Posted: January 18th, 2023

A decade on from the ‘National Apology’: The threat of another ‘Stolen Generation’ of Indigenous Australians

A decade on from the ‘National Apology’: The threat of another ‘Stolen Generation’ of Indigenous Australians
A decade has passed since the Australian government delivered the National Apology to the Indigenous Australians who were affected by the policies of forced removal, also known as the Stolen Generations. The National Apology was delivered by then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on February 13, 2008, and was a formal acknowledgement and apology for the harm caused to Indigenous Australians by government policies and practices of forced removal.

The forced removal of Indigenous children from their families and communities began in the late 1800s and continued until the 1970s. The policies were implemented with the aim of assimilating Indigenous children into mainstream Australian society and “breeding out” Indigenous culture and heritage. As a result, many Indigenous children were removed from their families and communities and placed in institutions or fostered or adopted by non-Indigenous families. These children were often subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and many suffered long-term consequences as a result of their removal.

The impact of the forced removal policies on Indigenous Australians was devastating, and the trauma and intergenerational effects of these policies continue to be felt by Indigenous communities today. The National Apology was seen as an important step towards acknowledging and addressing the harm caused by these policies, and towards building a more reconciled and inclusive society.

However, a decade on from the National Apology, there are concerns that another “Stolen Generation” of Indigenous Australians may be at risk. Indigenous children in Australia are overrepresented in the child protection system, and there are concerns that the system is failing to adequately support and protect Indigenous children and families. Indigenous children are nine times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children, and there are fears that Indigenous children are being removed from their families and communities at disproportionate rates.

There are also concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indigenous children and families. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and has disproportionately affected Indigenous Australians, who have higher rates of underlying health conditions and are more likely to live in crowded housing. This has led to increased stress and trauma within Indigenous communities, and there are fears that the pandemic could lead to a further increase in the number of Indigenous children being removed from their families.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child protection system. These include poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and the ongoing impact of colonisation and dispossession. There are also concerns about the lack of cultural sensitivity within the child protection system and the lack of support for Indigenous families and communities.

To address these issues and prevent another “Stolen Generation” of Indigenous Australians, there is a need for a holistic, culturally sensitive approach to child protection that focuses on supporting and strengthening Indigenous families and communities. This could include initiatives such as the provision of adequate housing, education, and healthcare, as well as the development of culturally appropriate support services for Indigenous families and communities.

It is also important for the government to work closely with Indigenous communities and organizations to develop and implement policies and programs that are responsive to the needs of Indigenous Australians. This could involve the establishment of Indigenous-led and controlled child protection services, and the development of initiatives that support and empower Indigenous families and communities.

While the National Apology marked an important step towards acknowledging and addressing the harm caused by the policies of forced removal, a decade on there are concerns that another “Stolen Generation” of Indigenous Australians may be at risk. To prevent this, it is important to adopt a holistic, culturally sensitive approach to child protection that focuses on supporting and strengthening Indigenous families and communities, and to work closely with Indigenous organizations to develop and implement policies and programs that are responsive to the needs of Indigenous Australians.