Mum Shirl's Advocacy for Aboriginal People's Human Rights

This report delves into the life and work of Colleen Shirley Perry Smith, known as Mum Shirl, a significant figure in the fight for Aboriginal rights in Australia. It examines the challenges faced by Aboriginal people, including racism, discrimination, and the denial of basic human rights, as highlighted by organizations like Beyond Blue. The report emphasizes Mum Shirl's efforts to address these issues, including her work with Aboriginal communities, her advocacy for human rights, and her commitment to providing support and assistance. It also acknowledges the ongoing nature of these struggles and the importance of continued efforts to achieve social justice and equality for Indigenous Australians. The report references the discrimination faced by Indigenous Australians, the violation of their rights, and the impact of systemic racism on their daily lives. The information is based on the provided resources and the impact Mum Shirl had on the community.

University
Aboriginal People in Australia
Mumshirl and her story
Student Credentials
4/3/2020

English 1
Shirley Smith
Question1:
Colleen Shirley Perry Smith, commonly known as the ‘Mum Shirl’ or the mother
figure for several people was born in New South Wales. She made it her life’s motive to help
Aboriginal people and provide them with their rights. Aboriginal people are those who are
native to a certain country or have been a part of that country since the beginning of the time.
Since these people were the natives of the country/ Australia, they ethically have all the rights
just as any other person living in the country. Right to earn, rights against discrimination and
other basic human rights form a major part of the struggle that aboriginal people face on day
to day basis. Homelessness and scarcity of food are the basic factors that one wishes to avoid
in order to survive in the world. Mum Shirl wanted all the Aboriginal people to gain basic
human rights. She adopted around 60 children and continuously tried to assist people with
housing issues. She also created a foundation that only dealt with Aboriginal people
(Parramatta, 2018).
Racism based upon ethnicity is a common sight in countries like Australia. Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander adults have been the common punching bag for other races and
ethnicities living in Australia since forever, and this discrimination has only risen in the past
few years. Supremacist or Racist mindsets and prosaism feelings, towards a total sect or a
group of people states how convenient it is to spread hate amongst individuals. Racism can be
minor or major, it can start with just avoiding sitting with an individual to even abuse of any
sort. People prone to such racist attitudes have been vulnerable in the society. They are no
provided even basic rights such as homes or even jobs opportunities like many others. In
Australia, the current situation states that racism concerning Aboriginal people and Torres
Strait Islander people in the current scenario in Australia is much higher than the racism

English 2
towards people facing racism for mental issues such as depression or anxiety or even people
who are gay or from LGBTQ community do not face racism to that level which Indigenous
Australians face. People like Mum Shirl, who have seen people being discriminated on the
basis of being Indigenous and how it affects their day to day life style, are quite aware of the
situation, which is why she has chosen to work for people’s rights and provide assistance to
them in the best way possible. Being watched in retail capacity, abused, rights being violated,
shunned by society, these are a few examples of racism that Indigenous Australians face from
day to day and it has become such a common thing that people in general do not care about
their basic human rights as well (Beyond Blue, 2014).

English 3
Bibliography
Beyond Blue. (2014). Discrimination against Indigenous Australians. Retrieved April 03,
2020, from Beyond Blue:
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1337-
report---tns-discrimination-against-indigenous-australians.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Parramatta. (2018, July 10). Significant Aboriginal women: Shirley Colleen Smith. Retrieved
March 03, 2020, from Parramatta:
http://arc.parracity.nsw.gov.au/blog/2018/07/10/significant-aboriginal-women-
shirley-colleen-smith/