Bringing them home
7. Using sources - Statistics activity sheet
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Using sources
The following statistics arise from a number of different reports, which were written at different times and about different groups of people. They are not necessarily representative of national statistics.
38% of Indigenous people were forcibly removed themselves and/or had relatives who, as a child, had been forcibly or otherwise removed from their natural family.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002
Over 50% of respondents who gave evidence to the Bringing them home Inquiry were five years or younger when they were removed from their families.
Bringing them home report, page 182
The children of members of the ‘Stolen Generations’ are twice as likely to have emotional and behavioural problems, to be at high risk for hyperactivity, emotional and conduct disorders, and twice as likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.
Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey 2001–02
Indigenous people in Australia are almost one and a half times more likely to have a disability or long-term health condition than non-Indigenous people.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2002
21.5% of Indigenous children under 12 experienced racism in the previous six months.
Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey 2001–02
Focus questions
1. What do these statistics suggest were the effects of the removal of Indigenous children from their families?
2. What conclusions can we draw from these statements/statistics?
3. What other information would be useful to assess the impact of the policies of removal of Indigenous children from their families?
4. What problems might arise in collecting that information?
