Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Program
Photo: Tony McDonough/OxfamAUS
If we judge a society by how it treats its most vulnerable, then Australia's report card is well below average.
Poverty in Australia is as harsh as it is in developing countries, and it's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – some half a million Australians – who are among the most disadvantaged.
More than 200 years of dispossession, racism and discrimination have left Indigenous Australians with the lowest levels of education, the highest levels of unemployment, the poorest health and the most appalling housing conditions.
As Aboriginal activist and 2009 Australian of the Year, Professor Mick Dodson says, “The statistics of infant and perinatal mortality are our babies and children who die in our arms … The statistics of shortened life expectancy are our mothers and fathers, uncles, aunties and Elders who live diminished lives and die before their gifts of knowledge and experience are passed on. We die silently under these statistics.”
A brighter future for Indigenous Australians
While the statistics paint a bleak picture for Indigenous Australians, we know their future’s bright because we’ve seen what’s possible.
We’ve been working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations for more than 30 years. Together we’re running 30 projects across Australia making a positive difference to the lives of Indigenous Australians by:
- Improving Indigenous Australian health and wellbeing
- Working with Indigenous Australian youth to help them realise their potential
- Supporting the recognition of Indigenous Australians in the constitution
- Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to achieve self-determination for their people
- Working as member of the Close the Gap Coalition to end the Indigenous health crisis. Read the Coalition's latest Shadow Report on the Australian Government's progress towards closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
From providing nutritional breakfasts to young kids on Queensland's Mornington Island, to supporting Aboriginal Elders in Western Australia's Nyoongar country to pass on their wisdom to the next generation, positive change is happening – now.
Working in partnership
Working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations is critical to our success and ensures our projects are culturally appropriate and effective, as do our Indigenous Australian staff and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group.
In turn, we bring to the partnership more than 50 years’ experience in community development and as an international human rights advocate able to speak with authority on human rights.
Together we’re making a difference.
As a young Aboriginal woman and Oxfam Action Partner, Sarah Patrick, says, “People often complain about the state of the world but don’t necessarily know what they can do to help change it. It can be daunting but even small gestures leave their mark.”
What will your mark be?
Show your support
- Join the Close the Gap campaign for Indigenous health equality
- Donate to support our Close the Gap campaign
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