Yanyuwa woman Senator Malarndirri McCarthy will bring nuanced understanding and lived experience to the many priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in her new role, The Healing Foundation said today.
“Minister McCarthy is a great appointment; she deeply understands the Stolen Generations experience, its pervasive impact across the generations, and the importance of acting urgently to support elderly survivors,” The Healing Foundation’s Chair Professor Steve Larkin said.
“The Healing Foundation congratulates Minister McCarthy on becoming the new Minister for Indigenous Australians. We look forward to working with her and her team on the complex challenges facing Stolen Generations survivors including trauma informed aged care and barriers to accessing historical and family records.”
Minister McCarthy has been a longstanding advocate for Stolen Generations survivors, their descendants and families. She has spoken as recently as last week about the ‘trauma and harm’[1] caused by the Stolen Generations policies and actions.
The Healing Foundation’s CEO Shannan Dodson is encouraged to be working with another strong Aboriginal woman who comprehends the complexities of intergenerational trauma.
“Minister McCarthy understands the ongoing impact of these damaging policies on our communities across the country, and The Healing Foundation is keen to work with her on how we continue to see justice and recognition for aging survivors,” she said.
In her powerful speech to the Senate when the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme was passed in 2021 Senator McCarthy acknowledged that it’s clear that ‘no amount of money can really compensate for the incredible loss of so many members of the Stolen Generations’[2].
She was pointed in reminding us all that, ‘as a Parliament and a country, we failed in one of the most important and basic duties we have, and that is to not harm children. In fact, the complete opposite was done. The removal of children from their families—an almost centuries-long practice by governments across Australia—created a trauma that has transcended generations and will continue to do so for years to come.’[3]
Her support for remedial action and acknowledgement is also well documented: ‘By recognising the wrongs of the past and taking practical action to support those impacted by child removal, we can move forward together towards intergenerational healing.’[4]
A further excerpt from Minister McCarthy’s 2021 Senate speech is testament to her genuine and open understanding of Stolen Generations survivors and their experiences.
‘The separation of families and the destruction of communities on a systemic scale cannot simply be forgotten, and the fear and pain remain with not only the members of the stolen generations but their children and grandchildren too. We continue to see the long shadow the trauma has cast on relationships, on health and mental health, on people’s economic prospects and on culture, language and identity. The Stolen Generations have haunted not only the victims but also our national history and conscience. I’d like to think the Stolen Generations are a faraway memory—something that did happen a long time ago. Instead, it happened so recently—right up to where we are now.’
“Minister McCarthy is very well placed to help tackle the big issues that affect Stolen Generations survivors and their families every day,” Professor Larkin said.
- https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/mccarthy/2024/venerable-mary-aikenhead-ministries-oration
- https://www.malarndirrimccarthy.com.au/media-hub/speeches/stolen-generations-redress-scheme-passes-after-many-years-of-waiting/
- https://www.malarndirrimccarthy.com.au/media-hub/speeches/stolen-generations-redress-scheme-passes-after-many-years-of-waiting/
- https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/mccarthy/2023/territories-stolen-generations-redress-scheme-12-months
