Timeline stolen generations
The "Stolen Generations" is the name given to at least 100,000 Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed or taken under duress from their families by police or welfare officers between 1910 and 1970, as stated in in the Bringing Them Home Report.
1869
The Aborigines Protection Act (Vic) establishes an Aborigines Protection Board in Victoria, giving the Governor the power to order the removal of any child from their family to a reformatory or industrial school.
1883
The NSW Aborigines Protection Board is established to manage the lives of 9,000 people.
1905
The Aborigines Act (WA) is passed. Under the act, the Chief Protector is made the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and 'half-caste' child under 16 years old. In the following years, other states and territories enact similar laws.
1911
The Aborigines Act (SA) makes the Chief Protector the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and 'half-caste' child. The Aborigines Protection Board replaces the Chief Protector in 1939 and guardianship power is repealed in 1962.
1935
The introduction of the Infants Welfare Act (Tas) is used to remove Indigenous children on Cape Barren Island from their families.
1969
By 1969, all states have repealed the legislation allowing for the removal of Aboriginal children under the policy of 'protection'. In the following years, Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies are set up to contest removal applications and provide alternatives to the removal of Indigenous children from their families.
1980
The first Link-Up Aboriginal Corporation is established in NSW. It provides family tracing, reunion and support services for forcibly removed children and their families.
1994
The 'Going Home Conference' in Darwin brings together over 600 Aboriginal people removed as children to discuss common goals of reparations.
1999
The Federal Parliament passes a Motion of Reconciliation expressing “deep and sincere regret over the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents" but stops short of apologizing.
2001
The Northern Territory Government presents a parliamentary motion of apology to people who were removed from their families.
Pope John Paul II issues a formal apology on behalf of the Vatican to the affected Aboriginal families for the actions of Catholic authorities or organizations in connection with the Stolen Generations.
2003
The Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) commissions and releases an independent evaluation of responses to the Bringing Them Home Report.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner publicly criticizes the failure of governments to apologies and provide financial and social reparations to the Stolen Generation.
2005
The National Sorry Day Committee announces that Sorry Day will become a “National Day of Healing for All Australians".
The first official Sorry Day ceremony outside Australia is hosted in Lincoln Fields, London, on 25 May.
2006
The Tasmanian Government sets up Australia's first Stolen Generations compensation scheme through the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal Children Act 2006 (Tas).
2007
Bruce Trevor row becomes the first member of the Stolen Generations to successfully sue the state for compensation as a result of his removal from his family as a baby. The South Australian Supreme Court awards Mr Trevor row $775,000 in damages.
2009
The Australian Government formally endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Article 8 requires governments to prevent and provide remedies for forced assimilation, forced population transfers and dispossession from lands.
The Australian government commits to the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation to address trauma and healing, with a particular focus on the Stolen Generations.
NSW Governor Marie Bashir launches the 'Kinchella Boys' Home Aboriginal Corporation Strategic Plan' to help Aboriginal men who passed through Kinchella Boys' Home with counseling programs.
The "Stolen Generations" is the name given to at least 100,000 Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed or taken under duress from their families by police or welfare officers between 1910 and 1970, as stated in in the Bringing Them Home Report.
1869
The Aborigines Protection Act (Vic) establishes an Aborigines Protection Board in Victoria, giving the Governor the power to order the removal of any child from their family to a reformatory or industrial school.
1883
The NSW Aborigines Protection Board is established to manage the lives of 9,000 people.
1905
The Aborigines Act (WA) is passed. Under the act, the Chief Protector is made the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and 'half-caste' child under 16 years old. In the following years, other states and territories enact similar laws.
1911
The Aborigines Act (SA) makes the Chief Protector the legal guardian of every Aboriginal and 'half-caste' child. The Aborigines Protection Board replaces the Chief Protector in 1939 and guardianship power is repealed in 1962.
1935
The introduction of the Infants Welfare Act (Tas) is used to remove Indigenous children on Cape Barren Island from their families.
1969
By 1969, all states have repealed the legislation allowing for the removal of Aboriginal children under the policy of 'protection'. In the following years, Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies are set up to contest removal applications and provide alternatives to the removal of Indigenous children from their families.
1980
The first Link-Up Aboriginal Corporation is established in NSW. It provides family tracing, reunion and support services for forcibly removed children and their families.
1994
The 'Going Home Conference' in Darwin brings together over 600 Aboriginal people removed as children to discuss common goals of reparations.
1999
The Federal Parliament passes a Motion of Reconciliation expressing “deep and sincere regret over the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents" but stops short of apologizing.
2001
The Northern Territory Government presents a parliamentary motion of apology to people who were removed from their families.
Pope John Paul II issues a formal apology on behalf of the Vatican to the affected Aboriginal families for the actions of Catholic authorities or organizations in connection with the Stolen Generations.
2003
The Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) commissions and releases an independent evaluation of responses to the Bringing Them Home Report.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner publicly criticizes the failure of governments to apologies and provide financial and social reparations to the Stolen Generation.
2005
The National Sorry Day Committee announces that Sorry Day will become a “National Day of Healing for All Australians".
The first official Sorry Day ceremony outside Australia is hosted in Lincoln Fields, London, on 25 May.
2006
The Tasmanian Government sets up Australia's first Stolen Generations compensation scheme through the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal Children Act 2006 (Tas).
2007
Bruce Trevor row becomes the first member of the Stolen Generations to successfully sue the state for compensation as a result of his removal from his family as a baby. The South Australian Supreme Court awards Mr Trevor row $775,000 in damages.
2009
The Australian Government formally endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Article 8 requires governments to prevent and provide remedies for forced assimilation, forced population transfers and dispossession from lands.
The Australian government commits to the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation to address trauma and healing, with a particular focus on the Stolen Generations.
NSW Governor Marie Bashir launches the 'Kinchella Boys' Home Aboriginal Corporation Strategic Plan' to help Aboriginal men who passed through Kinchella Boys' Home with counseling programs.