The Assimilation Policy and Its Impact on the Indigenous...

Since the time of federation the Aboriginal people have been fighting for their rights through protests, strikes and the notorious ‘day of mourning’. However, over the last century the Australian federal government has generated policies which manage and restrained that of the Aboriginal people’s rights, citizenships and general protection. The Australian government policy that has had the most significant impact on indigenous Australians is the assimilation policy. The reasons behind this include the influences that the stolen generation has had on the indigenous Australians, their relegated rights and their entitlement to vote and the impact that the policy has had on the indigenous people of Australia. The assimilation policy was a†¦show more content†¦Their native land was taken from them, and this led to an increase in Aboriginal activism. Protest groups like the Aborigines Progressive Association and the Freedom Rides were formed. It wasn’t until 1962 that the commonwealth electoral act that began in 1918 was amended so that all Indigenous Australian could vote, and only in 1965 were Aboriginals finally granted the entitlement to full wages. (Skwirk, 2007). This impacted them in many ways us they were denied equal right for so long. ‘I want a Little Fair Play if you will be so kind enough to see on my Behalf’ (http://www.abc.net.au/civics/democracy/struggle.htm, 2001). This was from one of the many letters by John Kickett to parliament in his fight for aboriginal rights. The term terra nullius meant a land that belonged to no one, Australia was titled this by Captain Cook in the 18th century and it legally meant that no one could claim rights over the land because no one lived there. However, people were living there, the indigenous people of the country had been living here for many centuries, and once the land was claimed by European settlers the Aboriginal people lost their rights of the land that had been theirs for such an extensiveShow MoreRelatedSince the time of federation the Aboriginal people have been fighting for their rights through800 Words   |  4 Pagescentury the Australian federal government has generated policies which manage and restrained that of the Aboriginal people’s rights, citizenships and general protection. The Australian government policy that has had the most significant impact on indigenous Australians is the assimilation policy. The reasons behind this include the influences that the stolen generation has had on the indigenous Australians, their relegated rights and their entitlement to vote and the impact that the policy has had onRead MoreEssay on Policies Affecting Indigenous Australians1550 Words   |  7 PagesIndigenous Australians have faced many changes to their original life style, with numerous policies being brought in. These policies had an incredible affect on how the indigenous Australians lived. The policies inflicted on the indigenous Australians varied widely and had numerous impacts. The policies of assimilation, protection and integration had mainly negative impacts on the community, causing loss of identity, language and religion. The policies of self-determination and reconciliation, hadRead MoreThe Assimilation Policy ( 1961 )1540 Words   |  7 PagesThe Assimilation policy (1961) has impacted on Indigenous Australians within their physical and mental state and identity present in today’s society. Australia is commonly considered to be free and fair in their culturally diverse societies, but when the Indigenous population is closer looked into, it is clear that from a social and economical view their health needs are disadvantaged compared to non-Indigenous equals. In relation to this, the present Indigenous health is being impacted by disadvantagesRead MoreEssay about Indigenous Health1500 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The status of Indigenous health in contemporary Australia is a result of historic factors as well as contemporary socio-economic issues† (Hampton Toombs, 2013, p. 1). The poor health position of Indigenous Australians is a contemporary reflection of their historical treatment as Australia’s traditional owners. This treatment has led to Indigenous Australians experiencing social disadvantages, significantly low socio-economic status, dispossession, poverty and powerlessness as a direct resultRead MoreWhich Policy Had the Largest Impact on the Indigenous Australians1018 Words   |  5 Pagesgovernment policy towards indigenous people has had the largest impact on Indigenous Australians? Through research the Assimilation Policy had the largest impact upon Indigenous Australians and the three supporting arguments to prove this are the Aborigines losing their rights to freedom, Aboriginal children being removed from their families, and finally the loss of aboriginality. The Assimilation was a policy set by the government in 1937 and went to till 1964. This policy of Assimilation was setRead MoreThe Changing Nature Of The Policies Introduced By The Australian Governments1248 Words   |  5 PagesThe changing nature of the policies introduced by the Australian Governments towards the Aboriginal Community greatly affected them in many ways. One of the darkest chapters of Australian history was the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families. This is now known as The Stolen Generation . Between 1910-1970, many Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families as a result of various government policies. In removing their children, white people stole Aboriginal people’sRead More The Stolen Generation of Aboriginal Decent Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesThe Stolen Generation has left devastating impacts upon the Aboriginal culture and heritage, Australian history and the presence of equality experienced today. The ‘S tolen Generation’ refers to the children of Aboriginal descent being forcefully abducted by government officials of Australia and placed within institutions and catholic orphanages, being forced to assimilate into ‘white society’. These dehumanising acts placed these stolen children to experience desecration of culture, loss of identityRead MoreThe South West Corner Of Wa1042 Words   |  5 Pagestribes. They would also hold ceremonies and significant celebrations there. Both men and women from the Nyungar tribes would have scarification on their back, chest, arms and legs, as these were traditional rites of passage. Unlike most Aboriginal Australians, Nyungars did not perform circumcision or sub-incision on their children. The first European settlements arrived in the area around 1829, and with them the beginning of change and loss for the Nyungar people (Municipal Heritage Inventory, Sept.Read MoreThe Segregation and Assimilation Policies in Relation to the Impact They Had on the Aboriginal Family Lfe2030 Words   |  9 PagesCompare and contrast the segregation and assimilation policies in relation to the impact they had on the Aboriginal family life. Aboriginal family life has been disrupted and forcibly changed over the last two hundred years, as a result of the many segregation and assimilation policies introduced by Australian governments. Often a combination of the two was employed. The policy of segregation has impacted upon Aboriginal family life, for through this policy, Aboriginals were restricted and prohibitedRead MoreHow the Segregation Assimilation Policies Impacted on Aboriginal Fam2083 Words   |  9 PagesCompare and contrast the segregation and assimilation policies in relation to the impact they had on the Aboriginal family life. Aboriginal family life has been disrupted and forcibly changed over the last two hundred years, as a result of the many segregation and assimilation policies introduced by Australian governments. Often a combination of the two was employed. The policy of segregation has impacted upon Aboriginal family life, for through this policy, Aboriginals were restricted and prohibited