Modern History · Year 12 · Australia's Transformation Since 1945 · Term 4

'Bringing Them Home' Report and the Apology

Study the 'Bringing Them Home' report and the significance of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HI12K49
• AC9HI12K50

About This Topic

The 'Bringing Them Home' report, released in 1997 after a national inquiry, exposed the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families under assimilation policies from 1910 to 1970. These Stolen Generations practices caused deep cultural loss and trauma. The report presented 54 recommendations, such as reparations, counseling services, and a formal apology, which prompted public reckoning and policy shifts.

Year 12 students connect this to Australia's post-1945 rights movements and reconciliation efforts, per AC9HI12K49 and AC9HI12K50. They evaluate the report's success in building awareness, dissect Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 2008 parliamentary apology for its symbolic weight, and critique limited practical results like missing compensation amid persistent Closing the Gap failures.

Active learning fits this topic well. Source analysis, debates, and role-plays encourage students to weigh historical evidence, build empathy for lived experiences, and link past policies to today's challenges, making abstract significance concrete and memorable.

Key Questions

1. Assess the significance of the 'Bringing Them Home' report in raising national awareness.
2. Analyze the symbolic and practical importance of the 2008 National Apology.
3. Critique the ongoing challenges in achieving full reconciliation for the Stolen Generations.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the primary findings and recommendations of the 'Bringing Them Home' report.
• Evaluate the historical context and impact of the 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
• Critique the ongoing challenges and successes in achieving reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Synthesize information from primary and secondary sources to construct an argument about the report's significance.
• Compare the stated intentions of assimilation policies with their documented outcomes for Indigenous children and families.

Before You Start

Post-War Australian Society and Identity

Why: Students need foundational knowledge of Australia's social and political landscape after World War II to understand the context for assimilation policies and subsequent rights movements.

Indigenous Rights Movements in Australia

Why: Understanding earlier Indigenous activism and advocacy provides context for the national inquiry that led to the 'Bringing Them Home' report.

Key Vocabulary

Stolen Generations	Refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities by government agencies and church missions under policies of assimilation.
Bringing Them Home Report	The 1997 report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families, which documented the history and impact of forced removals and made recommendations for redress.
National Apology	The formal apology made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the Australian Parliament on 13 February 2008 to the Stolen Generations, acknowledging the wrongs of past government policies.
Reconciliation	The process of building better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, aiming to address past injustices and create a more equitable future.
Assimilation Policy	A government policy aimed at absorbing Indigenous populations into the dominant culture, often involving the suppression of Indigenous languages, cultures, and family structures.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The 2008 Apology fully addressed Stolen Generations injustices.

What to Teach Instead

The Apology offered symbolic recognition without reparations or guarantees, as Rudd noted ongoing work ahead. Group debates on evidence like health disparities help students distinguish rhetoric from results and appreciate policy complexities.

Common Misconception

The 'Bringing Them Home' report immediately led to the Apology.

What to Teach Instead

A decade passed with Prime Minister Howard rejecting it; Rudd acted in 2008. Role-plays of parliamentary debates clarify political resistance and build skills in causal analysis.

Common Misconception

Stolen Generations impacts ended decades ago.

What to Teach Instead

Intergenerational trauma persists in education and health gaps. Reflective discussions with contemporary sources help students trace long-term effects and critique incomplete reconciliation.

Active Learning Ideas

Jigsaw: Report Recommendations

Assign small groups to study one key recommendation from the report, such as reparations or apologies. Groups prepare summaries and evidence of outcomes. Regroup into mixed 'teaching' teams where experts share, then discuss overall impact on reconciliation.

50 min·Small Groups

Carousel Rotation: Apology Sources

Set up stations with Rudd's speech excerpts, Indigenous responses, media clippings, and policy documents. Small groups spend 8 minutes per station noting symbolic vs practical elements. Conclude with whole-class synthesis of significance.

45 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate: Reconciliation Progress

Pairs prepare arguments for and against the Apology's effectiveness using report data and current stats. Debate in whole class with timed rebuttals. Vote and reflect on evidence gaps.

40 min·Pairs

Interactive Timeline: From Inquiry to Apology

Small groups research and plot events on a class timeline, adding quotes, images, and 'what if' branches for unheeded recommendations. Present to class for critique.

35 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• The Australian Human Rights Commission continues to advocate for the implementation of the 'Bringing Them Home' report's recommendations, working with government bodies and Indigenous organizations to address ongoing issues faced by the Stolen Generations.
• The legacy of the Stolen Generations impacts contemporary social services and policy development, influencing areas like child protection, mental health support, and cultural heritage preservation programs across Australia.
• Community-led organizations, such as Link-Up services, actively work to reunite Stolen Generations members with their families and cultural connections, demonstrating the enduring need for healing and identity affirmation.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Beyond the symbolic act, what were the most critical practical recommendations of the 'Bringing Them Home' report, and how effectively have they been addressed since 1997?' Facilitate a class discussion where students cite evidence from the report and subsequent government actions.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write on an index card: 'One key finding from the 'Bringing Them Home' report that surprised me is...' and 'One question I still have about the National Apology or reconciliation is...'

Quick Check

Present students with three short historical statements related to the Stolen Generations or the Apology. Ask them to identify each statement as 'Fact', 'Opinion', or 'Interpretation', and briefly justify their choice for one statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main impact of the 'Bringing Them Home' report?

The 1997 report raised national awareness of forced child removals, documenting personal stories and recommending apologies, reparations, and services. It shifted public opinion, pressuring governments, though many suggestions remain unimplemented. Students analyze its role in framing reconciliation debates.

Why is the 2008 National Apology significant in Australian history?

Delivered by Kevin Rudd, it formally acknowledged past wrongs to the Stolen Generations, watched by millions. Symbolically, it marked a turning point in national memory; practically, it spurred some services but lacked compensation. Critiques highlight its limits against ongoing inequities.

How can active learning engage Year 12 students with this topic?

Activities like source carousels and debates make students active historians, handling primary accounts to assess significance firsthand. This builds empathy through peer teaching and critical skills via evidence evaluation, turning sensitive history into relatable analysis while respecting Indigenous perspectives.

What ongoing challenges exist for Stolen Generations reconciliation?

Despite the Apology, issues like unheeded reparations, child removal rates, and Closing the Gap shortfalls persist. Students examine data showing trauma's legacy, debating paths forward like truth-telling commissions for fuller justice.