This essay has been penned down to clarify the position and representation of indigenous people in Australia. Indigenous affairs have always been the first concern of the Australian government. Whether they are being represented at a national platform or being neglected by the government? This will help in understanding the condition of indigenous people, if they are being supported and facilitated by the government and if they would have been given basic rights or not? Has the government made any policy in their favour? Moreover, are treated like other citizens in policies, or there is no policy for them? (Delfabbro et al. 2010)
Indigenous people of Australia are known as the oldest societies of the world. Their culture is very attractive and fascinating although difficult to understand. Few of them know the importance of preserving their culture and few integrate them into white Australian society because they have to deal with the current situation and their status. They recently represent 3% of the population. Australian indigenous people are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of Australia (Humphreys 2010). These are the groups of people who lived in Australia and nearby islands before the British establishment. This is considered as a debate topic among researchers about the first arrival of indigenous people in Australia. Since the European invasions till to date, government policies, in favor of indigenous people has been set and exercised by non-indigenous people (Clements et al. 2010).
For the well-being and increasing development of a country, it is important for a state to give basic human rights to minorities as well. In early, their population was not that much, and they were considered as minorities and were not given the basic citizen’s rights (Ramsay 2016a). But now as their population is increasing rapidly, they are not only given the basic citizen’s rights but also there are policies designed in their favour. In the past few years, significant steps have been taken at the international level to increase awareness and to protect the rights of indigenous people.
In 1962, the Australian government gave indigenous people the optional right to vote, but they were still categorised as “ward of states” considered as they did not have a right of vote in state elections (Waterhouse & McGhee 2015). In 1943, the board administered government policies, dictating where indigenous people could work, live, their freedom movement, their personal finances and their child-rearing practices. In addition to this, a referendum was made in 1967 that sought to give the Commonwealth parliament power to make laws which respect to indigenous people wherever they live in Australia. It also sought to make it possible to include indigenous people in national censuses.
On a serious note, the basic human rights of indigenous people are still not given to them. It is like far worse than non-indigenous people. Their life expectancy is still low because the infant mortality rate is higher than non-indigenous people. The housing conditions of non-indigenous people are worst because of lack of supplying of basic needs like water, health and education. The education levels for indigenous people are below average level (Skattebol 2017). Very few can have access to higher school and university. Indigenous people have a long and scary experience of living life on their own. However, it was stated in the policy that they can have their own lands, but despite of that, they were forcibly taken from their land.
They have gone through soo much in their lives just for they can have access to the basic necessity of life. But the picture of this history is still seen today where indigenous people are still forced in alcoholism and drug dependence so that they can achieve higher standards of living. That’s the reason their life expectancy is low (Gill & Oakley 2018).
Australia is count in one of those countries where the highest standards of living are being practised. But unfortunately, indigenous people are still lacking these standards.
Generally, it can be stated that indigenous people are still living in rural and remote areas as compared to other Australians. About 70% population of indigenous people comprises in towns with less than 100 000 inhabitants compared to 40% of the total population of Australia. There are multi-family households, and on an average, the only person is earning. Still, their hospitality is on point. Their house is every time open for family and friends (Meyer & Eggins 2018a).
Unemployment is the major issue indigenous people are facing these days. The reason for this is they are not given the right education to take high standards jobs. Very few of them reaches a higher level of school and university graduate level. Many of them are working in public forums or some organisations working for indigenous people (Connolly 2017). In many professions indigenous people are underrepresented. Mostly they live their lives on unemployment benefits and welfare.
Today the main root of problems faced by indigenous people is poor education. The less education rate of indigenous people leads them to fewer opportunities and thus results in unemployment and poverty. No doubt programs are being made to educate them, and government programs are being run to provide financial aid. White Australians fails to indigenous people due to sarcasm and racism (Hollinsworth 2016).
The health issue of indigenous people is in the worst condition. The bad health condition may have several reasons. Poverty, low standards of hygiene and not suitable nutritious food is the main reason for bad health. Some of them suffer from depression and anxiety, and the problem here goes round about and come to the point of education. They are not educated and thus engage themselves in alcoholism and drug addictive (Godinet et al. 2011).
1970 is marked as a turning point in the history of non-indigenous people. The essential development was the non-indigenous Land Right Act, implemented by the liberal government in 1976. This Act initiated the basis for some extent of long-term security and economic development for them. But still, they have been neglected in many aspects as just because they are less in number and because of sarcasm.
Though the government has now started some programs and campaigns to mark their identity in Australia and give them equal rights as given to other Australians (Tilbury & Thoburn 2009).
For closing the gap between indigenous people and non-indigenous people, the government has started the campaign named “closing the gap”. This is the initiative taken by the government for mingling indigenous people and giving them chances to let them match their every foot-step with others. The goals to be achieved for this area are health, education, employment will be going to prove as key drivers for removing differences among indigenous and non-indigenous people (Brown et al. 2011).
This is the international law that explains the self-determination law as the basic right of all individuals to freely pursue their political status and their social, economic and cultural development. Indigenous people are represented along with other identities of Australia.
The government has taken various steps for the advancement of indigenous people. And these are funded through the Prime minister and cabinet to make it possible and easy for the development of their community. Pumping their three basic rights can help them to boost them economically and socially also are
The positive impact of education that they can have on their society, and this will definitely help them improving and moving forward (Leinaweaver 2015a).
Employment, social participation and economic development help them to improve the lives of their families and as well as their community.
Investing in their health because no one can prosper without sufficient health condition. Growing up in a safe and healthy environment is every individual’s right.
