Assessment Resource Centre (ARC)

Stolen Generation

The stolen Generation was a generation of Aboriginal children, who were taken from their families in an act by the government to change from protectionism to assimilation during 1910 to 1970. This act of taking away the children had a huge effect on the Aboriginal community as their freedom was stolen from them and they were degraded and treated poorly. This act of assimilation opposed the UN convention of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide signed in 1949. this act nearly wiped out the aboriginal culture as the children of that generation had no heritage. They were told that ‘my mother was deceased, there was no mention of siblings’ quoted from Marjorie Woodrow. The government changed the identities of these children so that mothers and families would be unable to find them again. There were abused and this had later repercussions in their life.

This act of assimilation is extremely important because it showed the change in rights and freedoms of the Aboriginals, by taking away their culture and freedom and this caused much anger and depression. While the government said it was an act to try and help the Aboriginal community it ended up having no positive effects, only negative ones.

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