Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this article contains references to deceased ancestors.
On 13 February 2008, the Australian Parliament formally apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Stolen Generations. The National Apology to the Stolen Generations, also known as the National Apology, acknowledged the profound harm caused by past government policies that forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities.
Delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the National Apology marked a significant moment of national recognition and for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it was an important step towards healing.
Almost two decades on, the anniversary of the National Apology remains a time for reflection, learning and renewed commitment to reconciliation.
For Joint Colleges Training Services (JCTS), this day is an opportunity to reflect on the past and the role of cultural safety in health care today. Understanding this history is part of delivering respectful, culturally safe health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is central to the education we provide to GP and RG registrars across Australia.
Who are the Stolen Generations?
The ‘Stolen Generations’ refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families due to their race and placed into institutions or with non-Indigenous foster families.
These removals were carried out by governments, churches and welfare organisations across Australia between 1910 and 1970. It is estimated that between 10 to 30 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were taken from their families. Many experienced neglect, abuse and exploitation and were denied contact with their families, languages and cultures.
The impacts of these policies have been lifelong and intergenerational affecting individuals, families and communities today.
Why was the National Apology given?
In 1995, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission began a national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
The inquiry heard personal testimony from more than 500 people and received hundreds of additional submissions. Its findings were published in 1997 in the Bringing Them Home report.
The report documented the widespread trauma caused by forced removals and made 54 recommendations to address the harm. One of its key recommendations was that governments and institutions issue formal apologies to the Stolen Generations.
Between 1997 and 2001, all state and territory governments apologised.
When Australian Parliament opened on 13 February 2008, the Apology was the first item of business. The Apology to the Stolen Generations was witnessed by thousands of people gathered in Canberra and broadcast across Australia.
Working towards reconciliation
The National Apology was widely seen as a milestone in Australia’s journey towards reconciliation. For many members of the Stolen Generations, it represented a long-awaited acknowledgment of the truth of their experiences and the harm caused.
While the National Apology could not undo the past, it was an important step towards healing. It recognised the pain caused by past policies and affirmed the need to build respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
Many survivors of the Stolen Generations are still living with the effects of forced removal. The trauma has been passed down through generations, contributing to the ongoing social and health challenges experienced by many communities today.
The National Apology reminds us that acknowledging history is essential to building a more just future. Understanding the impacts of past policies helps create safer, more respectful systems and services today.