Echoes of the Unheard: Reckoning with the Lasting Impacts of Colonisation

I want to bring something into the light today, something raw, uncomfortable, yet undeniably important. There exists a lingering belief that the effects of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have faded into the annals of history. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.


I’ve been honoured to hear deeply personal, harrowing yet resilient stories from individuals who bear the echoes of a painful past and a challenging present. Among them is a family whose generations have been marked by the haunting legacy of the Stolen Generations. An elder shared with me the pain of her great-grandmother’s forced removal as a child, a wound that seeped through generations, inflicting a painful disconnection from family, culture, and identity.



In another encounter, a mother’s eyes told a story of unfathomable loss. Her son, a young man with a life ahead of him, became another statistic - another Aboriginal death in custody. He was not just a number. He was someone’s father, someone’s son, an uncle, a grandson. Each title bore witness to a life rich in connections, love, and shared experiences, yet tragically cut short.


The pain is real, palpable, and echoes the lingering effects of colonisation - a past intertwined with the present. The young man’s death is not an isolated tragedy but a reflection of systemic issues rooted in a history of dispossession, discrimination, and deep-seated inequities. It's a painful reminder that the shadows of colonisation persist, casting long and dark silhouettes upon the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.


Yet, amidst the pain, there lies an unyielding spirit of resilience. The echoes of the past are not just of despair but also of unyielding strength, enduring resilience, and the everlasting vibrancy of cultures that have withstood the trials of time.


In the quiet yet powerful echoes of these personal stories, we find an urgent call to listen, to learn, and to acknowledge. Each narrative invites us into a space of reflection and understanding, not to be passive witnesses but active participants in a journey towards healing.


These stories, these echoes, are not inscriptions on a page but living testimonies. They invite us into a collective space of unity, empathy, and respect. Hand in hand, let us step forward with a willingness to hear, honour, and acknowledge the enduring echoes of the past and their manifestations in the present.


In this sacred space of unity and understanding, perhaps we can nurture a new narrative - one where every echo is heard, every story honoured, and every life valued.




Niki Gent stands as a testament to compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment. As the Principal Consultant at Family and Child Consultants, she illuminates the path with over two decades of dedicated service in the community sector. Her specialization in therapeutic trauma service delivery and training is not just a profession but a calling, echoing the depth of her engagement with individuals and communities navigating the intricate paths of trauma.


Niki's journey is rich with stories of healing and resilience, underscored by her profound belief in ‘knowing better to do better’. Every consultation, interaction, and training session is infused with this ethos, reflecting Niki’s dedication to deepening understanding, fostering empathy, and elevating the standards of trauma-informed care.


With an ear finely attuned to the silent echoes of the past and an eye sensitively focused on the present narratives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Niki brings to light the enduring impacts of colonisation. She is a bridge, connecting historical traumas to present experiences, unveiling the unspoken, yet profoundly felt, reverberations in the lives of those affected.


The stories of families marked by the haunting legacy of the Stolen Generations, and the painful narratives of lives lost in custody, find a voice in Niki. Through her compassionate listening and empathetic engagement, these narratives, often muted, are acknowledged, respected, and honoured.


Niki’s approach is not merely about acknowledging pain but about unearthing the resilient spirits, the enduring strengths, and the rich cultural tapestries that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In her work, painful echoes of the past and present are met with an unwavering commitment to healing, unity, and a shared future.


Niki Gent is more than a consultant. She embodies a movement towards a more compassionate, informed, and just approach to addressing the lasting impacts of colonisation and fostering healing. In the echoes of the unheard, Niki finds her calling, and in the spaces of silence, her voice resounds with compassion, advocacy, and unwavering solidarity.


In a world often marked by divisions and silences, Niki Gent stands as a beacon of unity, understanding, and hope. Through her, the untold stories find a voice, the unseen are acknowledged, and the unheard find an advocate committed to a journey of healing, respect, and shared future where every echo is honoured.


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