About IWGIAIndigenous peoples in Australia
Indigenous peoples hold a long and complex connection with the Australian landscape, including marine and coastal areas. Some estimates maintain that this relationship has endured for at least 40,000 years. At colonisation in 1788, there may have been 1.5 million people in Australia. In June 2006, indigenous people made up 2.5% of the Australian population, or 520,000 individuals. In 1788, indigenous people lived in all parts of Australia. Today the majority live in regional centres (43%) or cities (32%), although some still live on traditional land and coastal estates.
Despite recent improvements, the health status of indigenous Australians remains below that of other Australians. Rates of infant mortality amongst indigenous Australians, although declining, remains unacceptably high at 10-15%, and life expectancy for indigenous Australians (59 for males and 65 for females) is 17 years less than that of the wider population.
Although indigenous Australians have a number of special needs, particularly in relation to health and education, there is little legislation relating specifically to broader indigenous issues. While some government policies leave much to be desired, progress is being made in the area of cross-cultural land management and legal recognition of traditional marine estates, as well as broader communication and understanding of the realities and the complexity of “remote” indigenous Australia.
Australia has not ratified ILO Convention 169 but, while voting against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, has endorsed the UNDRIP in 2009.
Download the 2010 yearbook article on indigenous peoples in Australia to read more about major developments and events during 2009
