Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people
The concept of collective, historical, intergenerational trauma is something that has received particular attention in relation to holocaust survivors, refugees, and military personnel. However, it has not been systematically used as a framework to understand and address current experiences among Au...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Social Work & Society
2019-10-01
|
| Series: | Social Work and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1582 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849246306749382656 |
|---|---|
| author | Karen Menzies |
| author_facet | Karen Menzies |
| author_sort | Karen Menzies |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of collective, historical, intergenerational trauma is something that has received particular attention in relation to holocaust survivors, refugees, and military personnel. However, it has not been systematically used as a framework to understand and address current experiences among Australian Indigenous children, families and communities, particularly within the Australian context. This paper makes the case that, similar to the experiences of other colonised Indigenous people in North America and New Zealand, the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia post-European arrival constitutes trauma and that the past child welfare laws, policies and practices of forcible separation and assimilation were a focal point for this trauma. There is significant evidence that the effects of this trauma continue today in Aboriginal children, families and communities and it is argued that this contributes to, and perpetuates, the pain and suffering they experience. This analysis has important implications for practitioners working with Indigenous communities in the education, health, legal and welfare sectors. Understanding of collective, historical and intergenerational trauma forms an essential base for effective practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e0d9cb03d57441f9de809bbfdbf1b96 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1613-8953 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Social Work & Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Work and Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e0d9cb03d57441f9de809bbfdbf1b962025-08-20T03:58:32ZengSocial Work & SocietySocial Work and Society1613-89532019-10-01171Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal peopleKaren MenziesThe concept of collective, historical, intergenerational trauma is something that has received particular attention in relation to holocaust survivors, refugees, and military personnel. However, it has not been systematically used as a framework to understand and address current experiences among Australian Indigenous children, families and communities, particularly within the Australian context. This paper makes the case that, similar to the experiences of other colonised Indigenous people in North America and New Zealand, the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia post-European arrival constitutes trauma and that the past child welfare laws, policies and practices of forcible separation and assimilation were a focal point for this trauma. There is significant evidence that the effects of this trauma continue today in Aboriginal children, families and communities and it is argued that this contributes to, and perpetuates, the pain and suffering they experience. This analysis has important implications for practitioners working with Indigenous communities in the education, health, legal and welfare sectors. Understanding of collective, historical and intergenerational trauma forms an essential base for effective practice.http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1582Historical traumaintergenerational and collective traumaAustralian Indigenous peopleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplechild protectionforcible separation |
| spellingShingle | Karen Menzies Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people Social Work and Society Historical trauma intergenerational and collective trauma Australian Indigenous people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people child protection forcible separation |
| title | Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people |
| title_full | Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people |
| title_fullStr | Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people |
| title_short | Forcible separation and assimilation as trauma: The historical and socio-political experiences of Australian Aboriginal people |
| title_sort | forcible separation and assimilation as trauma the historical and socio political experiences of australian aboriginal people |
| topic | Historical trauma intergenerational and collective trauma Australian Indigenous people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people child protection forcible separation |
| url | http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1582 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karenmenzies forcibleseparationandassimilationastraumathehistoricalandsociopoliticalexperiencesofaustralianaboriginalpeople |