Economics Assignment: Strategy Of Australian Government Towards Indigenous Population
Question
Task: Using the UN Indigenous Peoples’ rights framework, evaluate the Australian Government’s approach to the Indigenous Australians. What do you consider to be the most important aspect of the UN framework that would assist in overcoming the major problems faced by the Indigenous Australians
Requirement
Your economics assignment should begin with an appropriate thesis statement followed by a summary reflection of the process of Colonisation linked to Aboriginal history demonstrating a broad and nuanced understanding of the perspectives and culture of Indigenous Australians.
Predict and explain the critical issues that have arisen for Indigenous Australians in Business contexts as a result of the colonisation.
Analyse these critical issues within the UN Indigenous Peoples’ Rights framework which provides insight from an Aboriginal perspective.
Generate a comprehensive course of action that stems from the most important requirements of the UN Indigenous People’s Rights in a culturally diverse Business environment and provide justification for the proposed course of Action.
In your conclusion provide an explanation of how key cultural attitudes, bias and self-concept influence one’s own thinking about these issues
Answer
Introduction:
The current economics assignment is focused on the Australian indigenous population which is integral part of the Australian population that has very high social, cultural and historical importance towards Australian heritage. With only 3.3% population share out of total Australian population, indigenous people hold importance in influencing the government strategies and program. In order to demonstrate the government’s focus on developing the situation of indigenous population, Australian government has introduced various strategies (Pitman et al. 2017). However, due to remoteness of the habitat of indigenous population and lack of proper infrastructure to provide support makes most of the program ineffective. Present study is aimed to analyse the approach of the Australian government towards its indigenous population. In addition to this, here analysis has been made to determine the most important aspect of UN framework that assisting in overcoming the critical issues faced by the Australian indigenous population.
Strategy of Australian government for indigenous Australian people:
History of designated program of government towards native populace of Australia can be followed back for fifty years prior, and from that point forward government is tenaciously attempting to develop with new methodologies supporting UN system. The Australian government has taken numerous arrangements and projects that are straightforward plans to upgrade the existences of the native individuals of Australia situated in the northern piece of Australia. Notwithstanding, there has been restricted information and study that plainly show what the new arrangements and methodologies have meant for the regular routines of the native individuals. Through the new evolved practice of Indigenous Evaluation Strategy by the Australian government, the government intends to upgrade approaches and programs that work on way of life for the native individuals.
As per the (Fredericks and Bargallie (2020) under the Community Development Employment Projects Scheme (CDEP), government of Australia is supposed to enhance the employability and skills of the native people. Through the Indigenous Education Strategic Initiative Program (IESIP) Australian government has developed strategy for the schools and livelihood preparing places for upgrading abilities of the native populace (Kinnane et al. 2014). Wellbeing administration has been engaged by and large by the public authority. Aside from this, the Australian government beginning around 2002 has presented a lodging program for native individuals with a $350 million financial plan. This task was meant to give lodging to native individuals permitting a better way of life (Light et al. 2018). In the words of Bainbridge et al. (2015) Close the Gap is probably the best commencement of the Australian government to relieve the distinction between the native and non-native Australians. This exposition examines the need for 'Close the Gap' program on account of schooling, wellbeing and preparing between the non-native and native networks of Australia. Besides, this review will put light on the proof of ramifications of the Closing the Gap program in Australia and it will attempt to follow the adjustment of living standard of the Australian people group. Considering Budget.gov.au (2017), it can be seen that, as per the Australian government's plan of change, the non-native populace, in particular, Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals have foundational and primary issues that should be tended to. As per the same source, close the Gap program is a local area association that comprises very nearly 200,000 Australians. As per Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au (2017) Close the Gap work for the native and non-native Australians and their objective is to accomplish native fairness in wellbeing by 2030. Closing the Gap program asks for –
Skill development program
Increasing life expectancy
Dedicated health plan for the indigenous people
Mechanism of solving social issue
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health services (ACCHOs)
Aside from this, as per humanrights.gov.au (2021) government of Australian made investment of $18.7 billion for school and education development program of indigenous people. It is supposed to provide primary education to the indigenous people and moreover enhance the skills of them to get mainstream jobs at different location of the country. With $14.7 billion Medicare program, Australian government also introduced health program of the local native people.
Framework of UN for assisting the problems of indigenous Australians:
The Australian government has confronted different issues in carrying out the advanced techniques for the native individuals. Because of the distance of where native individuals reside, there is the basic absence of transportation. This has brought about the absence of administration, Medicare, instructive organizations, horror rate and joblessness rate. Because of the distance of the spots, native individuals of Australia are to a great extent separated from the standard Australian way of life.
To conquer the issue of the procedure execution and slow speed of government projects to impact the work of the native populace of Australia UN has delivered a system. This structure requests privileges to land and asset, social and culture and aggregate freedoms. These freedoms are planned to give capacity to the native populace to battle for their property, gain government help with fostering their vocation and capacity to improve employability and abilities. Through the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), Australian government recognized the significance of creating work of native individuals during 2007 (Un.org 2021). From that point forward, government to a great extent zeroed in on shutting the hole among native and non-native individuals of Australia.
