The National Apology to the Stolen Generations

February 13 marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. It is a significant milestone for healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who suffered as a result of past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. The anniversary is a time to reflect on the work that still needs to be done to address unresolved trauma for our First Nations people.

In 2018, a report collated by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), commissioned by The Healing Foundation, was released. This report provided comprehensive data that illustrates direct links between the forced removal of tens of thousands of children from their families and the real-life symptoms of intergenerational trauma within today’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The report determined that 1 in 7 Indigenous Australians now aged 50 and over were removed from their families, and it noted how the intergenerational transfer of trauma is an underlying cause of issues like family violence, substance abuse, high suicide and incarceration rates. The report estimates that 17,150 survivors of the Stolen Generations are still alive today and that they experience higher levels of adversity in relation to almost all 38 key health and welfare outcomes examined. Ensuring that appropriate aged care supports are in place for Stolen Generations survivors is essential to honour them in their final years.

For further information, please see attached a fact sheet from the Healing Foundation regarding the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. You can subscribe to the Healing Foundation for free if you wish.