state guardianship of all Aboriginal children, and laws that segregated Indigenous people into separate living areas. Another major feature of the assimilation policy was the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families and their placement in white institutions or foster homes, often referred to as the ''Stolen Generations'. The effects of these policies remain relevant today, with intergenerational trauma passed down through generations.
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What You'll Learn
- The aim of the policy was to erase Aboriginal culture, family ties, and communities
- The government forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families
- Indigenous children were banned from mainstream educational institutions
- Indigenous people were subject to curfews, alcohol bans, lower wages, and segregation
- The policy caused intergenerational trauma, still impacting communities today
The aim of the policy was to erase Aboriginal culture, family ties, and communities
The Australian government's assimilation policy, which was created in 1937, aimed to force Indigenous people into the rest of the population, attempting to erase Aboriginal culture, family ties, and communities. The Commonwealth Government held a national conference on Aboriginal affairs in 1937, which agreed that Aboriginal people "not of full blood" should be "assimilated" into the wider population. The era of assimilation continued until the mid-1960s.
The policy's objective was to make the "Aboriginal problem" disappear, causing Aboriginal people to lose their identity. The government at the time stated that it wanted all Australians to enjoy equal rights and privileges. However, the reality was that Indigenous people were subjected to prohibitive and punitive laws that were unimaginably hostile. These included separate education for Aboriginal children, town curfews, alcohol bans, no social security, lower wages, state guardianship of all Aboriginal children, and laws that segregated Indigenous people into separate living areas, mainly on special reserves outside towns or in remote areas.
A significant feature of the assimilation policy was the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families and their placement in white institutions or foster homes. States were actively encouraged to remove as many Indigenous children as possible, receiving government finances in the form of endowments. This practice continued until 1967, tearing apart families and sending children to unknown destinations, where they were exposed to neglect, abuse, forced adoption, and medical disorders. Many of these children, often referred to as the "Stolen Generations," were never reunited with their families and continue to experience intergenerational trauma.
The Australian government's assimilation policy attempted to erase Aboriginal people, their beliefs, ways of life, languages, and cultures. Protection policies led to the relocation of many Indigenous people to reservations, where they faced restrictions on their movements, access to education and healthcare, and the loss of their rights. The effects of these policies remain relevant today, with ongoing inequalities and disadvantages for Indigenous people in Australia.
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The government forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families
The Australian government's policies of assimilation involved the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families, which occurred from the mid-1800s to the 1970s. The removals were conducted under acts of their respective parliaments and affected thousands of children. This dark chapter in Australia's history is known as the Stolen Generations or Stolen Children. Official government estimates suggest that between one in ten and one in three Indigenous Australian children were taken from their families between 1910 and 1970.
The removals were based on race-based assimilation policies, which claimed that the lives of Indigenous people would improve if they became part of white society. The Commonwealth Government held a national conference in 1937, agreeing that Aboriginal people 'not of full blood' should be 'absorbed' or 'assimilated' into the wider population. The aim was to make the 'Aboriginal problem' disappear, causing Aboriginal people to lose their identity and ties to their communities.
The children were taken by the police, from their homes, or on their way to and from school. They were then placed in institutions, adopted, or fostered by non-Indigenous people, often experiencing abuse and neglect. The states were actively encouraged to remove as many Indigenous children as possible, receiving financial incentives from the government. This practice continued until 1967, when the assimilation policy ended after the referendum.
The legacy of trauma and loss continues to affect Indigenous communities, families, and individuals today. The children, grandchildren, and future generations of the Stolen Generations may experience disconnection from their families and culture, as well as high levels of stress, creating a cycle of intergenerational trauma. In 1997, the Bringing Them Home Royal Commission report described the Australian policies of removing Aboriginal children as genocide.
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Indigenous children were banned from mainstream educational institutions
The Australian government's policies of assimilation were adopted in 1937, with the Commonwealth and States agreeing that Indigenous people "not of full blood" should be "absorbed" into the wider population. The aim was to make the "Aboriginal problem" disappear, effectively erasing Aboriginal culture, family ties, and communities. This policy had a significant impact on the education of Indigenous children, who were banned from mainstream educational institutions.
Under the assimilation policy, Indigenous children were prohibited from attending schools alongside their non-Indigenous peers. They were separated and made to attend different schools, if they had access to schooling at all. This segregation was justified as a way to provide equal rights and privileges to all Australians and to improve the integration of Indigenous people into European-Australian society. However, the reality was that Indigenous children were subjected to inferior and unequal educational opportunities.
The removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities was a cruel and traumatic aspect of the assimilation policy. The governments of the Australian states and territories established institutions, both government-run and missionary-run, specifically for the education and care of these children. Policemen and other state agents, including those designated as "Aboriginal Protection Officers," were authorised to take babies and children of mixed descent from their families and place them in these institutions.