The Department of Prime Minister and the cabinet is spending $222.3 million in funding in 2015-2016 in support of indigenous people to provide them with a better opportunity which nourishes, nurture and educates indigenous people to educate their children, youth and adults for their improvement to select the better pathway for them. This includes in the improvement of family and parenting support, higher education and youth engagement (Tomyn et al. 2015). This program is mainly focused on increasing the number of schools in underprivileged areas and in remote areas to improve the educational outcome which leads them to increase the employment rate.
This area has been supported by the education department to the indigenous people living in remote areas where their goal is to provide primary education to the children. The teacher takes a decision over the learning criteria and outcomes and demonstrates them by modelling and check their understanding through assessments. They simply focus on making them proficient in their pre-developed skills.
Steps have been taken to take it to the international level for protecting the rights of indigenous people including the landmark adoption of the UN Declaration of the rights of indigenous people in 2007. The Australian government showed its support to the declaration in April 2009.
In addition to this, there are more UN bodies that are mainly established in spreading awareness, promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous people of Australia, where their goal is to see the reflection in national laws and policies (Connolly 2017a).
Analysing from one end of the picture, some indigenous are living in urban areas and engaging them with the increasing market economy like other Australians. While the other image shows those, who reside in remote parts and maintaining the important aspects of the indigenous economy. The department of infrastructure and regional development facilitates the underprivileged through air services to remote areas where they don’t have access to any commercially viable (Ramsay 2016b). They subside weekly air service for the carrying passengers and transportation of goods such as medicines, fresh foods, educational materials and any urgent supply that is the requirement of indigenous people.
Surveys have been done and continue doing on the present condition of indigenous people in Australia to reveal the truth behind the picture. If the government aid has been reaching to them? Are they facilitated with the basic necessity of life? Or they are still being neglected at anywhere in the state.
According to the surveys, alcoholism is one of the major prejudice. This is the result of poverty and poor education. Many of them were asked why they don’t let children attend the school to which they reply. It is because white Australians don’t let them practice their culture and force them to follow theirs (Connollyn 2017b).
Some of them were asked what is the other reason for their less employment rate despite of education. To which they reply that most of the white Australians do not want to work with them on the basis of sarcasm and racism. But on the contrary, this reason is being demolished due to increased awareness.
This question was asked to non-indigenous people, that is it fair that the government is supporting indigenous people more than non-indigenous people. And the results are quite astonishing. They said they have no issues if the government is supporting them more. Even some of them agree on a point that non-indigenous society has some responsibilities towards them to build their community strong and help them to improve their standards of living (Meyer & Eggins 2018b).
Many non-indigenous people say that reconciliation week and sorry days can be celebrated in sympathy with indigenous people of Australia to make them realise and believe that what has done in the past with them was wrong and now we are standing with them (Leinaweaver 2015b).
Conclusion
Though the challenges are still there government along with individuals are working hard to make the living standards of indigenous people more sufficient. Even the government has taken this issue to the international level for their basic rights. Unites Nations have formed bodies for the protection of the rights of indigenous people.
Any community either in the majority or in the minority should be given equal citizen’s rights in the state. Policies must be formed in favour of minorities for the protection of their rights.
References
Tomyn, A.J., Cummins, R.A. and Norrish, J.M., 2015. The subjective wellbeing of ‘At-Risk’indigenous and non-indigenous Australian adolescents. Journal of happiness studies, Vol. 16(4), pp.813-837.
Connolly, M., 2017. Beyond the Risk Paradigm in Child Protection: Current Debates and New Directions. Palgrave.
Meyer, S. and Eggins, E., 2018. Formal and Informal Help?Seeking by Australian Parents who Misuse Alcohol. Child Abuse Review, Vol. 27(4), pp.317-335.
Ramsay, G., 2016. Black mothers, bad mothers: African refugee women and the governing of ‘Good’Citizens through the Australian child welfare system. Australian Feminist Studies, Vol. 31(89), pp.319-335.
Hollinsworth, D., 2016. Unsettling Australian settler supremacy: combating resistance in university Aboriginal studies. Race ethnicity and education, Vol. 19(2), pp.412-432.
Humphreys, C., 2010. Crossing the great divide: Response to Douglas and Walsh. Violence Against Women, Vol. 16(5), pp.509-515.
Brown, J.D., St. Arnault, D., Sintzel, J. and George, N., 2011. Caring for children from the same culture: Challenges for foster parents. Journal of Family Social Work, Vol. 14(5), pp.446-460
Leinaweaver, J. B. (2015). Adoption, Demography of, International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences,
Waterhouse, L. and McGhee, J., 2015. Practitioner–mother relationships and the processes that bind them. Child & Family Social Work, Vol. 20(2), pp.244-251.
Godinet, M.T., Arnsberger, P. and Garlock, J., 2011. Native Hawaiian Families Systemic Disparities in Hawaii’s Child Welfare System. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, Vol. 21(2), pp.34-45.
Clements, N., Clapton, J. and Chenoweth, L., 2010. Indigenous Australians and Impaired Decision?Making Capacity. Australian Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 45(3), pp.383-393.
Gill, A. and Oakley, G., 2018. Agency Workers’ Perceptions of Cross-System Collaboration to Support Students in Out-of-Home Care. Children Australia, Vol. 43(1), pp.47-56.
Delfabbro, P., Hirte, C., Rogers, N. and Wilson, R., 2010. The over-representation of young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in the South Australian child system: A longitudinal analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 32(10), pp.1418-1425.
Skattebol, J., 2017. ‘Stories from beyond’: Understanding the lifeworlds of young people. Queensland Review, Vol. 24(1), pp.129-146.
Tilbury, C. and Thoburn, J., 2009. Using racial disproportionality and disparity indicators to measure child welfare outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 31(10), pp.1101-1106.
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