A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), funded by the Healing Foundation, highlights that Indigenous Australians and their descendants who were forcibly removed from their families under government policies aimed at assimilation face worse health and wellbeing outcomes than both the broader Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. The report, released this week, expands on data collected in 2023 and includes survey responses from members of the Stolen Generations—Indigenous people who were taken from their families between 1910 and 1970—and their descendants. These individuals are now all over the age of 50. It is estimated that between one in 10 and one in three Indigenous children were removed during this period, and about 200,000 Indigenous Australians—nearly half of the Indigenous population—have a family member who was taken from their family. Stolen Generations survivors are significantly more likely to suffer from severe or profound disabilities compared to other Indigenous Australians, with a 2.7 times higher likelihood, and 1.7 times more likely to have been hospitalized in the past year. Even after accounting for factors like age, sex, and location, these disparities remain. When compared to non-Indigenous Australians, survivors are six times more likely to have kidney disease, 4.8 times more likely to have severe disabilities, and 3.9 times more likely to report high levels of psychological distress. The report also found that these individuals face greater socio-economic challenges, such as being less able to afford unexpected expenses or having more days where they couldn’t meet basic needs. The report further shows that Stolen Generations survivors are nearly twice as likely as other Indigenous people to report high psychological distress and 1.6 times more likely to have mental or behavioral health conditions. Their descendants also face elevated risks, being 1.3 times more likely to report high psychological distress and being diagnosed with mental health conditions. Dr. Martin Edvardsson, acting head of First Nations health at AIHW, noted that Australia lacks comprehensive data on the needs and experiences of Stolen Generations survivors and their families. He warned that as survivors grow older, they may become less represented in household surveys, making it harder to understand their needs through existing data sources. The findings underscore the long-term impacts of past government policies on Indigenous communities and highlight the ongoing need for targeted health and support services. The report calls for continued efforts to collect and analyze data on this population to better address their unique challenges and improve their quality of life.