Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's Aboriginal population is a diverse group with a rich history and culture. The Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of Australia, with archaeological evidence suggesting that their ancestors first migrated to the continent between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago. Over time, the Aboriginal population has faced numerous challenges, including the impact of British colonisation, which led to a significant decline in their numbers. Today, the Aboriginal population in Australia is estimated to be around 745,000 individuals, or about 3% of the total population. They continue to face social and economic disparities but have also made significant contributions to the country's cultural landscape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 745,000 individuals or 3% of the total population of Australia |
| Census Representation | First included in 1971 |
| Age Structure | Relatively young with larger proportions of people aged 29 and under |
| Median Age | 24 as of 2021 |
| Health | Lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous population |
| Criminal Justice System | Over-represented with 2,481 prisoners per 100,000 Indigenous people |
| Languages | English, Aboriginal phrases and words in Australian Aboriginal English, and various traditional languages of their clans |
| Population Before British Settlers | Approximately 318,000–1,000,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Migration history
The migration history of Aboriginal Australians is a complex and fascinating topic that has been the subject of extensive research and debate. Aboriginal Australians are believed to have migrated to the continent thousands of years ago, and they may have one of the oldest continuous cultures on Earth.
Archaeological and genomic evidence suggests that the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians first arrived in the continent between 43,000 and 75,000 years ago. During this time, Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea were part of the same landmass known as Sahul, and Aboriginal people lived over large sections of the Australian continental shelf when sea levels were lower. As sea levels rose, the people on the Australian mainland and nearby islands became isolated, with some remaining in Tasmania and on smaller offshore islands.
Genetic studies have provided valuable insights into the migration history of Aboriginal Australians. Research indicates that Aboriginal Australians are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, who are collectively referred to as "Australasians". There is also evidence of a shared ""Out of Africa" migration for modern humans, with Aboriginal Australians descending from a single wave of migrants who left Africa around 72,000 years ago. Additionally, DNA studies have suggested that the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians followed a southern route dispersal out of Africa, expanding into South and Southeast Asia before diverging into other populations.
The migration and isolation of Aboriginal Australians have resulted in a unique and rich cultural heritage. Aboriginal people have a strong connection to their land, sea, culture, and community, with distinct languages, beliefs, and practices. Despite facing significant challenges throughout their history, including the impact of British colonisation and attempts at cultural assimilation, Aboriginal people have persevered and continue to play an integral role in Australian society today.
It is important to note that the migration history of Aboriginal Australians is a vast and evolving field of study. While researchers have made significant strides in understanding the past, there is still much to be discovered and learned from the rich cultural heritage of these First Peoples of Australia.
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Population decline
The Aboriginal population in Australia is estimated to be around 745,000 individuals, or about 3% of the total population. However, this number has been difficult to accurately determine due to various historical and cultural factors.
Prior to 1967, Aboriginal natives were excluded from being counted as part of Australia's national population. Section 127 of the Constitution, which was repealed in 1967, specifically excluded "aboriginal natives" from being included in the overall population statistics for each state, territory, and the nation as a whole. This exclusion was based on the notion that Australia was considered a land that belonged to no one before European settlement, and Aboriginal people were seen as a "'dying race' not worthy of citizenship or humanity." As a result, early censuses relied on estimates provided by state and territory authorities, and Aboriginal people living in remote areas were often not counted or estimated accurately.
After the repeal of Section 127 in 1967, the Australian Census began to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the population count. However, the lack of consistent definitions and the use of approximate counting methods have made it challenging to determine accurate population figures. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has developed a set method to estimate total numbers, but undercounting remains an issue.
The Aboriginal population has also been impacted by historical policies and practices. From 1869 until the 1970s, children under 12 years of age with less than 25% Aboriginal blood were considered "white" and were often removed from their families and placed with white communities or institutions. Additionally, during the 19th century, the original Aboriginal population was reduced to around 300 between 1803 and 1833 due to disease, warfare, and other actions of British settlers, contributing to a near-extinction of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
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Population distribution
The population distribution of Aboriginal Australians has been a subject of debate and has changed over time. Before the arrival of British settlers, the population of Indigenous Australians was estimated to be approximately 318,000–1,000,000, with the majority living in the southeast, centred along the Murray River. This population distribution is similar to that of the current Australian population.
Historically, the Australian government implemented policies that aimed to segregate and control Aboriginal populations. From 1869 until the 1970s, children under 12 years of age with less than 25% Aboriginal blood were considered "white" and were often removed from their families and placed with white families or institutions. This further impacted the distribution of Aboriginal communities, as they were forcibly separated and assimilated into white communities.
