Bringing Them Home

  • Aboriginal Protection Act (Vic) introduced

    The Aborigines Protection Act (Vic) introduced an Aborigines Protection Board in Victoria to conduct the interests of Aborigines. The Governor can order the removal of any child from their family to a reformatory or industrial school.
  • Native Welfare classified as legal guardians of all Aboriginal Children

    Chief protector is allowed to remove local Aborigines onto and between reserves and hold children in dormitories by the The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act (Qld). It was decided that until 1965, the director of Native Welfare will be the legal guardian of all Aboriginal Children even if their parents were alive or not.
  • Chief protector becomes legal guardian of all children under 16 who are Aborigines or 'half blood' Aborigines.

    The Chief Protector become the legal guardian of all Aborigines and ‘half blood’ child under the age of 16 due to the Aborigines Act (WA) being passed.
  • Aborigines Protection Board claimed authority of children if neglected

    The Aborigines Protection Board were given the authority to assume full custody and control of children of any Aborigine if the court found the child to have been mis-treated under the Neglected Children and Juvenile Offenders Act 1905 (NSW).
  • Chief protector becomes legal guardian of all Aborigines and 'half blood' Aborigines

    The Aborigines Act (SA) makes the Chief Protector the legal guardian of all Aboriginal and ‘half blood’ child with additional wide-ranging powers to remove the Indigenous to and from reserves.
  • The Aboriginal Protection Board was handed authority to seperate Indigenous children from their families

    The Aborigines Protection Amending Act (NSW) power to the Aboriginal Protection Board to separate Indigenous children from their families without having to establish in court that they were neglected. The Aboriginal Protection Board was handed authority from the Aborigines Protection Amending Act (NSW) to seperate Indigenous children from their families without having to attend court if they were neglected or not.
  • Indigneous children on Cape Barren Island are removed from their families.

    The establishment of the Infants Welfare Act (Tas) is used to take away Indigenous children on Cape Barren Island from their families. From 1928-1980, the head teacher on Cape Barren is selected as a special constable with the power and responsibilities of a police officer. This includes the power to remove a child for neglect under child welfare legislation.
  • Loses power to remove Indigenous children.

    The NSW Aborigines Protection Board loses its power to remove Indigenous children.
  • AICCA's provide different ways to remove children from their families

    Up until this time, all states had removed the act approving for the removal of Aboriginal children under the policy of ‘protection’. In the years following, the Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies (“AICCAs”) are introduced to challenge removal applications and provide different ways to remove Indigenous children from their families.
  • Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation is introduced.

    This provided family tracing, reunions, and support for the children and their families who had been removed
  • National Inquiry is approved by Commonwealth

    The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families is approved by the Commonwealth Government. This was because of the efforts made by the main Indigenous agencies and communities.
  • Report is presented to the Commonwealth Government

    The committee presents it's report to the Commonwealth Government on the findings of the National Inquiry into the separation between the children and their families.