Figure 1: Estimation of remoteness of indigenous Australian population
Source: (Abs.gov.au, 2017)
As indicated by table 1, distant regions have the majority of the native Australians who are as yet denied and comprise practically 2.4% of the absolute Australian populace (Brueckner et al. 2014). Current circumstance grandstands that the administration's arrangement to control the divergence between the different Australian people groups is diminishing slowly. As per Humanrights.gov.au, (2017) Close the Gap is a significant stage by the Australian government to bring civil rights between both the native and non-native gathering of individuals. To dissect this program, three significant viewpoints to be specific schooling, wellbeing, and preparing are challenged beneath. Going to the instruction, it is another significant boundary, which can help the Close the Gap program end up being useful. Nearby arrangements by the public authority like supporting youthful pathways and giving grants to the sprouting minds has helped the non-native Australians to conquer their social limitations (Altman 2018). Other than this, growing more marine universities with advantage for aboriginals would be helpful on the grounds that Australia is encircled by sea from every one of the sides. As per the Kinnane et al. (2014) advanced education of Aboriginal and Torres report, during the time of 2005 to 2015, the quantity of aboriginals in high training is relied upon to increment by 93%.
Recommendations:
Underpinning the recent strategy implication and the policy framework considering UN statement by Australian government, following recommendation can be made:
Government should provide benefit to the targeted people directly. It will reduce the cost of developing immediate infrastructural development at the northern territories where indigenous people live
Better funding should be provided to the Close the Gap program so that it can perform its targeted task
Conclusion:
Underpinning the governmental approach towards indigenous population of Australia, it can be seen that government has been trying relentlessly since last five decades to enhance the standard of living of the indigenous people. Through the dedicated health program, housing program, skill development, employment, education and rehabilitation program, government works in accordance with the UNDRIP. Moreover, through the program like Close the Gap, Australian government has been trying to reducing the indigenous people and the mainstream Australian people. Thus, government and the UN framework has aided the indigenous people of Australia to have improved living, social and economic status.
Considering the self-concept of strategies for the indigenous population of Australia, it can be mentioned that perspectives varies from person to person. Personal perspective develops through understanding the culture of the people and underpinning the same one can develop policies that can be implemented for better outcome.
Reference:
Altman, J., 2018. Beyond closing the gap: Valuing diversity in Indigenous Australia. Canberra, ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), The Australian National University. https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/147808/1/CAEPRWP54_0.pdf
Brueckner, M., Spencer, R., Wise, G. and Marika, B., 2014. Indigenous entrepreneurship: Closing the Gap on local terms. Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, 17(2), pp.2-24. https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/informit.230079947722706
Budget.gov.au. 2017. Closing the Gap Between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians - The Policy Challenge. http://www.budget.gov.au/2008-09/content/ministerial_statements/html/indigenous-02.htm Dese.gov.au 2021. What is the Australian Government doing to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in schools https://www.dese.gov.au/quality-schools-package/fact-sheets/what-australian-government-doing-support-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-students-schools
Fredericks, B. and Bargallie, D., 2020. An Indigenous Australian cultural competence course: Talking culture, race and power. In Cultural Competence and the Higher Education Sector (pp. 295-308). Economics assignment Springer, Singapore. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/39549/2020_Book_CulturalCompetenceAndTheHigher.pdf#page=297 Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au. 2017. History of Closing the Gap « Key facts « Closing the gap « Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/closing-the-gap/key-facts/what-is-the-history-of-closing-the-gap Humanrights.gov.au 2021. Questions and Answers about Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples | Australian Human Rights Commission. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/questions-and-answers-about-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-peoples Humanrights.gov.au. 2017. Social justice report. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/social_justice/sj_report/sjreport05/pdf/SocialJustice2005.pdf
Kinnane, S., Wilks, J., Wilson, K., Hughes, T. and Thomas, S., 2014. Can’t be what you can’t see’: The transition of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into higher education: Final report 2014. https://ltr.edu.au/resources/SI11_2138_Henderson_Yates_Final_Report.pdf
Light, R.L. and Evans, J.R., 2018. Learning as transformation in the development of expertise by elite Indigenous Australian athletes. Sport Mont. https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/129241/1/SMJ_June_2018_Light_93-96.pdf Pitman, T., Harvey, A., McKay, J., Devlin, M., Trinidad, S. and Brett, M., 2017. The impact of enabling programs on Indigenous participation, success and retention in Australian higher education. In Indigenous pathways, transitions and participation in higher education (pp. 235-249). Springer, Singapore. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/27790/1002215.pdfsequence=1#page=246
Un.org 2021. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples | United Nations For Indigenous Peoples. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html