In 1967, Australians voted to amend the Constitution by removing Section 127, which had previously excluded "aboriginal natives" from being counted in the overall population statistics. This change allowed for a more accurate count of the Aboriginal population in the census.
According to the 2021 census, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised 3.8% of Australia's population. It is estimated that 38% live in major cities, 18% in remote and very remote areas, and the remaining in other regions. The Aboriginal population has a younger age structure compared to the non-Indigenous population, with larger proportions of young people and smaller proportions of older individuals.
The distribution of the Aboriginal population also varies within different Australian states and territories. For example, the 2016 census reported 23,572 Indigenous Australians in Tasmania, while other states may have higher or lower concentrations.
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Cultural identity
Aboriginal Australians are the first peoples of Australia, and they comprise hundreds of distinct groups, each with their own language, history, and cultural traditions. The ancestors of present-day Aboriginal Australians migrated from Southeast Asia by sea during the Pleistocene epoch, making them among the first in the world to have completed sea voyages. They are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, who are collectively referred to as "Australasians".
The cultural identity of Aboriginal Australians is deeply rooted in their connection to the land and their ancestral heritage. They have a rich oral tradition, with stories and songs that have been passed down through generations, preserving their history, values, and knowledge of the natural world. The Aboriginal concept of "Country" encompasses not just the physical landscape but also the spiritual and cultural connection to the land, which is integral to their identity and sense of belonging.
Traditional Aboriginal art, music, and dance are also integral aspects of their cultural identity. Aboriginal art often depicts dreamtime stories, spiritual beings, and the natural environment, using symbols and patterns that vary across different regions and communities. Music and dance are used to celebrate important events, tell stories, and maintain cultural traditions.
The Aboriginal Australian communities have a strong sense of community and kinship, with complex systems of kinship and skin names that define relationships and social roles. Their societies were traditionally matrilineal, with children belonging to the mother's clan, and they continue to place great importance on family and community connections.
The cultural identity of Aboriginal Australians is also shaped by their experiences of colonisation, dispossession, and their ongoing struggle for recognition and reconciliation. They were historically excluded from the national narrative and considered a "dying race" during the drafting of the Australian Constitution. Policies of segregation, assimilation, and the removal of children from their families have had a profound impact on their communities. Today, Aboriginal Australians continue to face socio-economic disparities and are over-represented in the criminal justice system. However, there have been efforts towards reconciliation, including the amendment of the Constitution in 1967 to include Aboriginal Australians in the population count and the development of a "Commonwealth working definition" for Indigenous Australians, which recognises elements of descent, self-identification, and community recognition.
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Criminal justice system representation
Aboriginal people in Australia are disproportionately represented at each stage of the criminal justice system. While Aboriginal people make up just 2% of the Australian adult population, they comprise more than one-quarter (27%) of the national adult prison population. In Western Australia, they made up 32% of the prison population in 1905, rising to over 42% in 1909. In 2016, the imprisonment rate of Aboriginal women was higher than that of non-Indigenous women and men. Aboriginal adults in Victoria are 11.7 times more likely to be under justice supervision than non-Aboriginal adults.
The over-representation of Aboriginal Australians in the Criminal Justice System is a matter of long-standing and justified public concern. The Closing the Gap framework is an Australian government strategy that aims to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was developed in partnership between Australian governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations. It has identified four priority reforms that will change the way governments work with First Nations people, including working in partnership and sharing decision-making, and improving and sharing access to data and information.
The Walama List is another initiative that aims to reduce the over-representation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system. It provides a therapeutic and holistic approach to sentencing eligible First Nations offenders, working with Elders and community members, government, and non-government services to address underlying needs and risk factors related to offending behaviour.
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found that the most significant factor bringing Aboriginal people into conflict with the criminal justice system was their disadvantaged and unequal position in wider society. This disadvantage is linked to the effects of colonisation, including the dispossession of land, disruption of culture and kinship systems, removal of children, racism, social exclusion, institutionalisation, and entrenched poverty. Other factors include unemployment, poor mental health, substance use, disengagement from school, and lack of educational attainment.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 30 June 2021, there were 984,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, representing 3.8% of the total Australian population.
In the 2016 Census, about 650,000 Australians identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin. However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that almost 800,000 people, or 3.3% of the population, identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
The original population was reduced to around 300 between 1803 and 1833 due to disease, warfare, and other actions of British settlers. From 1869 until the 1970s, children under 12 with 25% or less Aboriginal blood were considered "white" and were removed from their families.
The Australian government has a history of segregation and control of Aboriginal populations. From 1901 to 1971, Aboriginal people were excluded from being counted as part of the national population. In 1967, Australians voted to remove this exclusion, and the 1971 Census was the first time Aboriginal people were included in the population count.
