Leslie Massey
The Australian government's policy of forcibly removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, known as the Stolen Generation, was in place from the 1910s to the 1970s. The removal of Indigenous children was justified as being for their protection, and it was believed that Pure Blood Aboriginal people would die out, so Mixed Blood children would be able to assimilate into society more easily. On February 13, 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to the Stolen Generation, acknowledging the trauma and loss inflicted on Indigenous communities. While the Stolen Generation period technically ended in 1969, its effects continue to be felt by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today, with intergenerational trauma and a loss of traditional knowledge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | 1910s to 1970s |
| Number of children affected | Between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3 Indigenous children |
| People responsible | Governments, churches and welfare bodies |
| Organisations involved | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Human Rights Commission, Commonwealth Government, Federal Parliament, High Court of Australia, Parliament of Australia, Victorian Government |
| Related policies | Victorian Aboriginal Protection Act 1869, Aborigines Protection Act 1909, Amendments to the Aborigines Protection Act 1915, Aboriginals Ordinance 1918, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, International Criminal Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 2002, Native Title Act |
| Reports | Bringing Them Home Report, Human Rights Commission Report |
| Films | Lousy Little Sixpence, Kanyini |
| Dates | 26 May 1998 (first National Sorry Day), 13 February 2008 (Kevin Rudd's apology) |
| People | Kevin Rudd, Brendan Nelson, John Howard, John Herron, Peter Howson, Keith Windschuttle, Ron Brunton, Peter Read, Bob Randall, Jason Pitt, Pastor Ray Minniecon, Michael Welsh, Manuel Ebsworth, Cecil Bowden |
| Places | Australia, Darwin, Canberra, Adelaide, Uluru, Martin Place in Sydney, New South Wales, Tasmania, ACT, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory |
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What You'll Learn
- The Stolen Generation refers to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families
- The removal of these children was sanctioned by various government policies and legislation
- The policies were active from the 1910s to the 1970s, with the effects still being felt today
- The first National Sorry Day was marked on 26 May 1998, with Australians writing messages in 'Sorry Books'
- On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations
The Stolen Generation refers to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families
The removal of Indigenous children was rationalised by various governments, claiming that it was for their protection and that it would save them from a life of neglect. Another justification used by the government was that it was believed that "'pure-blood' Aboriginal people would die out, and that the 'mixed-blood' children would be able to assimilate into society much easier. This was based on the premise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were racially inferior.
The first state to pass laws authorising Aboriginal children to be removed from their parents was Victoria, which did so in the 1860s. Similar policies were later adopted by other states and territories and, later, the federal government. One of the earliest pieces of legislation in relation to the Stolen Generation was the Victorian Aboriginal Protection Act of 1869, which allowed the removal of Aboriginal people of mixed descent from Aboriginal Stations or Reserves to force them to assimilate into White Society. The 1915 amendments to the Aborigines Protection Act 1909 gave the New South Wales (NSW) Aborigines Protection Board the power to remove any Indigenous child at any time and for any reason. This government-sanctioned practice was widespread across Australia, and it is estimated that during the active period of the policy, between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3 Indigenous children were removed from their families and communities.
The children of the Stolen Generation became disconnected from their culture and were often subjected to abuse. They were denied access to their culture, not allowed to speak their language, and were punished if they did. This has resulted in traditional knowledge being lost as this knowledge was not able to be passed down to the next generation. The children, grandchildren, and future generations of the Stolen Generation may experience disconnection from their extended families and culture and have high levels of stress, creating a cycle of intergenerational trauma.
On February 13, 2008, then-Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd apologised to the members of the Stolen Generation. While the period known as the Stolen Generation technically ended in 1969, the effects are still being felt by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples today.
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The removal of these children was sanctioned by various government policies and legislation
The Stolen Generation refers to the countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under government policy and direction. This was an active policy during the period from the 1910s into the 1970s, and arguably, it continues today under the banner of child protection. The removal of these children was sanctioned by various government policies and legislation, which have left a legacy of trauma and loss that continues to affect First Nations communities, families, and individuals.
The 1915 amendments to the Aborigines Protection Act 1909 gave the New South Wales (NSW) Aborigines Protection Board the power to remove any Indigenous child at any time and for any reason. The phrasing of one amendment was so broad as to enable any interpretation by the Board's inspectors, and it led to thousands of Indigenous children being taken from their parents on the basis of race alone. This government-sanctioned practice was widespread across Australia and created tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of what are now known as the Stolen Generations. The Board had the power to move Aboriginal people out of towns, set up managers, local committees, and local guardians (police) for the reserves, control reserves, prevent liquor from being sold to Aboriginals, and stop whites from associating with Aboriginals or entering the reserves.
One of the earliest pieces of legislation in relation to the Stolen Generation was the Victorian Aboriginal Protection Act 1869, which allowed the removal of Aboriginal people of mixed descent from Aboriginal Stations or Reserves to force them to assimilate into White Society. In the 1860s, Victoria became the first state to pass laws authorising Aboriginal children to be removed from their parents. Similar policies were later adopted by other states and territories and the federal government when it was established in the 1900s.
