Stolen Generations survivor appointed Member of Order of Australia

‘Education and study – the most powerful tool for women, disadvantaged people and Aboriginal people’

These are words from Stolen Generations survivor Dr Jennifer Caruso, a member of The Healing Foundation’s Stolen Generations Reference Group. 

The Eastern Arrernte woman was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to Indigenous Communities of South Australia.

She is among 949 Australians recognised on the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours list, and dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recipients.

Dr Caruso is a historian who is deeply passionate about teaching the true history of Australia, and the atrocities faced by Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants.

She said the nomination, which came from a friend, was ‘a very high honour’ and ‘reaffirming’, especially as someone who has had to fight so hard for her own education and for her career.

“I was absolutely thrilled to receive an email a couple of months ago from the Office of the Governor General that the nomination had been accepted,” she said.

“The process took a couple of years, and I was of the view that if it happened it happened, if not, then I was still really proud of being nominated.” 

A long journey home

The journey that led to her achievements today was fraught with challenges brought about by her forced removal as a child.

Dr Caruso and her siblings were stolen from their family in Alice Springs and placed on the Croker Island Methodist Mission, about 300 kilometres east of Darwin. She was eventually fostered out to a non-Indigenous family in South Australia.

Like many survivors, for Dr Caruso her forced removal, separation from family, loss of identity and culture from a young age has impacted many aspects of her life as an adult.

But she said from a young age, she already had a strong willingness to push back against the systems that took so much from her.

“I still have a video in my head of a five-year-old me waiting at the Adelaide airport for someone to pick me up. When no-one came for hours, I knew then, that if I could, I had to survive somehow and do what I could to make some kind of difference,” she said.

“Back then of course I had no idea what that meant. All I knew was that I was alone, on my own, and I had to deal with whatever came my way. 

“That's been the pattern of my life – I didn't know how to do something, but I knew something had to be done and so I just moved towards any openings and kept working doing whatever I could.”

Education the most powerful tool

It wasn’t until years later at the age of 35 that Dr Caruso re-entered the education system by her own will and attained her year-12 certificate. 

She said she went on to obtain her first university degree and eventually completed her PhD – studying part-time throughout and working full- time.

“Gaining all of those took me 30 years and my thesis was on the history of the country and the mission my siblings and I were sent to, wrapped up in my first-person voice,” she said.

“I was taught constantly that I would never be able to do university studies because I am Aboriginal.

“All I wanted to do was learn how to touch type to get a job as a secretary or office worker – not even taking into consideration that being Aboriginal I'd never be employed in such jobs anyway.”

After years of studying and through the lens of her lived experience, Dr Caruso has gone on to teach what she describes as ‘imperative education’ for all – the history of Indigenous Australians, particularly the Stolen Generations.

For her, education is fundamental, especially for those born into disadvantage.

“I have always believed that education and study is the most powerful tool for women, disadvantaged people and most importantly for Aboriginal people. It is a strong mechanism to not only learn more about yourself but to create change,” Dr Caruso said.

Fighting for a better future

Throughout her career she has not only devoted her time to teaching but also advocating for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

She has tirelessly contributed much of her free time to sitting on boards, reference groups and as a member of Aboriginal organisations, including as the Chair of the South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation and The Healing Foundation.

She said although the appointment as AM was a colonial concept and could be perceived to be against her own work, that it was an acknowledgement of how far she’s come and the importance of creating change from within systems.

“Some might say that I was betraying the cause, but I accepted it for very personal reasons – especially as a kid from the mission,” she said.

“My view is that the cause can be pursued in many ways – marching, and protesting, but also from within – sitting on boards, being a member of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that challenges the government and the ongoing structures that continue to reinforce our disadvantage and that is how I will utilise this recognition.”

Dr Jennififer Caruso is among dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were recognised on the 2026 King's Birthday Honours list.

A full list of the recipients can be found at the Governor General’s website: https://www.gg.gov.au/kings-birthday-2026-honours-list