In this The Philosopher’s Zone (14 March 2025), host David Rutledge talks with Sydney based academic, Joanne Faulkner, about the parallel between Australia’s Stolen Generation and the 19th century British “child rescue” movement.

The British “child rescue” movement contended that “neglected” and impoverished children needed to be removed from their family and trained up to become productive workers.

Joanne Faulkner references Thomas Barnardo (1845-1905) who was involved in the “child rescue” movement and who was accused of “kidnapping” children. He appeared in court many times on kidnapping charges where he argued that he was justified in removing the children.