1. Intergenerational Trauma

Colonisation created widespread trauma through violence, dispossession, and forced child removal. Contemporary psychological research shows that this trauma continues across generations, influencing emotional regulation, attachment, and community wellbeing. Many Aboriginal people experience trauma symptoms that are culturally specific and not always recognised by mainstream diagnostic systems. This contributes to under‑diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and inadequate treatment, reinforcing the long‑term psychological impacts of colonisation.

2. Chronic Stress from Racism and Discrimination

Racism operates as a persistent psychological stressor that affects mental health, identity, and social and emotional wellbeing. Studies consistently link experiences of racism with higher levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidality. These effects are compounded by the ongoing legacy of colonisation, which has embedded discriminatory structures into institutions such as healthcare, education, and the justice system.

3. Identity Disruption and Cultural Disconnection

Colonisation disrupted cultural practices, languages, kinship systems, and spiritual connections to Country. Psychological evidence shows that cultural identity and cultural continuity are strong protective factors for wellbeing. When these are weakened, individuals and communities experience increased vulnerability to distress, reduced resilience, and a greater risk of self‑harm. Cultural disconnection also undermines self‑esteem and contributes to feelings of marginalisation.

4. Ongoing Impacts of the Stolen Generations

The forced removal of Aboriginal children has had profound and lasting effects on families and communities. Research demonstrates that the impacts of child removal continue to shape attachment patterns, parenting confidence, emotional development, and intergenerational family functioning. Many young people today exhibit trauma patterns linked to historical and ongoing child removal, even when they are unaware of their family histories.

5. Mental Health Inequities

Aboriginal people experience disproportionately high rates of psychological distress, suicide, and complex trauma. These inequities are not inherent but are the result of colonisation, systemic discrimination, and the erosion of cultural and community structures. Evidence shows that mainstream mental‑health services often fail to recognise culturally grounded expressions of distress, leading to inappropriate or ineffective care. Culturally informed assessment and intervention approaches are essential to addressing these inequities.

6. Over‑Policing and Criminalisation

Colonisation imposed legal systems that criminalised Aboriginal cultural practices and continue to disproportionately target Aboriginal people. Psychological research highlights that repeated exposure to policing and justice systems contributes to trauma, hypervigilance, and mistrust of institutions. These experiences reinforce cycles of disadvantage and increase the likelihood of negative mental‑health outcomes.

7. Loss of Autonomy and Self‑Determination

Psychological wellbeing is closely linked to agency, control, and the ability to make decisions about one’s own life and community. Colonisation undermined these foundations by imposing external governance structures and restricting cultural authority. The ongoing lack of self‑determination contributes to feelings of disempowerment, reduced community cohesion, and diminished wellbeing. Restoring autonomy is recognised as a critical component of healing.