“A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity,” said former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd in a 2008 speech where he apologized to Australia’s Indigenous people for the human rights abuses committed against them by former governments. In particular, the apology was directed at the “Stolen Generations” of Indigenous Australian children forcibly taken from their families between 1910 and 1970. Despite historical discrimination against Indigenous Australians occurring decades back, the effects persist in their marginalization today. Nevertheless, ongoing efforts seek to empower Indigenous communities and address historical injustices. 

The Marginalization of Indigenous Australians

A 1999 publication of the Australian Bureau of Statistics still rings true today: “As a group, Indigenous people are disadvantaged… several socioeconomic factors” and “these disadvantages place them at greater risk of ill health and reduced well-being.”

Amnesty International argues that “the loss of customary land, discrimination and marginalization has left Indigenous communities with disproportionately high rates for poverty, imprisonment and overall ill-health.”

As per the National Indigenous Australians Agency, life expectancy at birth was around 71.6 years for Indigenous males and 75.6 years for Indigenous females during 2015–2017. There exists a life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, estimated at 8.6 years for males and 7.8 years for females.

Indigenous Australians also face barriers in the area of education. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2021, the school attendance rate of Indigenous students (1 to 10 years old) stood at 79% compared to 92% for non-indigenous students.

Renee Blackman, who owns a health service called Gidgee Healing for Aboriginal communities in northwest Queensland, told the Guardian in 2019 that poverty among the Indigenous is “magnified in remote locations.” Blackman provides health care services to around 7,000 Indigenous Australians in remote communities in these areas.

In rural areas, the lack of opportunities impacts many lives. Discrimination against Indigenous citizens further compounds these challenges. Blackman, a member of the Gubbi Gubbi tribe in South East Queensland, notes that Australian Indigenous people often struggle to afford healthy foods, maintain housing, access necessary medications or travel to regional centers for essential surgeries. These difficulties significantly affect their overall well-being and that of their children. 

“Tackling the social determinants of health is critical to address health inequities, which arise because people with the least social and economic power tend to have the worst health, live in unhealthier environments and have worse access to health care,” The Guardian reports.

Closing the Gap

The government is however taking positive steps to empower Indigenous citizens living in Australia. As 2023 marked the 15th anniversary of the Australian government’s historic apology speech to Australia’s Stolen Generations, the government announced a $492 million plan titled the “Closing the Gap Implementation Plan” to address the food and water insecurity, housing crisis and education limits that the Indigenous community deal with. This funding extends to the rural areas of Australia to support the First Nations peoples there. 

The 2023 Voice to Parliament

The Australian government announced a vote allowing for a greater representation of Indigenous leaders. In 2023, the government cast votes to include a ‘Voice to Parliament,’ titled the ‘2023 Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum.’ 

With a ‘yes’ vote, Indigenous citizens could serve in the Australian Parliament and have equal representation alongside their counterparts. This would provide them with a stronger voice in the governance of Australia, enabling the implementation of strategies to support and preserve Indigenous cultures.

The Guardian reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reflected on ‘The Voice’ vote, stating: “Many times when I’ve spoken about this change I’ve asked: ‘If not now, when?’ This is it. October 14 is our time…For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people this has been a marathon. For all of us, it is now a sprint. And across the finish line is a more unified, more reconciled Australia, with greater opportunities for all.”

Yet, on October 14, 2023, the referendum was overturned to a majority of ‘no’ votes. Though financial assistance exists, it does not solve the separation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The vote itself is still a hopeful step forward to have all Australians on equal footing. In the referendum, 74% in the Northern Territory’s remote areas of electorate Lingiari voted yes. The Tiwi Islands off of the Northern Territory voted 84% in favor of the referendum. 

Moving Forward

The Aboriginal flag was placed permanently upon the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2022. This is only a recent movement and one that is symbolic of hope for equal representation of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Australian media outlets like ABC now partake in an acknowledgment to First Nations persons before their television program showings.

By practicing what it preaches and acknowledging through actions and not just words, Australia looks to strengthen its ties and honor the country as a whole. 

– Anastasia Brown
Photo: Flickr