Bringing them home
8. History and Laws: Key questions comparison chart
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Making comparisons between things can often help develop our understanding of them. We become aware of differences and similarities between things we might normally take for granted by seeing them in isolation. For example, by comparing histories we can see what differences and similarities exist, how these differences come about (what factors and conditions are operating etc.) and what the dominant trends are.
Part A
By this stage, you should have read the history and laws relating to the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families in your state or territory. You should also have read about another state or territory.
The chart below highlights some of the key aspects of the overall history of separating Indigenous children from their families. Use your answers to the key questions to fill in the table below.
| Questions
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Your state or territory:
|
Other state or territory:
|
|---|---|---|
When was it settled? |
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How was it settled? |
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How did the first removals of Indigenous children occur? |
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Was there an Aborigines Protection Board in operation at any stage? If so,
when was it introduced? |
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What sorts of institutions were Indigenous children removed to? |
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How were Indigenous children removed through welfare laws? |
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When was the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle introduced? What laws or
policies did it change? |
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Give an example of a 'self-management' initiative that occurred in this
state/territory |
Part B
Using the information above and also drawing on any other general points you have noticed write down five differences and similarities between the histories of removals in both. Your examples can be quite specific or general.
Differences |
Similarities |
|
1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
Part C
In groups, or together as a class, discuss what you have learnt by comparing the two histories. Listen to what points your classmates came up with, especially those who chose a state/territory which was different to yours. You may want to think about broader differences and similarities using the information you have learnt through this discussion.
Here are some focus questions:
- What differences did you notice between what happened in both states/territories?
- How would you explain how these differences came about? What factors do you think gave rise to these differences?
- What are the common threads?
- What new information have you learned about the removal of Indigenous children from their families?
