The Stolen Generation were when the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (aboriginals) were removed and taken from their families by the Australian Federal and State government.
Removal of Indigenous children from their family first started not long after the arrival of Europeans in Australia in 1788. State governments had begun to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their parents towards the late nineteenth century and this was continued until the late twentieth century.
The things they did were:
- Establish laws ('Protection' acts) to do this
- Establish protection boards to administer this policy
- Give power to police and protection officers to carry out this policy
-Took over from parents their roles as the children's legal guardians.
Because of having an excuse to justify their actions, officers often falsely accused parents for neglecting or abusing their children and said that the government would provide the Aboriginal children a better life and lifestyle than their own families and communities. Over time, most State Governments soon made Indigenous children ward of state so there was no need to provide a reason for their removal.
ward of state: Someone whose legal guardian is the state, court or a public welfare agency
Children were taken from Aboriginal parents so they could be brought up 'white' and were taught to reject their own kind. The children were either placed in government- and missionary- run training institutions, or were put up for adoption and placed with foster parents. It was expected that they were soon to become servants and labourers.
Basically, what the government were trying to do at that time was to take the children and slowly start to remove the race of the Indigenous until they were died out.
From the 1950s onwards, governments began putting the Aboriginal children into more foster care and adoptions rather than institutions. Some children were placed in 3-4 foster homes before permanently placed.
By the late 1980s, there were more than 100 000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have lost their family and their land, lost their understanding of kinship and have missed out on being educated on the language.
Because of the lack of understanding and respect for the Aboriginals, people thought they were doing the right thing. People believed that Aboriginals lived poor and unrewarding lives, so the institutions where they were taken would provide a more positive environment for them.
It is unknown how many children were taken, since most records have been destroyed since then. Many parents never got to see their child again after they were taken away.
Removal of Indigenous children from their family first started not long after the arrival of Europeans in Australia in 1788. State governments had begun to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their parents towards the late nineteenth century and this was continued until the late twentieth century.
The things they did were:
- Establish laws ('Protection' acts) to do this
- Establish protection boards to administer this policy
- Give power to police and protection officers to carry out this policy
-Took over from parents their roles as the children's legal guardians.
Because of having an excuse to justify their actions, officers often falsely accused parents for neglecting or abusing their children and said that the government would provide the Aboriginal children a better life and lifestyle than their own families and communities. Over time, most State Governments soon made Indigenous children ward of state so there was no need to provide a reason for their removal.
ward of state: Someone whose legal guardian is the state, court or a public welfare agency
Children were taken from Aboriginal parents so they could be brought up 'white' and were taught to reject their own kind. The children were either placed in government- and missionary- run training institutions, or were put up for adoption and placed with foster parents. It was expected that they were soon to become servants and labourers.
Basically, what the government were trying to do at that time was to take the children and slowly start to remove the race of the Indigenous until they were died out.
From the 1950s onwards, governments began putting the Aboriginal children into more foster care and adoptions rather than institutions. Some children were placed in 3-4 foster homes before permanently placed.
By the late 1980s, there were more than 100 000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have lost their family and their land, lost their understanding of kinship and have missed out on being educated on the language.
Because of the lack of understanding and respect for the Aboriginals, people thought they were doing the right thing. People believed that Aboriginals lived poor and unrewarding lives, so the institutions where they were taken would provide a more positive environment for them.
It is unknown how many children were taken, since most records have been destroyed since then. Many parents never got to see their child again after they were taken away.
The Kinchela Boys Home (1924-70)
The Kinchela Boys Home in New South Wales, was among the worst of all the 'homes'. It was for Aboriginal boys who were aged from about 7-14 and they were sent there to gain a basic education and to learn farming and basic manual labour tasks. Throughout the years it was running, approximately 400 boys were sent there.
In this boys home, discipline was strict, treatment was harsh and punishment was severe. Child Welfare officers rarely inspected this institution or checked what it was doing. This was to avoid addressing negative reports on how the home was being run.
The boys were referred to by the staff as 'inmates'. Their day began early with farming tasks before breakfast and no breakfast for those who finished late. Then they had school with teachers who were untrained. This occurred until 3pm followed by 2-4 hours of work as farm labourers before being sent to bed at 8pm.
In The 1950s, the boys then began attending Kempsey Boys' High School where many of them excelled at sport. Boys at Kinchela were not given time nor a nurturing environment to benefit from an academic education.
The Kinchela Boys Home in New South Wales, was among the worst of all the 'homes'. It was for Aboriginal boys who were aged from about 7-14 and they were sent there to gain a basic education and to learn farming and basic manual labour tasks. Throughout the years it was running, approximately 400 boys were sent there.
In this boys home, discipline was strict, treatment was harsh and punishment was severe. Child Welfare officers rarely inspected this institution or checked what it was doing. This was to avoid addressing negative reports on how the home was being run.
The boys were referred to by the staff as 'inmates'. Their day began early with farming tasks before breakfast and no breakfast for those who finished late. Then they had school with teachers who were untrained. This occurred until 3pm followed by 2-4 hours of work as farm labourers before being sent to bed at 8pm.
In The 1950s, the boys then began attending Kempsey Boys' High School where many of them excelled at sport. Boys at Kinchela were not given time nor a nurturing environment to benefit from an academic education.
In the 1990s, the Australian Human Rights Commission started a national inquiry about The Stolen Generation. A report was soon made on the 27th of May, 1997. The report talked about the devastating impact parents and families went through when their children were taken. It was found that the institutions and homes many children were put in were cruel and horrible homes where the children were sexually and physically abused. It was found that the forced removal of Aboriginal children was very traumatic for the families and themselves.
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