The Lasting Impact of Stolen Generations on Indigenous Lives in Australia
'Killing me inside': The legacy of government policies and stolen kids
Image: Abc
Bronwyn Smith, a survivor of Australia's Stolen Generations, recounts her traumatic childhood experience in the Cherbourg Aboriginal Girls' Dormitory, where she was forcibly removed from her family. Despite the harsh conditions, she emphasizes the importance of familial bonds and calls for government action to address ongoing Indigenous child removals, highlighting the need for reparations and truth-telling in Queensland.
- 01From 1910 to 1970, up to one-third of Indigenous children in Australia were forcibly removed from their families under discriminatory government policies.
- 02The Cherbourg Aboriginal Girls' Dormitory imposed strict routines and prohibited contact with family, contributing to deep emotional trauma.
- 03As of 2024, nearly 20,000 Indigenous children were in out-of-home care, representing over 44% of all children in the system.
- 04Only five out of 83 recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report have been implemented since its release.
- 05National Sorry Day on May 26 aims to promote action on the recommendations for the Stolen Generations, with this year's theme focusing on moving 'From Sorry to Action.'
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Bronwyn Smith, a 62-year-old Wakka Wakka woman, shares her painful memories of being taken from her family at age nine as part of Australia's Stolen Generations. She recalls her experience in the Cherbourg Aboriginal Girls' Dormitory, where strict routines and separation from family caused lasting trauma. The inquiry 'Bringing Them Home' revealed that from 1910 to 1970, up to one-third of Indigenous children were forcibly removed under laws that deemed them 'neglected.' Smith highlights the emotional scars this has left on her and her family, expressing her desire for government accountability and reparations for survivors. She emphasizes the urgent need for action, as nearly 20,000 Indigenous children remain in out-of-home care, representing over 44% of the total child welfare system. Smith advocates for the reinstatement of truth-telling initiatives in Queensland and calls for reparations, noting that her home state lacks a reparations scheme for the Stolen Generations. As National Sorry Day approaches, she urges the government to implement the remaining recommendations from the report to ensure that the legacy of these policies is addressed and that future generations are not subjected to similar injustices.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The ongoing high rate of Indigenous child removals affects families and communities, perpetuating cycles of trauma and loss.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you believe the government should implement all recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.





