December 10, 1814
Native institution (1814-1833)
Established by Governor Macquarie in Parramatta, this was the first school for Aboriginal children, aiming to assimilate them by removing them from their families. It set a harmful precedent for future policies, leading to the Stolen Generations.
1881
Protector of Aborigines
George Thornton was the first Protector of Aborigines in NSW, he had the authority to establish reserves and forcibly relocate Aboriginal people to live there, enforcing control over their movements and lives. This policy contributed to the segregation and marginalization of Aboriginal communities.
1883
Aborigines Protection Board (1883-1940)
The Aborigines Protection Board controlled reserves and restricted Aboriginal rights, limiting freedom of movement, access to education, employment terms, and other basic freedoms. It laid the groundwork for segregationist policies, eventually evolving into the Aborigines Welfare Board in 1940.
1905
Neglected Children and Juvenile Offenders Act 1905
This Act reformed child welfare in NSW, establishing Children’s Courts and a probation system to handle “neglected” or “uncontrollable” children separately from adult offenders. While it aimed to protect children, it increased state surveillance over families, allowing courts to commit children to institutions or guardians. These policies laid the groundwork for high intervention rates in Aboriginal communities, contributing to ongoing cycles of family separation and the over-representation of Indigenous children in the care system today.
1909
Aborigines Protection Act 1909
This Act granted the Board authority to assume full control and custody of any Aboriginal child deemed neglected under the Neglected Children and Juvenile Offenders Act 1905, and permitted the apprenticeship of Aboriginal children aged 14 to 18. It laid the groundwork for the Stolen Generations, contributing to ongoing family separation and distrust in government systems today.
1915
Aborigines Protection Amending Act 1915
This amendment gave authorities power to remove Aboriginal children from their families without parental consent, and abolished the minimum age at which children could be apprenticed, intensifying forced removals that fueled the Stolen Generations. Its legacy persists today in the over-representation of Indigenous children in the care system and the ongoing impact of intergenerational trauma.
1916
Returned Soldiers Settlement Act 1916
This Act allowed soldiers honorably discharged from overseas service to apply for Crown Lands in NSW. However, Aboriginal veterans were largely excluded, which reinforced land dispossession and economic disadvantage for Indigenous communities, impacts still felt today through ongoing inequalities in land ownership.
1939
Child Welfare Act 1939
This Act expanded the powers of the Child Welfare Department in NSW, defining “neglect” broadly to include poverty and cultural practices common among Aboriginal families. Without legal assistance, Aboriginal parents were often unable to contest removals, leading to widespread child separation. The Act’s legacy is seen today in the high rates of Indigenous children in state care, ongoing family disruption, and systemic bias against Aboriginal parenting practices.
1940
Aborigines Protection Amendment Act 1940
This Act created the Aborigines Welfare Board, promoting assimilation by overseeing Aboriginal welfare, housing, and child custody. Although the Board now needed court approval to remove children, they faced stricter control once taken, by becoming a ward of the Board. The Act’s policies contributed to the Stolen Generations and continue to impact Indigenous communities today through intergenerational trauma and disrupted family structures.
1954
Commonwealth Child Welfare Ordinance 1954
From 1954 to 1968, Indigenous children in the ACT were removed under this Commonwealth law and placed in institutions or foster care in NSW. This ordinance extended the reach of child removals, contributing to the Stolen Generations. Its impacts persist today in the form of intergenerational trauma, loss of cultural identity, and a high representation of Indigenous children in the welfare system.
1965
Adoption of Children Act 1965
This Act allowed courts to waive parental consent for adoption if a parent was deemed “unfit” due to abandonment or neglect. The Board often used this provision to expedite adoptions without contacting the birth mother, affecting many Indigenous families.
1987
Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987
This Act introduced the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, prioritizing placement of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care with Aboriginal families to preserve cultural connections. This principle marked a shift towards recognizing the importance of cultural identity in child welfare, though challenges in its consistent application continue today.
1993
Adoption Act 1993 (ACT)
This Act granted adopted children and birth parents access to previously restricted information and emphasized the “best interests” of the child in adoption decisions. It marked progress toward transparency and child-centered practices in adoption, with lasting effects on the rights of adopted individuals and birth families.
2004
Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT)
This Act defines fundamental civil and political rights in the ACT, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws “incompatible” with human rights standards. It empowers the Attorney General and Human Rights Commissioner to intervene in cases involving human rights, strengthening protections for individuals. It provides Aboriginal people with a legal basis to challenge rights violations, especially in areas like child welfare, justice, and cultural rights.