The forcible removal of First Nations children from their families was based on assimilation policies, which claimed that the lives of First Nations people would be improved if they became part of white society. Assimilation policies proposed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be allowed to 'die out' through a process of natural elimination or, where possible, be assimilated into the white community. The removal of Indigenous children was rationalised by various governments by claiming that it was for their protection and would save them from a life of neglect. A further justification used by the government of the day was that it was believed that "Pure Blood" Aboriginal people would die out and that the "Mixed Blood" children would be able to assimilate into society much easier, based on the premise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were racially inferior to white people.
The Australian government has never provided financial and social reparations to members of the Stolen Generation, a national apology, or the appropriate mechanisms for individuals who were forcibly removed to reconnect with their culture. However, on February 13, 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an Apology to the members of the Stolen Generation. The government's apology was widely applauded among both Indigenous Australians and the non-Indigenous general public.
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The policies were active from the 1910s to the 1970s, with the effects still being felt today
The "Stolen Generation" refers to the countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under Australian government policy and direction. This was an active policy during the period from the 1910s into the 1970s, with the effects still being felt today.
The policy was enacted through a combination of government policies and legislation, including the Victorian Aboriginal Protection Act of 1869, which allowed for the removal of Aboriginal people of mixed descent from their communities to force them to assimilate into white society. The 1915 amendments to the Aboriginal Protection Act of 1909 further enabled the New South Wales (NSW) Aboriginal Protection Board to remove any Indigenous child at any time and for any reason. This led to thousands of Indigenous children being taken from their parents based on race alone.
The rationale behind these policies was based on the belief that Aboriginal people were a "dying race" and that those of mixed parentage would be better off assimilating into white society. It was also argued that removing Indigenous children was for their protection and to save them from a life of neglect. However, the true impact of these policies was the systematic removal of thousands of children from their families, communities, and culture, causing a loss of traditional knowledge and inter-generational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous communities today.
The period known as the Stolen Generation technically ended in 1969, but the effects of these policies are still felt by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. On February 13, 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued an official apology to the members of the Stolen Generation, acknowledging the trauma and loss caused by these policies. While the apology was widely applauded, it did not include references to compensation for the Aboriginal people or specific members of the Stolen Generations.
The legacy of the Stolen Generation is a dark chapter in Australia's history, and efforts are still being made to address the ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities, including projects that combine ancient Indigenous healing knowledge with Western trauma knowledge to promote healing and reconciliation.
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The first National Sorry Day was marked on 26 May 1998, with Australians writing messages in 'Sorry Books'
The Stolen Generation refers to the countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under Australian government policy and direction. This was an active policy during the period from the 1910s into the 1970s, and arguably, it continues today under the banner of child protection.
The first National Sorry Day was marked on 26 May 1998, with Australians writing messages in Sorry Books. This day is not a public holiday, but it is a day of observance for Australians to come together and share steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families, and communities. The day is marked with concerts, barbecues, reconciliation walks, marches, flag-raising events, morning teas, and lunches. School children also take part in activities, including essay competitions, lighting candles, and inviting local Indigenous elders to speak with them.
The first National Sorry Day was held on the first anniversary of the 1997 Bringing Them Home report, which examined the government practices and policies that led to the Stolen Generations. The report also recommended support and reparations for the Indigenous population. Since 1998, thousands of Australians have shown their support by writing messages and signing "sorry books".
In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a formal apology for the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians on behalf of the federal government. This event is seen by many as a step forward in reconciliation. However, some have objected to the use of the term "Stolen Generations", and there has been no mention of compensation to Aboriginal people generally or to members of the Stolen Generations specifically.
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On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations
On 13 February 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations. The Stolen Generations refer to the countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families under government policy and direction. This was an active policy during the period from the 1910s into the 1970s, and some argue that it continues today under the banner of child protection.
The removal of Indigenous children was rationalised by various governments, claiming that it was for their protection and that it would save them from a life of neglect. Another justification used by the government was that it was believed that "pure-blood" Aboriginal people would die out, and that the "mixed-blood" children would be able to assimilate into society much easier. This was based on the premise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were racially inferior.
The apology was followed by a 20-minute speech by Rudd to the house about the need for this action. The government's apology and his speech were widely applauded among both Indigenous Australians and the non-Indigenous general public. Opposition leader Brendan Nelson also delivered a 20-minute speech, in which he endorsed the apology. However, he referred to the "under-policing" of child welfare in Aboriginal communities and a host of social issues affecting the lives of Aboriginal people.
The Stolen Generations have resulted in traditional knowledge being lost, as it was not passed down to the next generation. Many Aboriginal families have experienced inter-generational trauma due to the trauma experienced by their parents or grandparents who lived through this period. The children, grandchildren, and future generations of the Stolen Generations may experience disconnection from their extended families and culture and have high levels of stress. This creates a cycle of trauma, known as intergenerational trauma, where the impact is passed from one generation to the next.
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Frequently asked questions
The Stolen Generation refers to the period from the 1910s to the 1970s, during which countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families under government policy. The effects of these policies are still felt today, creating a cycle of intergenerational trauma.
The Stolen Generation was the period during which race-based policies set up by state and federal governments led to the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities. It is estimated that between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3 Indigenous children were removed and placed in institutions, adopted or fostered by non-Indigenous people.
The removals were rationalised as being for the protection of Indigenous children, saving them from a life of neglect. The government also believed that "Pure Blood" Aboriginal people would die out, and that those of mixed descent would be able to assimilate into white society more easily.
