Childhood Separation & Trauma: The Stolen Generation Effect on Kids Brains & Adult Outcomes

1. Aboriginal Artist LeAnne Hunter Childhood Separation & Trauma:The Stolen Generation Effect on Kids Brains & Adult Outcomes Tony Broe & the Koori Growing Old Well Study (KGOWS) Team with Emily Hindman, Sue Hoskins, Lea Williams, Holly Mack, Gail Daylight

3. From 1788 - British governors, settlers, police, soldiers - saw Australia as territory open to take over; as ‘terra nullius’; unoccupied. The Aboriginal people - who had successfully managed the “Biggest Estate on Earth” for 9000+ years – were removed from their family lands & nations by the invaders With loss of their land Aboriginal people lost their long term job – their purpose-in-life, connections to culture, spirit Frontier wars, brutal fringe camps & ‘missions’, new diseases (measles, flu, small pox) decimated Aboriginal numbers And from the early 1900s Aboriginal people had their children removed - with the claim “Aborigines were a dying race” Background Aboriginal Australians - 1788 to 1960s

4. However: From the 1960s - infant mortality has steadily fallen with lots more Aboriginal kids surviving to adult life From the 2000s - adult life-span has been rising & fertility is starting to fall – with smaller families The Australian Aboriginal population is Growing rapidly: with a large young population (0-24 years) Ageing rapidly: led by the ‘young old’ – people 45-64 years But showing high dementia rates - 3 times non-Indigenous & Earlier onset of dementia than non-Indigenous population Background Aboriginal Health and Ageing – 1960s to 2014

5. Access to basic human rights? Citizenship ’67; Freedom Rides 60s; Self determination ’70s; Racial Discrimination Act 1975; Full citizenship Rights only in 1983 Some Recognition of prior ownership of the Land? Land Rights 1970s on; Redfern Speech ’92; Native Title - Mabo ’92; Wik ’96; Apology 2008 - But Racially discriminatory Wik Amendments (UN) ’98; no Treaty or Recognition in the Constitution are barriers to full reconciliation Improved housing health care & health services? – In NT and Australia wide - from the ’90s (N.T. - Thomas et al 2006; AIHW) What improved Aboriginal Health and Ageing? Over the past 50 years

6. Brain Growth opportunities? Removal of children produces a cascade of lost opportunities from simple lack of love & stimulus essential to grow brains; to neglect, abuse, damage to brains; to loss of opportunity to learn to parent the next generation – all tickets to enter the Criminal Justice System Criminal Justice System - Aboriginal kids are 22 times more likely to enter the CJS – another form of ‘removal’ Enhanced Early Childhood? Aboriginal kids don’t get equal kindergarten, pre-school, & enriched early life, opportunities Education & Employment – Pre-1960s Aboriginal schooling was an exercise in denial & discrimination. It now just lags behind non-Indigenous – as does Aboriginal employment What has not improved? Over the past 50 years

7. Between 2000 and 2005 at La Perouse, with Gail Daylight & the Aboriginal Health Link Advisory Group: We set up - a Chronic & Complex Care Program and a Vascular Health Program & got recurrent funding We re-opened the 2-room Arrunga Health Clinic; Planned & opened in 2005 a 10-room La Perouse Aboriginal Community Health Centre; Set up La Perouse Clinic Services in Child Health, Mother & Baby Health, ENT, Mental Health, D&A and Aged Care – With GP Primary Care provided by AMS Redfern. By 2005 We recognised that - to improve ageing across the life course we had to tackle Child development and Child health – and find why brains don’t grow well Background to Koori Growing Old Well Study Services precede Research

8. Koori Growing Old Well Study 2008 - 2012We set out to find answers to these Questions • Are dementia rates as high in Urban Aboriginal people as our colleagues had found in the Remote Kimberley (KICA) Study? - i.e., 3 x non-Indigenous? • We asked - Is Brain and Mind Growth - from childhood onward an important factor in • Having a healthy adult life • Escaping poverty and getting jobs • Delaying adult diseases – heart, kidney, diabetes, injury etc • Delaying memory loss and dementia

9. Mid North Coast NSW: Coffs Harbour– Galambila Aboriginal Medical Service Kempsey - Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service and BooroongenDjugun Aged Care Nambucca - DaarimbaMaarra Aboriginal Health Centre Metropolitan Sydney: La Perouse (Randwick Botany) - Aboriginal Land Council and Aboriginal Community Health Centre Advisory Committee; Campbelltown – TharawalAboriginal Medical Service KGOWS: Build Community relationships; Engage partners; Request access to lists; Recruit participants

