Despite the wide-ranging impacts of the Stolen Generations, and the continued disadvantage faced by survivors, they have largely been overlooked over the past 17 years of Closing the Gap implementation.
Shannan Dodson, The Healing Foundation’s CEO and a Yawuru woman, acknowledges the exceptional efforts of the Coalition of Peaks in leading reform, holding governments to account and driving change in partnership through calling for initiatives such as the Closing the Gap Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Led Review.
The review recognises that although Stolen Generations survivors, descendants and related organisations are key to the Closing the Gap outcomes, they are not adequately represented in the National Agreement.
“Currently, there are no specific targets or measures to acknowledge their unique experiences and challenges,” Ms Dodson said.
Independent review recommendations to strengthen visibility and recognition of Stolen Generation survivors
The review found that, to realise the full intent of the National Agreement, all parties to the National Agreement should take steps to ensure that the histories, experiences and ongoing needs of Stolen Generation survivors are made visible across implementation.
This includes freeing up space within national narratives and commemorative platforms and embedding Stolen Generations visibility in cultural, data and policy structures.
“There is an urgent need to prioritise data on Stolen Generations survivors, particularly within the broader reforms aimed at reducing the inequality faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is important that we capture the experiences and outcomes of survivors. By doing so, we can better understand the impact of past policies and implement effective measures moving forward,” Ms. Dodson said.
“Addressing the unfinished business of Bringing them home is inextricably linked to the development of the Closing the Gap policy framework and the goals of the National Agreement. Our report, ‘Are You Waiting for Us to Die? The Unfinished Business of Bringing them home,’ along with the 2025-26 Pre-budget National Healing Package submission clearly outlines there can be no more delays. The National Agreement remains a strong model to guide our collective efforts,” Ms Dodson said.
Background information
- The review stated that nearly every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family was impacted by the systematic removal of children from their families up until the 1970s and 1980s.
- The evidence is clear: Stolen Generations survivors face socio-economic disadvantages that are direct consequences of forced removals. Research has shown that Stolen Generations survivors and their families represent a ‘gap within the gap’. As a direct result of their forcible removal, survivors and their descendants face poorer health, mental health, social, and economic outcomes than other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – the central challenges the Closing the Gap framework seeks to transform.
- It is critical to explicitly recognise the cultural repair and intergenerational healing needs of survivors and communities. Acknowledging these needs is essential to ensure that Stolen Generations survivor voices are heard and their experiences validated.
Media contact: HFmedia@healingfoundation.org.au
