Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

Most families provide growing children with stories of their past that help children gain asense of self, belonging and a sense of history.Attachment helps the child to:_ achieve full intellectual potential_ attain cultural identity_ sort out perceptions_ know the importance of family_ think logically_ develop a conscience_ become self reliant_ cope with stress and frustration_ handle fear and worry_ develop future relationships (Swan 1988 page 4).The evidence establishes that attachment occurs in infancy and that disruption tothe process of attachment at this stage of development is most damaging. Betweenone-half and two-thirds of children forcibly removed were removed in infancy (beforethe age of five years). The following table summarises the available information onage of removal among clients surveyed by the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA andamong witnesses to the Inquiry.Age at removalAge at removal ALSWA clients* Inquiry witnesses< 1 year sna 83 22.4%1 – < 2 years 28 7.5%0 – < 2 years 57 11.8%2 – 5 years 137 28.4% 97 26.1%6 – 10 years 147 30.4% 86 23.2%11 – 15 years 33 6.8% 34 9.2%Not recorded 109 22.6% 43 11.6%Total 483 100% 371 100%* Submission 127 page 44.