The tens of thousands of Indigenous Australians and their descendents who were forcibly removed under government assimilation policies have far greater physical and health challenges when compared to the wider Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, according to a new report.
The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) was commissioned by peak advocacy body the Healing Foundation, which supports Stolen Generations survivors and their families, and builds on existing data released in 2023.
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Released on Tuesday, the report reveals the stark inequities and the long-term inter-generational impacts of forced removals, a policy adopted by all Australian governments up to the 1970s under racist assimilation laws.
Children were put into institutions, or were fostered or adopted out to non-Indigenous families where many of them suffered harsh, degrading treatment and sexual abuse after being taken from their families. It is estimated at least one in 10 and possibly as many as one in three Indigenous children were removed from their families between 1910 and 1970.
The report uses survey data from 2022 and 2023 of Stolen Generation members, who are now all over the age of 50, and their descendants.
About 200,0000 people – or 45% of Indigenous Australians – have a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle who was removed from their family, the report said.
Survivors were 2.7 times more likely to have severe or profound disability than other Indigenous Australians, and 1.7 times as likely to have been admitted to hospital in the past 12 months even when differences such as age, sex and remoteness of location were taken into account.
Compared to non-Indigenous Australians, survivors were six times more likely to have kidney disease, 4.8 times more likely to have a severe or profound disability, and 3.9 times more likely to report high psychological distress.
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The report also found that Stolen Generations survivors experienced greater socio-economic challenges and distress, such as being less likely to be able to pay for unexpected emergency costs, or experiencing more days where they were unable to afford their essential needs.
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“In summary, the collective pattern indicates that Stolen Generations survivors experience generally more challenging socioeconomic circumstances than other Indigenous people,” the report said.
The report also found that Stolen Generations survivors were nearly twice as likely as other Indigenous peoples to report high levels of psychological distress, and 1.6 times likely to report experiencing mental or behavioural health conditions. Their descendants were 1.3 times more likely both to report high psychological distress and to be diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Dr Martin Edvardsson, the acting head of First Nations health at AIHW, said Australia lacked comprehensive data on the experiences and needs of Stolen Generation survivors and their families.
“Understanding the needs of Stolen Generations survivors through the existing data sources will be increasingly challenging as survivors grow older and become less well represented in household surveys,” Edvardsson said.
Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636