Indigenous Australians and Discrimination

This article discusses the discrimination faced by Indigenous Australians and the laws protecting them. It also sheds light on the cultural practices and customs of Torres Strait Islander people.

Running head: INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND DISCRIMINATION
Indigenous Australians and Discrimination
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND DISCRIMINATION
Part A
Torres Strait Islander people eat garden food like yam, taro, cassava and fruits like
coconut, sea almond along with sorbie. The Torres Strait Islander people eat healthy food like
vegetables, fruits, roots along with seeds. The Torres Strait Islander people do not eat food
that was starchy that can harm their health (Carey et al. 2017). They stay averse from
artificially prepared food and the children along with pregnant women were specially asked
not to eat them. The gesture that is held to be offensive by the Torres Strait Islander people is
the use of indirect language and it is regarded with contempt by them (Smart 2018). The
words that are offensive to their culture are the use of informal words that are thought of to be
rude in their culture. According to the Torres Strait Islander people, speaking slowly is held
to be a good custom that is viewed with respect by the Torres Strait Islander people. The
behavioural approach that shows that they have accepted other people is by nodding their
head that shows that they have well received the other people.
The Torres Strait Islander people do not view with scorn the people having disability
and they are not separated from rest of community. The people who are disabled are thought
of to be integral to the population and they are treated equally like the other people within
Australia. The Torres Strait Islander people have the word “nyumpu” which means crippled
and they are thought of to be important part of their culture. The various discrimination acts
that can be applied to Torres Strait Islander people are Racial Discrimination Act 1975,
Discrimination Act 1991, Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and Equal Opportunity Act 2010
(Humanrights.gov.au 2018). Racial Discrimination Act helps in protecting someone who has
been dealt with in unfair manner based on race, colour or ethnic origin. Discrimination Act
1991 talks that there should be no discrimination in the place of work that can hurt the
sentiment of the Torres Strait Islander people (Eoc.wa.gov.au 2018). Equal Opportunity Act
was implemented by the Parliament of Western Australia that helps in promoting acceptance

2INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND DISCRIMINATION
in the community of the Torres Strait Islander people. These acts help in promoting equality
in relation to the disadvantaged groups of Australia. These acts can address any kind of
disadvantage that is experienced by the racist group that can help members of group in
enjoying equal rights with that of the other groups in the society.
Part B
Discrimination takes place when a person is treated unfairly owing to the fact that
they have certain characteristics. Discrimination makes a distinction towards a person on the
basis of colour and class.
A staff member in a travel agency can be discriminated against in the event of not
being promoted to the superior level in the organization. The discrimination that takes place
within travel agency will hinder the professional development of the indigenous Australians
within Australia.
Ground of Discrimination within NSW covers 11 important areas. The different areas
are race discrimination, sex discrimination, relationship status discrimination, pregnancy
discrimination, homosexuality discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, intersex
status discrimination, family responsibility discrimination, disability discrimination, gender
identity and age discrimination (Eoc.wa.gov.au 2018).
Racial discrimination takes place in Australia when an individual is discriminated
against on the basis of race, colour and nationality. Racial discrimination takes place in the
event of a person being treated in a less favourable manner or when they are not given the
same opportunities like other people in the society (Nelson et al. 2015). Racial
Discrimination Act refers to statute has been passed by Australian government that protects
the people belonging to the minor communities in Australia. Discrimination on the basis of
sex takes place when a person is treated unfavourable owing to the sex of the person. Sex

3INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination Act of the year 1984 has made discrimination against a person unlawful on
the basis of sex an offence and it helps in protecting people from discriminatory practices in
Australia. Disability discrimination can be said to occur when a person is treated badly owing
to the fact that they have some kind of disability. Disability Discrimination Act helps in
covering the people who suffer from temporary along with permanent disabilities (Mason
2018). These laws can be enforced in the workforce by providing training that can help in
educating the members of an organisation about discriminatory practices that should be
curbed for the overall development of the organization. Anti-discriminatory policies should
be implemented in a company that can help in protecting people from discrimination (Nelson
et al. 2015).
Anti-Discrimination Amendment that was amended in the year 2013 has stated that
the private schools should not make any kind of discrimination against the students. This has
helped in brining State Act in line with that of Federal Anti-Discrimination Act that can give
the students access to that of Anti-Discrimination Board that is independent.

4INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND DISCRIMINATION
References
Carey, T.A., Dudgeon, P., Hammond, S.W., Hirvonen, T., Kyrios, M., Roufeil, L. and Smith,
P., 2017. The Australian Psychological Society's Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander People. Australian Psychologist, 52(4), pp.261-267.
Eoc.wa.gov.au (2018). Equal Opportunity Act 1984. [online] Eoc.wa.gov.au. Available at:
http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/about-us/equal-opportunity-act-1984 [Accessed 9 Dec. 2018].
Humanrights.gov.au (2018). 1. Application of discrimination laws | Australian Human Rights
Commission. [online] Humanrights.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/targeted-recruitment-aboriginal-and-torres-
strait-islander-people/1-application [Accessed 9 Dec. 2018].
Mason, B., 2018. Intervention in aboriginal communities examined [Book Review]. Pacific
Journalism Review, 24(1), p.238.
Nelson, J., MacDonald, H., Dufty-Jones, R., Dunn, K. and Paradies, Y., 2015. Ethnic
discrimination in private rental housing markets in Australia. Housing in 21st-Century
Australia: People, Practices and Policies, pp.39-56.
Nelson, J., MacDonald, H., Dufty-Jones, R., Dunn, K. and Paradies, Y., 2015. Ethnic
discrimination in private rental housing markets in Australia. Housing in 21st-Century
Australia: People, Practices and Policies, pp.39-56.
Smart, C., 2018. ‘Excused only through the Exigencies of Narrative,’Irish-Aboriginal
Relations in Colonial Australia and beyond.