The Protection and Assimilation policies in regards to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples also included the implementation of protection boards across the nation. Their role was to supervise the removal of thousands of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children from their parents. The term Stolen Generations is used for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who were forcefully taken away from their families between the 1890s and 1970s, in many cases never to see their parents again. Because the period covers many decades we speak of generations (plural) rather than generation.

Children as young as infants were stolen from their families to be placed in girls’ and boys’ homes, foster families or missions. At the age of 18 they were ‘released’ into white society, often scarred for life by their experiences.

Many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are still searching for their fathers, mothers and siblings.

For more information on the Stolen Generations please visit:

www.nsdc.org.au/stolen-generations/history-of-the-stolen-generations/the-history-of-the-stolen-generations

www.stolengenerationstestimonies.com

www.stolengenerations.info/

For help in finding your family please go to:

www.koorieheritagetrust.com/koorie_family_history_service

www.aiatsis.gov.au/fhu/start.html