10. KOORI GROWING OLD WELL STUDY 5 URBAN/REGIONAL STUDY SITES Coffs Harbour Nambucca Kempsey 58% 42% Randwick/Botany Campbelltown

11. RESULTS: KGOWS & KICA Studies 2005 - 2012Dementia rates are high in Aboriginal people Dementia Prevalence by Age

12. RESULTS: TYPES of DEMENTIA – Urban Aboriginal People www.neura.edu.au/aboriginal-ageing

13. RESULTS: KGOWS – Stolen Generation (n = 336) www.neura.edu.au/aboriginal-ageing

14. What happens in childhood grows the mind & brain to deal with adult life & ageing We believe positive child experiences grow minds & brains effectively for adult life & ageing And negative experiences grow brains, but in the wrong way to deal with adult life; to grow old well Do early life experiences result in mid-life health risks and premature brain ageing?

15. We – mothers, fathers, grandparents, schools, culture, communities – working with the genes - grow our children’s minds & brains from infancy to adulthood What Grows healthy Brains & Minds?

16. What Grows healthy Brains & Minds? • Consistent and good parenting – not Separated as a child from family as happened for the Stolen Generation • Having Parents who themselves learnt to parent and were not brought up in institutions etc • Low rates of childhood trauma • Good childhood education • Ongoing adult education • Brain stimulating jobs • Life-long nurturing and growth of your brain

17. Q: How does the Mind-Brain grow? In practical terms our Minds and Brains work together and grow - with the body - as a network We fill our minds with experiences and grow our brains to hold them as memories & guideposts Mind-brain growth is a life-long process, however the richest growth occurs during parenting and education - with lack of trauma & stress - in infancy and childhood and up to late adolescence

18. Q: How does the Mind-Brain Grow?We grow it:mothers families schools - and our Genes MRI Brain Scan Normal Neonate MRI Brain Scan Normal Adult A thin strip of ‘thinking’ Cortex Masses of ‘gyri’ = Complex Cortex

19. Q: When does the Mind-Brain Grow?All our lives - but most growth in Early Years 25 years 7 years Brain weight Adult years 1 year From: Peña-Melian (2000). Human Neurodevelopment 15: 99-112.

20. What are the positive factors in Early Life for mind/brain growth? • Good Parenting/Grandparenting/Family • Setting consistent boundaries • Access to formal education • Informal learning, reading, I.T. • Supportive, secure, safe & loving family

21. Separated from family/Stolen gen/Justice System Lack of skills for parenting Giving kids inconsistent boundaries Discrimination Adverse Childhood Events/Child Trauma Exposure to Violence towards women Childhood Trauma, Violence & Abuse Childhood exposure to Alcohol/Drug abuse and to Mental Illness Childhood exposure/entry to Criminal Justice system What are the negative factors in early life for mind/brain growth?

22. Q: What is the Stolen Generation effect? Loss of the richest opportunities – those given by a loving family - at the crucial time for mind/brain growth - infancy and childhood up to adolescence Loss of the opportunity to learn to be a parent and for gaining an education - often with major physical and emotional trauma, stress and more negative experiences than growing up in your own family Developing resilience may overcome some of these disadvantages

23. Anxiety & Depression Poor Diet, Obesity Smoking - Alcohol – Drug use High Blood Pressure Social isolation Brain Injury Family Violence & Trauma These are Known causes of mid-life death & disability and are also Known risk factors for later life brain decline and dementia Q: How can Early Life Stress affect adults? Child Stress & Removal cause

24. Good jobs and income Adult education, learning, reading, Using the Net, Wii, Google, Web, Games Bringing them Home - programs Social connections Exercise, fitness, wt. loss Low BP and cholesterol No cigs & Moderate alcohol Q:What grows Brains & Minds in mid-life and later life

25. Acknowledgements • NHMRC and AHMRC • Department of Health and Ageing • Ageing Disability & Home Care NSW • Our Aboriginal communities and partners (La Perouse Land Council, Tharawal AMS, Durri AMS, Booroongen Djugun, Galambila AMS, Daarimba Maarra AHC, local Elders Groups and Aboriginal Guidance Groups) • Our Research team