The Healing Foundation

Intergenerational Trauma

What is intergenerational trauma?

Stolen Generations survivors have experienced huge grief and trauma. As babies and children, they were forcibly separated from family, community, identity, Country, language and culture. Many Stolen children also experienced institutionalisation, abuse and neglect.

Lack of healthcare, basic nutrition, play and education were also common experiences. The families and communities from which they were removed also suffered profound grief and loss.

If Stolen Generations survivors don’t have the opportunity to heal from the trauma of being forcibly removed, they might live in a state of distress. Being unable to heal can have deep and lifelong impacts, not only for survivors, but for future generations and whole communities.

This is known as intergenerational trauma.

Watch this short video to learn more about intergenerational trauma.

Intergenerational Trauma Animation

Across the nation, a third of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are descended from Stolen Generations survivors. In some states and territories, descendants make up more than half of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

Impacts of forcible removal have created a gap within a gap

The 1997 Bringing them home report showed the connection between being forcibly removed from family, community, culture and Country and so many key indicators within the Closing the Gap targets.

More recently, research commissioned by The Healing Foundation has shown that Stolen Generations survivors and descendants represent 'a gap within the gap’. As a direct result of their forcible removal, both groups face poorer health, social, and economic outcomes than other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have been affected by Stolen Generations policies in some way. Supporting survivors, their families and communities to address trauma and continue to heal is critical to closing the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This requires specialised focus from policy-makers and services.

Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma

A comprehensive national healing package is urgently needed to meet the needs of Stolen Generations survivors, their families and communities.

This would support healing strategies, programs and resources that aim to:

Sustain Stolen Generations survivor-led organisations that deliver localised services
Improve social and emotional wellbeing
Strengthen cultural connections and identity
Educate service providers to be trauma-aware and trauma-informed
Educate the broader public about the Stolen Generations
Provide support to heal from intergenerational trauma.

Learn about or contact local organisations that support Stolen Generations survivors and their families around the country.

Stolen Generations survivors may be eligible to access redress. Learn more about redress for survivors.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation near you.

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Acknowledgement of Country

The Healing Foundation acknowledges Country, Custodians and Community of the lands on which we live and work. We also pay our respects to Elders and to Stolen Generations survivors, of the Dreaming and of the here and now. We recognise the ongoing nature of trauma experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit each day to survivor-led intergenerational healing.

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