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Indigenous Australia

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For more than 30 years, Oxfam Australia has supported opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to exercise their rights to basic social services, sustainable livelihoods, a strong voice and cultural diversity. Our program has a particular focus on Western Australia and the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland, as well as nationally through our initiatives to support Indigenous young people and promote Indigenous people's rights.

Our focus

Poverty in Australia is as harsh and real as it is in developing countries; Australia's Indigenous population – approximately 500,000 people – is the most disadvantaged group in the country in terms of income, unemployment, imprisonment, child protection, health and wellbeing indicators, life expectancy and education.

Indigenous youth

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are a young population with a median age of 20.5 years compared to 36.1 years for the non-Indigenous population. We work with young Indigenous men and women to:

  • Develop their leadership capacity
  • Support youth-focused initiatives that strengthen cultural identity, responsibility and rights
  • Develop Indigenous youth networks in Australia and internationally
  • Take greater control over their lives and actively engage in their communities and the wider society

For example, our youth participation program supports young Indigenous people to take part in Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP), a global network of young leaders working for positive and lasting change in their communities.

Health and wellbeing

While most Australians are living longer than ever before, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are dying almost 20 years before other Australians and experience high levels of chronic illness, preventable diseases, mental and physical disability and reduced quality of life.

We work to develop the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by strengthening the governance, management systems and policy work of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and other Aboriginal health organisations.

For example, we have been contracted by the Department of Health and Ageing to run the Gulf Regional Health Service in north-west Queensland. This service takes a community development approach to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in the Gulf region, particularly in the communities of Mornington Island, Normanton and Doomadgee.

Self-determination

We believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples must have an effective voice and opportunities for genuine participation in all decisions affecting their lives. We:

  • Educate Aboriginal community members and organisations and others about human rights-based approaches to development
  • Pressure the Australian Government to address the systemic issues that keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in poor health and poverty
  • Work to improve public understanding of and support for Indigenous People’s rights
  • Support Indigenous advocates at local, regional, national and international levels
  • Work to ensure that the voice of Indigenous people is reflected in services for Aboriginal communities
  • Build the capacity of Indigenous organisations in areas such as marketing, monitoring and evaluation, communications and policy development

An example of work we support includes the diplomacy training program which equips Indigenous leaders with advocacy and lobbying skills and an understanding of the international human rights framework.

Gender

Oxfam Australia is committed to addressing the different issues faced by Indigenous Australian women and men and to creating opportunities for their voices to be heard. For example, we work with the Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation to help provide a culturally safe healing environment with programs addressing child sexual abuse, family violence and community development.

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Help us continue this work (and similar work in other countries) by making a donation:

Find out more

Read our latest news on Indigenous Australia issues:

Indigenous advocacy

Find out more about our Indigenous health advocacy work.

Stories & photos

Trust is key

Trust is the key

Unique health and wellbeing programs that incorporate local culture and views are transforming the lives of young Aboriginal people on Mornington Island.

Tracking the intervention

It's been over a year since the former Howard government announced its emergency intervention in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Oxfam's Chris Roche reflects on the first 12 months.

Learning about human rights

Human rights? Thirty young Indigenous Australians are now experts on the topic.

Stories from the Gulf

We are working with the Gulf Regional Health Service to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities in the Gulf region.