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Aboriginal Poverty in Australia

Aboriginal Poverty in AustraliaAccording to the Parliament of Australia, about 30% of Aboriginal households currently live in income poverty. Programs such as the Community Development Employment Projects, Community Housing and Infrastructure Program and the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs are working to change that.

A Background in Aboriginal Colonization

On Jan. 26, 1788, British colonizers established the first colony in Australia, naming it New South Wales and comprising convicts and leaders from the Royal British Navy. They declared the land property of Great Britain’s King George III. This event marked the beginning of suffering for Aboriginal peoples, as diseases such as syphilis, smallpox and the flu spread rapidly. At the time of the colony’s establishment, an estimated 750,000 Aboriginal people inhabited the island. By 1789, nearly half of the Aboriginal population in the Sydney Basin had succumbed to smallpox.

Aboriginal Poverty and Employment Disparities

Poverty among Aboriginal people is especially severe in remote areas of Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework reports a significant disparity in employment rates between Aboriginal and non-Indigenous populations. For Aboriginal individuals, the employment rate is 32%, compared to 58% for non-Indigenous people. In 2021, this gap was pronounced among those aged 15 to 24, with Aboriginal employment at 52% and non-Indigenous at 75%. The disparity widens among those aged 25 to 44, where Aboriginal employment increased from 51% in 2016 to 56% in 2021.

Aboriginal poverty rates continue to be alarmingly high, with welfare dependency prevalent in these communities. Nearly half of the adult Aboriginal population receives some form of welfare aid, as reported by the Australian Parliament. Furthermore, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that 43% of Indigenous adults earn a gross weekly income of just under $500. While there has been some progress in narrowing the income disparity, significant gaps remain. In 2011, the gross weekly household income difference between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians was $379. By 2016, this gap had decreased to $332 and by 2021, it further reduced to $316, showing a gradual but steady decrease in income inequality.

Educational Disparities

In 2001, national benchmark tests revealed a nearly 20% difference in the literacy levels of Aboriginal and non-Indigenous students. According to the Australian Parliament, in year three, 72% of Aboriginal students achieved minimum reading standards, whereas the number for the entirety of year three students was 90.3%. The Australian Council for Education Research stated, “Without success in literacy and numeracy, young Indigenous Australians will continue to face difficulty in remaining at school to complete year 12, entering university and other post-school education training.” Lacking the proper education makes employment difficult, so the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs created the National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in 2000.

Initiatives in Indigenous Communities

Between 2016 and 2021, the median weekly household income for Aboriginals increased by 18%, compared to an 11% increase in other households, as reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The strategy for improving Indigenous communities’ education and health focuses on six key areas: enhancing school attendance, addressing hearing issues, resolving health problems, correcting nutritional deficiencies and enriching preschool experiences. These ongoing efforts are part of the National Indigenous Education and Lifestyle Strategy (NIELNS), which aims to tackle the underlying causes of Aboriginal poverty by enhancing education and health outcomes.

The Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) allocates funds for community and public housing for Aboriginal people in Australia and it also provides municipal services. Additionally, the National Aboriginal Health Strategy directs funding toward housing, specifically targeting more rural and remote Aboriginal communities.

Looking Forward

While programs addressing Aboriginal poverty have seen gradual success, ongoing efforts remain essential for creating meaningful, long-term improvements. The disparities in income, education and employment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians continue to pose significant challenges. With targeted initiatives focused on education, housing and infrastructure, there is hope for sustained progress. Overcoming these deeply rooted inequalities potentially requires continued dedication and comprehensive support across all levels of society.

– Maya Renfro

Maya is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Australia Awards – Direct Aid Programs Impacting Millions

Australia AwardsAustralia has a yearly development budget of $4.96 billion, which is split between international scholarship programs, funding committed to development programs and specific, committed programs dedicated to assisting the progress developing countries make toward their development goals. However, here are some of the ways this budget is used to support developing countries around the world.

Australia Awards – Scholarships for Thousands

The Australia Awards are a scholarship program in Australia designed to recognize the achievements of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Australia has historically offered favorable opportunities for individuals seeking higher education in developing countries neighboring Australia. This is part of the agreement with Tuvalu, the Falepili Union, which includes the establishment of a visa allowing Tuvaluans to live, study and work in the country.

What makes the Australia Awards particularly impactful is the targeted nature of the Awards. Applications from often marginalized groups such as women and those with disabilities are encouraged. The Awards also target specific areas of study and the program, in particular, seeks to elevate those studying in fields such as education, tourism and engineering. Providing forward-thinking and relevant fields of study like this, especially in developing countries, allows thousands of individuals across the Pacific to access resources they may not have had the opportunity to come across otherwise.

Australia and the Indo-Pacific

A significant amount of Australia’s development budget is earmarked for Official Development Assistance (ODA). That said, ODA is only one of many ways the country assists the many countries impacted by its outreach. Australia is committed to helping many countries enact their specific development plans. One way these programs are effective is the way Australia is committed to assisting Tuvalu.

In 2023, the two countries announced the formation of the Falepili Union, which serves to strengthen the two-way partnership between the two countries. In a joint effort, Australia allocated $88 million to Tuvalu’s development budget. Out of this amount, $50 million was utilized for the construction of Tuvalu’s inaugural undersea telecommunications cable. This marks a significant milestone for a nation that has historically relied on the internet as a steady revenue stream.

Another example of work being done to extend aid to developing countries is Australia’s dedication to development in Southeast Asia. Australia allocated $1.3 billion ODA toward the region in 2023. Programs targeting specific initiatives such as the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership (KINETIK) and the Aus4Adaptation initiative in Vietnam. Taking a position at the forefront of the development in countries shows that when economic powers commit to developing countries impactful change can be made.

In Summary

Providing educational grants to underrepresented communities and directly putting funding and resources in the pockets of local, boots-on-the-ground programs working to enact lasting change are just a few ways Australia’s Direct Aid Programs can impact millions around the world. This is just a glimpse into how the $4.96 billion Australian developmental budget can create a tangible impact.

– Malik Vega

Malik  is based in Miami, FL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr