Changing government policies towards Aboriginal peoples over time, including:
protection
assimilation
integration
self-determination
Students learn to:
account for continuity and change over time
Protection
When? 19th Century and up to the mid-20th Century What was it? Separation of Aboriginal people from white Australia for the own 'protection'. Who conducted it? Government policy often administered by Christian churches. How did it affect aboriginal people?
Aboriginal people were removed from their lands and relocated to church-run missions. It broke the traditional bond of kinship with the ancestral lands.
Aboriginal people's lives were controlled.
Aborigines were segregated from white people.
Aborigines had no rights: no vote, basic wage or pensions.
Mixed race children were removed to instil European culture in them.
The individual colonies and then states had control of policy towards aboriginal people until 1967. Aboriginal Protection Boards were established in each colony at different times. In NSW, the Aborigines Protection Board was established in 1883 and gained legal power in 1909 under the Aborigines Protection Act. The government had extensive control over the lives of Aboriginal people: where they could live; freedom of movement; control of finances; removal of children.
Account for: Before and after Federation there was a belief that the Aboriginal race was dying. Separation through "Protection" policies was designed to allow this natural process to continue, while removal of mixed blood aboriginal children would ensure they would not be tainted by aboriginal culture and beliefs.
Assimilation
When? 1940s, 1950s What was it? To force Aboriginal people to live like whites so that their own culture would disappear. The Aborigines Protection Board was renamed the Aborigines Welfare Board in 1940. Policy of removal of children continued. See Kinchela Boys' Home. 1951 Australian Conference for Native Welfare: told that assimilation was for Aboriginal people to live like white Australians. 1961 Native Welfare Conference: definition of assimilation p.283. Impact: Aborigines did not have the same rights as whites and encountered discrimination in all areas of life. They were not accepted into mainstream society and were forced to live on the margins of society: "fringe dwellers".
Account for: The aborigines had not died out as was expected at the turn of the century. However, as an inferior culture, it was necessary to adopt policies which would bring about its demise. Traditional lifestyle was to be substituted for living like whites.
Integration
When? 1960s. What was it? A greater acceptance of aboriginal culture. Assimilation was altered to allow for cultural beliefs and traditions to be maintained, while aspiring to achieve living standards comparable to white Australians.
Account for: The 1960s brought many social changes and a greater awareness amongst progressive groups that aboriginal policy was essentially racist and denied aborigines the same rights as enjoyed by white Australians. The policy of integration coincided with a greater awareness of Aboriginal issues through the 1967 referendum and agitation for rights through the bark petition (1963 p.294), the 'freedom ride' (1965 p.288), and the Wave Hill protest (1968 p.294).
Self-determination
When? Under the Whitlam government (1972-75) What was it? Aborigines were recognised as full and equal citizens with the same rights as all other Australians.
Account for: The Whitlam government was a very progressive administration following 23 years of conservative government under the Liberal Party. Aboriginal policy was one of many areas which the Whitlam government changed. The acceptance of the full citizenship rights of aborigines and their ability to take control of their own lives came at a time when Australian society was accepting a great change in its cultural mix with the removal of the White Australia Policy in 1973.
CHANGE OVER TIME
Changing government policies towards Aboriginal peoples over time, including:Students learn to:
Protection
When? 19th Century and up to the mid-20th Century
What was it? Separation of Aboriginal people from white Australia for the own 'protection'.
Who conducted it? Government policy often administered by Christian churches.
How did it affect aboriginal people?
The individual colonies and then states had control of policy towards aboriginal people until 1967. Aboriginal Protection Boards were established in each colony at different times.
In NSW, the Aborigines Protection Board was established in 1883 and gained legal power in 1909 under the Aborigines Protection Act. The government had extensive control over the lives of Aboriginal people: where they could live; freedom of movement; control of finances; removal of children.
Account for: Before and after Federation there was a belief that the Aboriginal race was dying. Separation through "Protection" policies was designed to allow this natural process to continue, while removal of mixed blood aboriginal children would ensure they would not be tainted by aboriginal culture and beliefs.
Assimilation
When? 1940s, 1950sWhat was it? To force Aboriginal people to live like whites so that their own culture would disappear.
The Aborigines Protection Board was renamed the Aborigines Welfare Board in 1940.
Policy of removal of children continued. See Kinchela Boys' Home.
1951 Australian Conference for Native Welfare: told that assimilation was for Aboriginal people to live like white Australians.
1961 Native Welfare Conference: definition of assimilation p.283.
Impact: Aborigines did not have the same rights as whites and encountered discrimination in all areas of life. They were not accepted into mainstream society and were forced to live on the margins of society: "fringe dwellers".
Account for: The aborigines had not died out as was expected at the turn of the century. However, as an inferior culture, it was necessary to adopt policies which would bring about its demise. Traditional lifestyle was to be substituted for living like whites.
Integration
When? 1960s.What was it? A greater acceptance of aboriginal culture. Assimilation was altered to allow for cultural beliefs and traditions to be maintained, while aspiring to achieve living standards comparable to white Australians.
Account for: The 1960s brought many social changes and a greater awareness amongst progressive groups that aboriginal policy was essentially racist and denied aborigines the same rights as enjoyed by white Australians. The policy of integration coincided with a greater awareness of Aboriginal issues through the 1967 referendum and agitation for rights through the bark petition (1963 p.294), the 'freedom ride' (1965 p.288), and the Wave Hill protest (1968 p.294).
Self-determination
When? Under the Whitlam government (1972-75)What was it? Aborigines were recognised as full and equal citizens with the same rights as all other Australians.
Account for: The Whitlam government was a very progressive administration following 23 years of conservative government under the Liberal Party. Aboriginal policy was one of many areas which the Whitlam government changed. The acceptance of the full citizenship rights of aborigines and their ability to take control of their own lives came at a time when Australian society was accepting a great change in its cultural mix with the removal of the White Australia Policy in 1973.