Aboriginal Education In Australia

The social issue of education similarly to health began with poor colonial assistance. Before the referendum, State Governments had total responsibilities for indigenous affairs so education differed across Australia, however despite the difference all State Policies communicated their belief that aboriginal people were inferior and therefore should receive minimal education (Telethon Kids Institution, online, 14.8/15). In the 19th century indigenous children either received education from church or charity run missions, which aimed to civilise them with prominent focus on teaching Christianity, or in aboriginal only schools on segregated reserves (Burridge, 2012, p.13). In 1939 a NSW Public Service Board inquiry realised major problems with

the education of indigenous people and recommended that assimilation was needed in education (Burridge, 2012, p.16). This integration resulted in high numbers of aborigines in Christian missions between the 1940s and 1970s (Telethon Kids Institution, online, 14.8/15). Between the 1940s and 1960s resistance to segregation was growing and indigenous communities started to publicly struggle and campaign for the rights of their people (Burridge, 2012, p.16). Education was not an easy issue to overcome as many State Governments seemingly were still under the impression of non-indigenous superiority.
From the late 1950s to 1960s indigenous education saw many successful achievements.

In 1956 the first aboriginal teaching graduates began teaching in Government schools and in 1957 the Tranby Aboriginal College, the first of its kind in NSW, began to provide indigenous adults with education and training (Burridge, 2012, p.16). The referendum caused the first Commonwealth Aboriginal Secondary School Grants Scheme to start in 1969, it provided indigenous children with scholarships to stay in Primary School, the scholarship program was extended to secondary students in 1972 (Burridge, 2012,p.17). In 1989 the first National Aboriginal Education Policy (NAEP) was released, its aim was to co-ordinate responsibility for Indigenous education between various States through strategies that were linked to Federal funding (Burridge, 2012,p.17). It is understood that the referendum caused the Government to care about indigenous lives and therefore the indigenous population began having more opportunities in

education
Whilst since the late 20th century there has been advancements in both indigenous health and education, many unfortunate problems exist for indigenous people today that non-indigenous people simply do not face.
Health is a main factor causing differences among indigenous and non-indigenous people today.

Australia has the highest differences in life expectancy and infant mortality between non-indigenous and indigenous people compared to New Zealand, Canada and the United States (Pascoe,2008,p.34). Indigenous people have a life expectancy 17 years less than non-indigenous people (Mackean,2009,p.18) and the infant mortality rate for aborigines is three times higher (Pascoe,2008,p.34). It is quite embarrassing that out of countries with similar colonial history, Australia is so far behind. On the slide you can see other upsetting statistics in indigenous health. Whilst indigenous people make up 2.5 percent of the nation (Creative Spirits – Aborignal Health,online,14/8/15) it seems they suffer the most health issues out of the total population. Damian Griffiths the Executive Officer of the First Peoples Disability Network said “The prevalence of disability amongst Indigenous Australians is significantly higher, approximately twice that of the non-Indigenous population.” And that “Disabled aboriginal people are among the most disadvantaged in Australia” These are upsetting but true facts and obviously action is needed. According to Creative Spirits, an indigenous website, 50 percent of indigenous people have some form of disability or long term health condition. It becomes apparent that this percentage would never be a reality for the non-indigenous population as serious action in

prevention would begin the moment of increasing health issues.
These upsetting facts raise questions on how such issues are being fixed by the Government so reconciliation can occur. In December 2007 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) committed itself to closing the 17 year gap in life expectancy (Pascoe,2008,p.36). The Council has also aided in the opening of more than 140 aboriginal community controlled medical centres as a part of closing the gap (Pascoe,2008,p.36). The ‘Close the Gap’ campaign is currently supported by the Federal and State Governments and it aims to close the gap in life expectancy within a generation (Australian Human Rights Commission, online,28/8/15) . The campaign also aims to highlight the importance of non-indigenous and indigenous Australians working together to deal with health issues (Mackean,2009,p.23). It is fulfilling to see the Government does realise that issues exist however more action is needed.