Australia’s decades-long practice of removing Aboriginal children from their families has led to intergenerational trauma for the Aboriginal Australian community. Many Aboriginal Australians who were once ripped away from their families experience the devastating effects of such policies. During the earlier colonial period, generations of Aboriginal Australian children were forcibly removed from their homes and families (Robinson et al. 2008:1). These children were stripped from their homes, family, culture, and traditions, and they are called the “stolen generations.”

In the documentary “Kanyini: An Aboriginal Australian Shares his Story and Wisdom,” Bob Randall shares his experience of his own child removal and the effects it has had on him, not only as a child but as an adult as well. Bob Randall explains the destruction of his connection to his land, tradition, and much more, including his physical and mental health. The documentary details the extent to which these policies affected Aboriginal Australians, in which approximately 50,000 Aboriginal children were forcibly taken away from their families between the years of 1910 and 1970. Randall explains his own capture, where he was taken up to North Australia all the way to Arnhem land, far away from his family and everything he had grown up with. Randall describes the fear and loneliness that resulted from his removal as a child and its devastating effects on his life today. Not having a support system, and being separated from his family led to such feelings and is the main contributor to Aboriginal Australian's intergenerational trauma as a result of colonialism and these child removal policies. Bob Randall highlights the very ongoing effects of these child removal policies and how they still affect Aboriginal people today.

Trauma can be defined as “the effects of overwhelming and extraordinary experiences that leave their victims in a state of helplessness and thereby undermine their sense of personal efficacy, their relational capacity, and their ability to psychologically integrate the upheavals of life in meaningful ways'' (Doucet et al. 2010: 94). Generational trauma is trauma that extends from one generation to the next, in which any type of repeated exposure to stress and/or traumatic events in the early developmental years or throughout the lifetime can create adverse psychological effects (Claire Gillespie, 2022). These adverse psychological effects can lead to clinical anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Intergenerational trauma, especially, plays a role in the development of trauma through Aboriginal Australian history. The vulnerabilities of these children who were taken away from their families expose them to a great deal of intergenerational trauma as a result of racism, poverty, and various forms of abuse. Intergenerational trauma is a result of trauma through history, which is evident in the case of the Aboriginal child removal policies in Australia. Further, the extent of declining mental health as a result of trauma associated with the child removal policies created adverse effects within the Aboriginal population. The major physical and psychological adverse effects resulted from colonial possession, colonization, and paternalism. The policies set in place, specifically the removal of Aboriginal Australian children, led to profound destruction of family life and severe isolation. These effects are not only attributable to child removals, but also to the persistence of widespread racism, which continues to have a negative effect, particularly on the Aboriginal Australians mental health. These effects of colonialism and child removals contributed to social disadvantages, poverty, overcrowding, and economic opportunity, such as obtaining employment (Parker, Robert., 2010). These types of disadvantages contribute to the emergence of mental illness and intergenerational trauma. Intergenerational trauma can affect many aspects of one's life; which specifically highlights the formations of trusting relationships. Victims of the stolen generations were less likely to form trusting relationships with other people, had higher rates of emotional/behavioral difficulties, and higher rates of substance use and abuse issues (Parker, Robert., 2010).

There are many mental health effects of generational trauma. While discussing generational trauma, it is important to first understand childhood trauma and how it plays a role in the development of future trauma. With generational trauma and its effects, psychological illnesses became more pronounced with age. Living with such adverse symptoms of trauma/mental illness, many self-medicate, which ultimately may turn into substance use disorders throughout their lifetime. A study done by Ogilvie et al (2021) showed an increase in the likelihood of substance use disorders as a result of mental illness. This article also highlights the importance of equal treatment and opportunities because of the socioeconomic disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal Australians. This socioeconomic disadvantage is largely due to colonial rule and their insertion into Aboriginal Australians' lives (Ogilvie et al., 2021)

