BA1001 - Stolen Generation: Impact of Policies and Rescue Efforts

This essay provides an overview of the Stolen Generation, referring to the forceful removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families by the Australian government between 1910 and 1970. It discusses the assimilation policies that underpinned these actions, based on notions of racial inferiority and the belief that children were more adaptable to white society. The essay highlights the cultural and psychological impact on the stolen children, including the suppression of their native languages and cultural practices, and the resulting intergenerational trauma. Furthermore, it outlines rescue efforts and reparation programs like 'Bringing Them Home,' aimed at reconnecting stolen children with their families and communities, and addressing the lasting effects of these policies. The essay also touches upon the mental and emotional struggles faced by both the children and their parents due to this forced separation.

STOLEN GENERATION
STUDENT NAME: ROLDIN MATHEW
Student ID
Stolen Generation How did they emerge
Steps to Rescue ‘Stolen Generation’
Connection - Time and Truth
References
• Evicted children we relied about their parents. Many were told that their parents
had abandoned them,, some were told that their parents had died (Carleton,
2015).
• As a result when they grew up they were not even able to recognize their parents
as well as cultural origin.
• The effect of this mental torture hindered the normal psychological
development of the stolen generation and this were transformed to their next
generation too (Terszak, 2015).
• The stolen generation received a low level of education and turned into a
mentally paralyzed generation
• On the other hand the parents of stolen generation could not live with the agony
of being separated from their children and became drug addict.
As a part of implementing the policy, government started to remove
indigenous children from their families (Funston, L., & Herring, 2016).
The assimilation policies of Australian government was designed n the
basis of black inferiority as well as white superiority. In other words these
assimilation policies attempted to focus on children as they were
considered to be more adaptable to ‘so called’ white society as compared
to the indigenous adults (Stanley, 2019).
The children who are removed from indigenous parents were trained to
reject their own culture as well s heritage.. Moreover they rate forced to
follow the ‘white culture’. The torture exceeded all the limits when they
are restricted to speak their mother tongue and their names were changed.
Steps taken for rescuing the ‘stolen generation’ may include the introduction of the programs
like-‘Bringing Them Home’. According to the ‘Bringing Them Home’ report, will be applied to
those who suffered most for the forceful removal policies, this reparation program also include:
1. Individuals children who were compelled to leave their parents
2. Families who suffered due to removal,
3. Communities suffered from disintegration
This program attempted to return the stolen children to their families and enhance integration
among the affected communities.
,
‘Stolen Generation’ refers to the forceful
eviction of the aboriginals as well as the
Torres Strait Islander children from the
families they belong to. The eviction
process was conducted by the
Government of Australia during 1910-
1970. This was a part of aboriginal
policies of Australian government that
time. The generations of children which
were differentiated under this policy were
called Stolen Generations.
O’Donnell, M., Taplin, S., Marriott, R., Lima, F., & Stanley, F. J. (2019). Infant
removals: The need to address the over-representation of Aboriginal infants
and community concerns of another ‘stolen generation’. Child abuse &
neglect, 90, 88-98.
Terszak, M. (2015). Orphaned by the colour of my skin: A stolen generation
story. Routledge.
Funston, L., & Herring, S. (2016). When will the stolen generations end?: A
qualitative critical exploration of contemporary 'child protection 'practices in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Sexual Abuse in Australia
and New Zealand, 7(1), 51.
Carleton, S. (2015). Australian gothic drama: Mapping a nation's trauma from
convicts to the stolen generation. Australasian Drama Studies, (66), 11.