Government policies that separated children from their families have had devastating consequences on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals. These children separated from their parents became known as The Stolen Generation. If you already know about the Bringing them home (Word 31kb) inquiry you can jump in and do the Key findings activity. Or, you can read and print this document first, and use it to help you complete the activity. It’s up to you. | ||
Bringing them home
Source: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1997, Bringing them home report
The ‘Bringing them home’ report, published in 1997 by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, presents the findings of a national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
The report states that from approximately 1869 until the late 1970s at least 100,000 children were removed from their parents. Because formal records of separations were not well kept this figure could actually be much higher.
The official reason given for the removal of children was to protect them from abuse within their families. This was often misguided and, in carrying out this policy, government officials depicted caring and able parents as not being able to provide properly for their children.
Separated children were institutionalised or placed in foster homes. They were prevented from socialising in their own cultures and were punished if they spoke their native languages. Officials often told parents that their children had died, even though this was not true.
The laws, policies and practices that separated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families have had a serious and ongoing impact on the health of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.
Feelings of intense grief, loss and trauma have brought about health problems such as depression, which is often associated with alcohol dependence and misuse of illegal drugs.
Dr. Jane McKenrick from the Victorian Aboriginal Mental Health Network (HREOC 1997) found that most mainstream health services lack knowledge of and are insensitive to cultural issues of history, culture, spirituality, trauma, loss and grief.
The consequence is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often feel uncomfortable using or trusting mainstream health services. As a result, their health problems have frequently been misdiagnosed, inappropriately or insensitively treated, or not treated at all.
The report identifies the need for health services that recognise the importance that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people place on the holistic value of health, spirituality and cultural beliefs, and that take into account the context of their lives.