As seen with child removal policies, the long-lasting effects can create mental health challenges, as well as mental illnesses for Aboriginal Australians. These adverse effects correlated with child removal policies create a cycle of trauma. Highlighting the co-contributing factors of mental health issues as: “being removed as a child, having their own children removed, experiencing violence directly or indirectly within their family or community, alcohol and drug issues, homelessness, comorbidities such as depression” (Atkinson et al. 2014). Childhood trauma specifically increases “the risk of decline in sense of worth, increases emotional distress and shame/grief, and increases destructive behaviors” (Atkinson et al. 2014). All these symptoms and adverse effects of childhood trauma have been seen in children who are victims of traumatic life events. These symptoms, specifically “the increase in destructive behaviors may result in many Aboriginal Australians expressing aggression, suicide (in adolescence), alcohol/substance misuse, sexual promiscuity, physical inactivity, and smoking and obesity” (Atkinson et al. 2014). Victims and survivors of such childhood trauma also experience deficits in social development and maintenance of relationships with family members, romantic relationships, and caregivers. There is evidence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology displayed in Aboriginal Australians with a strong link to transgenerational trauma. One alarming effect of these child removals was the abuse these children endured, which ranged anywhere from emotional abuse to physical and sexual abuse. This article emphasizes the alarming rates of abuse within the Aboriginal Australian communities and their presence as a result of “unresolved trauma and undiagnosed symptoms of PTSD” (Atkinson et al., 2014). It is evident that, without proper treatment, the cycle of abuse relating to intergenerational trauma continues throughout generations (Atkinson et al., 2014).

Intergenerational trauma, as a result of colonial rule and forced child removal policies, has adverse effects in the Aboriginal Australian community, however, there are some solutions to these cycles. While the child removal policies forced families away from their kin, it also threatened Aboriginal Australian culture and created a loss of identification in oneself. “This loss of identity creates a loss of collective hope, rise of self-destructive and addictive behaviors, and intergenerational cycle of trauma among aboriginal communities” (Michael O’Loughlin. 2009). To understand these cycles of trauma and break these cycles, we must first adopt a decolonizing mindset. This requires pertaining to the possibility that the destruction of the social lifestyle of a group creates catastrophic problems. Another solution to acknowledge these wrongdoings includes speaking the unspoken, in which we must assist such people in “regaining a foothold in history” (O’Loughlin, Michael. 2009). This foothold of history allows the Aboriginal Australians to reclaim their history and provide solutions and interventions to the pain of their past. Another proposed solution would include “restorative pedagogical work” with children (O’Loughlin, Michael. 2009). This treatment targets trauma in childhood, in order to create better mental health outcomes in adulthood. This work, done specifically with Aboriginal children, allows intervention and treatment of past traumas when they are recent (treatment from a young age), opposed to treating adults that have been victims of that trauma for their lifetime. Generational trauma can stem from such negative adverse events in childhood as seen with the prevalence of child removal and adult mental health and wellness. Teachers who educate Aboriginal children should possess knowledge on such traumas and be able to recognize and address symptoms. This solution provides adequate understanding of traumas and treatment methods from within school communities. “Psychologists recognize that therapy that utilizes great knowledge of a culture and people from within provides great treatment strategies” (O’Loughlin, Michael. 2009).

Working as a culturally competent mental health practitioner is essential in properly addressing and treating the mental health of Aboriginal Australians. Psychologists in Australia are confronted by this lack of information on culturally component ways of treatment for aboriginal Australians. Solutions brought insight into the “Aboriginal conceptualizations of mental health and their holistic, cultural, and spiritual properties” (Vicary, A., David. 2005). These extreme differences in culture create barriers for treatment, so solutions have to be reconsidered. Using aboriginal health models that incorporate traditional treatments helps address cultural and spiritual components of mental health. Solutions to provide adequate treatment of Aboriginal Australians from the Western health professionals include incorporating traditional mental health treatments, utilizing culturally appropriate mental health intervention, and the formation of engagement in communities through engagement models (Vicary A., David. 2005). Utilizing culturally appropriate mental health interventions involves seeking “traditional mental health services, which are organized depending on perceived cause, severity, type of practitioner, country, gender, and age” (Vicary, A., David. 2005). Initially, treatment of such mental health issues is addressed by the immediate family, and then is addressed by the extended family and community (including elders of the community). Utilizing culturally appropriate mental health interventions may also provide a great solution. Therapists need to make themselves aware of cultural and traditional practices of healing in Aboriginal Australian communities, and should practice their work with aboriginal people in a culturally sensitive manner. Lastly, the engagement in communities through engagement models provides healthcare professionals with stronger connections to Aboriginal Australian communities, which allows for better overall treatment of mental health issues. Building strong relationships allows for engagement and culturally appropriate treatment for aboriginal Australians (Vicary, A., David. 2005).