Enhancing Participation of Indigenous Australians in Society

This essay addresses the issue of improving the participation of Indigenous Australians in various aspects of society, including health, education, and employment. It highlights the racial discrimination and marginalization experienced by Indigenous Australians, examining how government policies and societal practices have often excluded them from mainstream activities. The essay applies principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), emphasizing human dignity and the common good, to critique these issues. It argues that the lack of participation violates CST principles and suggests strategies for improvement, such as recognizing land rights, involving Indigenous communities in decision-making, building community engagement, and promoting cultural awareness in workplaces. The essay also stresses the importance of equal opportunities, advocacy, and the role of NGOs in supporting Indigenous Australians, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and just society.

Running head: IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
Improving Participation of Indigenous Australians
Name of the student
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1IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
The Indigenous people in Australia comprise of the people from the Torres Strait Islands
that is situated between Queensland and the New Guinea who have their own particular culture.
The indigenous Australians are subjected to racial discrimination and they are discriminated in
the different sectors of health, education along with employment. The Australian government has
made policies that takes away the rights of the Indigenous Australians. They are segregated from
the mainstream and they are not allowed to participate that causes them great amount of mental
trauma. It has been found out with the help of report that only 58 % of the indigenous
Australians are provided with the opportunity of voting that takes away the right of participation
of the Indigenous Australians (Jones 2018). According to the principles of Catholic Social
thought (CST), the human dignity can be said to be sacred and dignity of human person acts as
the foundation in relation to the principles of social teaching. The value of the human life is
threatened when the indigenous Australians are discriminated against in the Australian society.
CST believes in the fact that individual lives are precious and due care should be taken to protect
the dignity of every human being. The CST harps on the fact that a human being is a social
animal and hence he should be provided with all the opportunities to participate in the broader
society (Biddle, Taylor and Yap 2018). The indigenous people in Australia are not provided with
the opportunity of participation that goes against the broader principles of CST. The indigenous
Australians are deprived of the right to a proper education that goes against the common good
principle as enshrined in the CST. They are deprived of getting privileges in Australia that acts
like a barrier and prevents them from leading a healthy life.
The indigenous Australians do not have control over the system of education along with
healthcare and they are also deprived of the land rights. The land rights of the indigenous
Australians should be duly recognized at the local and the national level that can help him in

2IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
leading a good life. The indigenous Australians should be included in discussions pertaining to
land use that can help in consolidating their position within the Australian society. The
indigenous people should be consulted at the local level pertaining to the use of the land and
included in the process of development that can help in safeguarding the rights of these people
(Altman 2018). The national government in Australia should apply law and they should be
implemented in the proper manner across the country that can help in safeguarding the right of
the indigenous Australians. The indigenous Australians have to live in dire circumstances that
strips them of the element of human dignity that is an essential principle in relation to Catholic
Social Teaching. Public education along with building awareness can act as a measure that can
help in the implementation of the indigenous rights of the Australians. Every human being has
the right to have an adequate standard of the living. The indigenous Australians should be
provided with the civil, political and the cultural rights that can ensure them a good life.
Coalitions should be built with the NGO’s that can help in looking after the needs of the
indigenous Australians (Sanders 2018). According to CST, one can built a healthy environment
in the event of protection of the human rights. Every individual in the society has the right to
enjoy those things that can help them in leading a decent life. The NGO’s can play a crucial role
at the local level in Australia in safeguarding the rights of the indigenous Australians that can
help in improving their standard of living.
Community engagement can act as a useful measure that can help in improving the
condition of the indigenous Australians. The aboriginal community in Australia should be
involved in the process of decision making by taking recourse to capacity building. The
significance of the Aboriginal knowledge along with their cultural traditions should be
recognized that can help in reducing discrimination against that of the indigenous Australians

3IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
(Brusse et al. 2014). A leadership network should be developed at the local level that can help in
building solidarity in the society of Australia. The world is witness to incidences of violence
along with conflict and the promotion of peace can help in bringing together all kinds of people
in the world. These factors can help in building trust along with gaining acceptance in relation to
the indigenous Australians. Engagement should be carried out with the local communities that
can help the Aboriginal people improving their health. It can help them in getting access to the
different kinds of services that can strengthen their position in the society (Scheid 2017).
Community Development Programme should be held at the remote areas that can help the
indigenous Australian in gaining skills that can help them in getting a suitable job in Australia.
There should be indigenous Customer Service officers who can advise the indigenous Australian
regarding their rights (Brady 2017). The approach of the indigenous Australians should be
flexible along with being sensitive that can help in strengthening the initiatives of the Aboriginal
and the Torres Strait Islander people.
The recruitment strategies should take different form that can help in attracting the
attention of the indigenous Australians. Different kinds of avenues should be made use of that
can help the companies in communicating with the potential employees. Consultation can be
carried out with the intermediaries like the Aboriginal co-operatives that can help the indigenous
Australians in the professional domain. The CST states that the economy of a country should be
able to serve the people. According to CST, work can be said to be continuing participation in
that of God’s creation and providing opportunities for employment should be the duty of the
state and the country (Retolaza, Aguado and Alcaniz 2018). Basic rights of the workers should
be protected that can help them in leading a healthy life. Everyone has the right to fair wages
which can help in protecting the dignity of the workers. The assessment process should be

4IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
designed in a manner that would be culturally appropriate for the indigenous Australians.
Regional interviews can be carried out at the stage of initial screening that can help the
indigenous Australians in the arena of employment. The applicants can them be channeled into
that of mainstream recruitment process which can include the psychological testing pertaining to
suitability. Cultural awareness should be embedded in an organization in relation to the
indigenous Australians that can help in the aspect of assimilation in the organizations of
Australia. Training program should be made for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
that can help them in adjusting to the workplace (Thompson 2015). The legislation of Australia
states that equal opportunity should be provided to all kinds of people and the inclusion of the
Indigenous Australians across all the levels of the profession that can help in reflecting the
broader community. There should be mentors in the organizations who can help in offering
proper support to the indigenous Australians. They can guide the indigenous Australians that can
help them in adjusting to the professional culture prevailing in the organizations.

5IMPROVING PARTICIPATION OF INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
References
Altman, J.C., 2018. A national survey of Indigenous Australians: Options and implications.
Canberra, ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Research School of Social
Sciences, College of Arts & Social Sciences, The Australian National University.
Biddle, N., Taylor, J. and Yap, M., 2018. Indigenous participation in regional labour markets,
2001-06. Canberra, ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), The
Australian National University.
Brady, B.V., 2017. Essential Catholic Social Thought 2nd edition. Orbis Books.
Brusse, C., Gardner, K., McAullay, D. and Dowden, M., 2014. Social media and mobile apps for
health promotion in Australian Indigenous populations: scoping review. Journal of medical
Internet research, 16(12).
Jones, R., 2018. The housing need of Indigenous Australians, 1991. Canberra, ACT: Centre for
Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Research School of Social Sciences, College of Arts &
Social Sciences, The Australian National University.
Retolaza, J.L., Aguado, R. and Alcaniz, L., 2018. Stakeholder theory through the lenses of
catholic social thought. Journal of Business Ethics, pp.1-12.
Sanders, W., 2018. Unemployment payments, the activity test and Indigenous Australians:
Understanding breach rates. Canberra, ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research,
Research School of Social Sciences, College of Arts & Social Sciences, The Australian National
University.

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Scheid, A.F., 2017. Catholic Social Thought. Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of
America, 72.
Thompson, J.M., 2015. Introducing catholic social thought. Orbis Books.