The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) findings, commissioned by The Healing Foundation, reinforce decades of evidence about the enduring health, wellbeing and support needs of Stolen Generations survivors and descendants. 

The evidence is clear. Governments, service providers and responsible organisations must act on the solutions that survivors, descendants and communities have identified for decades.

Thousands of Stolen Generations survivors are ageing with complex and intersecting health, social and emotional wellbeing aged care and support needs that require urgent attention. 

Many survivors continue to live with lifelong impacts of forced removals, including poorer health outcomes, disability, psychological distress and challenges accessing appropriate support.

The findings show there have been no substantial improvements in key health and wellbeing outcomes for survivors over the past five years, reinforcing the need for urgent action.

While survivors continue to demonstrate remarkable strength and leadership in healing, the ongoing impacts of government removal policies continue to affect their health, wellbeing and quality of life.  

The impacts of Stolen Generations policies continue to affect both survivors and descendants. There are around 200,000 descendants, making up almost half of the entire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

Descendants continue to experience the intergenerational impacts of removal policies, demonstrating that this is not a historical issue, but a contemporary policy issue requiring contemporary policy responses.

Investment in healing helps address ongoing harm, strengthens families and communities, and creates better outcomes for future generations.  

Your support in sharing the data will help build awareness and education around Stolen Generations experiences and the urgent needs of survivors and descendants.

We're using this data release to highlight the need for government accountability, sustained investment and coordinated action to deliver meaningful change within survivors' lifetimes.

Despite decades of evidence, many survivors continue to face barriers accessing the trauma-aware, culturally safe health, aged care and social services they need. 

Significant gaps in national data also mean survivors needs are often ignored and means for supports are under-resourced.

“Stolen Generations survivors, like all Australians, would like to imagine a better future for their families. This is possible through investment in services to ensure that we break the cycle of intergenerational trauma being passed on to descendants.”

– The Healing Foundation. Board Chair Professor Steve Larkin (Kungarakan)   

Download The Healing Foundation's key messages 

How can governments, organisations and partners support survivors and descendants?

The Healing Foundation is committed to achieving better outcomes for survivors and descendants, but lasting change requires governments, service providers and communities to act together.

From Sorry to Action: A plan to act on Bringing them home (2026-2028) outlines practical actions that governments, service providers and communities can take now to advance healing, justice and better outcomes for survivors and descendants.