The conditions in these institutions were often poor, with reports of severe discipline, excessive child labour, malnutrition, physical and emotional abuse, and substandard education. The staff were generally unqualified and held complete power over the children in their care. The removal of Indigenous children from their families and the inadequate education they received had long-lasting impacts, disrupting family ties and causing intergenerational trauma.
The assimilation policy remained in place until the mid-1960s, and the removal of Indigenous children continued until 1967, with some cases extending into the 1970s. The Australian government's treatment of Indigenous children during this period has been described as genocide, and the effects of these policies are still felt today. While the government now recognises the importance of reconciliation and providing equal opportunities for Indigenous students, the legacy of these past policies continues to shape the educational experiences of Indigenous Australians.
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Indigenous people were subject to curfews, alcohol bans, lower wages, and segregation
In 1937, the Australian Commonwealth Government held a national conference on Aboriginal affairs, which agreed that Aboriginal people "not of full blood" should be "absorbed" or "assimilated" into the wider population. The aim was to make the "Aboriginal problem" disappear, causing Aboriginal people to lose their identity. This marked the beginning of the assimilation era, which lasted until the mid-1960s.
Indigenous people were subject to various discriminatory policies and practices, including curfews, alcohol bans, lower wages, and segregation. Curfews were imposed on Indigenous communities, such as the three-night stay-at-home order issued in Alice Springs after a spate of violent incidents. Alcohol bans were also implemented, which had negative consequences such as increased drinking in unsafe environments and the displacement of people into larger towns. However, it is important to note that blanket alcohol bans can be counter-productive and can lead to the criminalisation of behaviour that would not be criminalised elsewhere. This is particularly relevant given the over-incarceration of Indigenous Australians.
In terms of lower wages, Indigenous people, particularly those working in pastoral stations, were paid significantly less than their non-Indigenous counterparts. In the 1950s, for example, Indigenous station workers were paid around 7% of the top award rate for an adult male station worker. Some Indigenous workers received no wages at all and were instead given rations of food, clothing, and tobacco. This system provided a massive subsidy for pastoral station owners and contributed to the economic exploitation of Indigenous people.
Segregation was enforced through laws that required Indigenous people to live in separate areas, often on special reserves outside towns or in remote locations. This physical separation was accompanied by separate education systems for Indigenous children, further contributing to the segregation and discrimination experienced by Indigenous Australians. These policies and practices had a profound impact on Indigenous communities, disrupting families and cultural traditions and causing intergenerational trauma.
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The policy caused intergenerational trauma, still impacting communities today
The Australian government's policies of assimilation, which were in place from 1937 until the late 1960s, caused intergenerational trauma that continues to impact Indigenous communities today. The aim of the assimilation policy was to force Indigenous people to be 'absorbed' into the rest of the population, effectively erasing their culture, family ties, and communities. This was done through a range of cruel and punitive laws and practices, including the removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities.
The removal of Indigenous children was a deliberate effort by the Australian government as part of its assimilation policy. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 Indigenous children were taken between 1910 and the 1970s, affecting most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. These children have become known as the Stolen Generations. The removal of children from their homes, families, and communities caused a lot of pain and sadness that still exists today. Stolen Generations survivors suffered a loss of connection to their family, identity, land, language, and culture. They were also exposed to neglect, abuse, forced adoption, and medical disorders due to their treatment and the authorities responsible for their care.
The effects of the Stolen Generations are still felt today, as these survivors start their own families. This is known as intergenerational trauma. A study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that Stolen Generations survivors were less likely to have a secondary education and three times more likely to have a police record. Additionally, many survivors live with disabilities, have problems accessing services, and have lower incomes. The trauma experienced by the Stolen Generations has been passed down to their children, who may experience difficulties with attachment, disconnection from their extended families and culture, and high levels of stress from dealing with the impacts of trauma.
The assimilation policy has had a lasting and detrimental impact on Indigenous communities in Australia, and the effects of this trauma continue to be felt today. It is important to recognize and address this trauma to promote healing and reconciliation within these communities.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government's assimilation policies, created in 1937, aimed to force First Nations people to be 'absorbed' into the rest of the population, effectively attempting to erase Aboriginal culture, family ties, and communities.
The Australian government's assimilation policies had the ultimate goal of making the 'Aboriginal problem' disappear, so that Aboriginal people would lose their identity in the wider community.
The assimilation policies involved the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families, placing them in white institutions or foster homes. Other features included separate education for Aboriginal children, town curfews, alcohol bans, no social security, lower wages, and laws that segregated Indigenous people into separate living areas.
The assimilation policies officially ended after the 1967 referendum, which also marked the first time that Aboriginal people were included in the Australian census.
