Stolen Generation In Australia

Words: 871
Pages: 4

This essay has two components; the first component is exploring the Stolen Generations and its effects and impacts on Indigenous Australians at the time and present day. The Stolen Generations event has significantly impacted Indigenous Australians in the past and currently and from exploring this it is important to consider and explore questions such as what is the Stolen Generations and why did Indigenous children get removed from their families. The second component discusses arguments relating to supporting teaching and learning of Indigenous Australians cultures and perspectives in early childhood. In relation to educator’s understandings of Stolen Generations, it is crucial to consider this event and its importance to both Indigenous …show more content…
It was the apology that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered in 2008 that was welcomed by many but not all and this was backed up by the Stolen Generations Victoria Unfinished Business Report that states that an apology was just a beginning and much more needs to be done to support members of the Stolen Generations Hence without the guidance and wisdom of the Elders and traditional Aboriginal culture, those who were taken away are anchorless, as family and community connections have been shattered for many members of the Stolen Generations (McIntyre & McKeich, 2009). Also, it is evident that the children that were removed from their families, communities and culture are: less likely to have undertaken higher education, much less liable to have a stable life and conditions, less likely to be in a stable relationship with a partner and more likely to use illicit substances (McIntyre & McKeich, 2009). Therefore, there is clear links between past events that have occurred to individuals involved in the Stolen Generations and a simple apology from the Government is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to build the bridge between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous …show more content…
The main impact and effect on children are that they grew up away from their families and little knowledge of who their parents are or little knowledge. This also means that children grew away from their culture and their language which meant that this decreased their exposure to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Which meant that the children that were a part of the Stolen Generations were subject to adverse and traumatic early childhood experiences which had ongoing negative impacts on their development opportunities (McIntyre & McKeich, 2009). This is evident as their lives are affected in all aspects which have significantly impacted psychological and emotional damages, these problems caused affecting distress leading some to be responsible for self-destruction behaviours such as substance abuse and violence (Price, K. 2012). Even in today’s 21st-century society Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples still experience discrimination, (Craven, 2011 p.48), while they were going through these experiences they were being isolated from their cultures and languages. Price (2012) has a quote that depicts that there is no need to label someone as having a culture, the quote is stating that there is no need to stipulate someone culture from their skin and the writer is stating