Aboriginal Policy Quiz 1950s-1970s

Integration Policy

• Aboriginal people were marginalized and denied equal rights and opportunities.
• Following Aboriginal protest, integration policy was introduced in the 1950s and 60s, influencing later government initiatives.
• Integration aimed to integrate Aboriginal people into white society while maintaining their identity.
• Officially ended segregation in government policy, but social segregation persisted.
• Aboriginal families were relocated from reserves to housing estates.
• Integration was almost identical to assimilation, only differing in increased interaction within housing estates.

Self-Determination Policy

• The Whitlam government adopted self-determination in 1972.
• Self-determination granted Aboriginal people control over all aspects of their lives.
• A rise in Aboriginal pride and culture led to the establishment of Aboriginal organizations, such as the Aboriginal Medical Service, ATSIC, and the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Reconciliation Policy

• Reconciliation aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by acknowledging the past and working towards a better future.
• The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in 1992 identified three key points for achieving reconciliation:
  • Recognizing Indigenous Australians as the first inhabitants.
  • Acknowledging the disadvantages caused by land dispossession.
  • Promoting harmonious coexistence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• Subsequent governments have undermined reconciliation by abandoning self-determination, closing ATSIC, and reintroducing paternalistic policies.

Stolen Generations

• The loss of family, community, and cultural connection had lasting impacts on mental health, contributing to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
• Separation of children from their families disrupted family structures and relationships.
• Survivors struggled to maintain family bonds due to separation trauma and reunion difficulties.
• Socioeconomic disadvantages persist due to the assimilation policy, including limited access to healthcare, education, and employment.
• Intergenerational impacts continue, affecting descendants of the Stolen Generations, leading to ongoing social and psychological issues within families and communities.
• Many individuals experienced difficulty in establishing identity and belonging due to displacement from their cultural backgrounds.
• Forced removals fragmented Indigenous communities, disrupting traditional social structures and disrupting community cohesion.

Australian Referendum (1967)

• A national referendum was held to amend the constitution.
• The referendum aimed to include Indigenous people in the national census and empower the Australian government to create specific laws for Indigenous people.
• The overwhelming 'yes' vote recognized discrimination and inequality faced by Indigenous people and marked a step toward ending legal segregation and advancing civil rights.

The Referendum

• This event was a referendum.
• Its purpose was to change the Australian constitution.
• This enabled the Australian government to create laws specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to include them in the census.
• It had symbolic significance, but limited practical benefits.
• It took five more years for the government to implement changes in health, housing, employment, and education.

Reconciliation

• It requires all Australians to acknowledge the past and work for a more equitable future.
• Reconciliation is the responsibility of the Australian community to recognize and respect the First Peoples of the land.
• It acknowledges the past injustices and ongoing inequalities since colonization.
• It is a commitment to working towards a more equal and respectful future for all Australians.

Key Definitions

• Race relations: Attempts to explain how racial groups interact.
• Equity and equality: Equity refers to providing specific resources needed for success, while equality means treating everyone the same regardless of differences.
• Institutional integrity: The commitment of a public institution to achieving its purpose ethically and effectively.
• Historical acceptance: Accepting the actions of another.