Human Rights and Indigenous People in Australia - Case Study Example

Humаn Rights and Indigеnоus Реорlе Name Institution Course Tutor Date Introduction Indigenous people in Australia are associated with many problems in different industries, which require the development and implementation of strategies and policies to help in addressing such issues and improving the life of the indigenous populations (Langton, Palmer, and Rhea, 2014, 84). In many industries, there was the issue of discrimination and poor treatment of the indigenous people an issue, which led to the development of a poor relationship between the industry and the indigenous people. Community development industry focuses on improving equity and social life of the community members. In Australia, community development industry is aimed at empowering people with the skills and resources they require to change the community. This paper seeks to explore the strategy of Community engagement or consultation protocols, which was put in place to support Indigenous people in Australia. The paper identifies the involvement of the indigenous people in Social work/youth work/community development in the past and if the strategy has been effective in enhancing their involvement in this industry. In the historical times, the indigenous people used to live happily in their lands and they were the original inhabitants of many lands in Australia (Coria and Calfucura, 2012, 47). During the colonization era, the traditional occupiers of those lands were displaced. Majority were denied their human rights and fundamental freedom. There was limitation of their capability to participate in the sustainable development practices. This led to majority having problems associated with economic, social, cultural, and physical wellbeing. The indigenous population was affected by lack of basic services, and worsened by insecurity and marginalization of the indigenous communities. Because of such issues, this led to increased poverty, social, and health problems among the indigenous populations. This led to the establishment of community engagement strategy. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) supports the role plaid by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) of providing services aimed at dealing with economic and social problems experienced by the indigenous communities in Australia (Davies, Hill, Walsh, Sandford, Smyth, and Holmes, 2013, 14). The indigenous populations used to be identified as beneficiaries of the development activities, but they needed to be involved in the development interventions. Community engagement or consultation protocols Since the 1980s, the community development focused on Aboriginal Australian communities through engaging them and funding them through the Community Employment Development Program. This was aimed at providing employment opportunities to the aboriginal people and enhanced community development (Treloar, Gray, Brener, Jackson, Saunders, Johnson, Harris, Butow, and Newman, 2014, 373). The community development practitioners focused on approaches for collaborating with local communities and specifically the disadvantaged populations. Such approaches include; economic development, sustainable development, community organizing, community-driven development, participatory planning, and community based participatory research among others. The community engagement strategy was focused on improving the lives of the Australian families especially the Aboriginal people who are disadvantaged. The ACNC works towards bridging of the gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians (Buckskin, Kit, Glover, Mitchell, Miller, Weetra, Wiebe, Yelland, Newbury, Robinson, and Brown, 2013, 1). Moreover, the ATSI Communities Engagement Strategy is meant to enable ACNC’s engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as organisations. The strategy would achieve this through strengthening of ACNC‘s organizational capacity by generating support, guidance, and educational materials and understanding the indigenous population demographics (Quitian, and Rodríguez, 2016, 13). It would also put effort towards provision of support ATSI charities for enables meeting of the ACNC Act obligations as they collaborate with ATSI charities and communities, and funding agencies and regulators. The community engagement strategy aimed at closing the gaps existing between the indigenous and non-indigenous populations (Jackson, Tan, Mooney, Hoverman, and White, 2012, 58). It focused on the achievement of the idea community through its empowerment and developmental practices. This strategy also focused on identifying the factors leading to inequalities in land, income, and distribution of wealth, thus looking for efficient solutions (Glover, Kira, Johnston, Walker, Thomas, Chang, Bullen, Segan, and Brown, 2015, 22). The strategy aims at fostering equality and social inclusion, thus assisting the indigenous people to work together and to be involved in the decision making processes that related to their community building. There was the determination of empowering the indigenous people through the acquisition and implementation of strong legal instruments and protecting the lands of the indigenous communities from any environmentally unsound activities and that are considered to be culturally inappropriate (Bohensky, Butler, and Davies, 2013, 20). The strategy was established to help in defending the indigenous populations’ human rights. There has been improved recognition of diversity in Australia whereby the indigenous people are increasingly involved in community projects, provided employment opportunities, and allowed to seek for education (Coria and Calfucura, 2012, 52). The indigenous communities are diverse and have different cultural practices. The recognition of their diversity has made it easier and possible for the Australian government and the concerned organisations to identify their needs and deliver the appropriate services (Treloar, et al. 2014, 377). The provision of opportunities is increasingly based on merit and not racial or ethnicity. The community development practitioners also take a holistic approach to the Indigenous people’s development such as allowing them to work in irrigations for agriculture and involving them in economic, social, and political aspects of the society. The indigenous people are allowed to be represented in all sectors. The points of views of the indigenous people are considered during the implementation of projects and programs that are directly connected to the community. There is also the conduct of community-based planning, whereby the organisations and charities offering community services among the indigenous communities focus on their problems when planning for all projects (Browne-Yung, Ziersch, Baum, and Gallaher, 2013, 22). When organizing and conducting community development projects; the indigenous people are involved in making cultural choices, thus empowering them towards development. The indigenous community-based groups are formed through consultation of the indigenous people in order to enhance their satisfaction while being involved in the groups’ activities. The Australian government enters in collaborative relationships with the indigenous people through strengthening their ability to serve in the public service, mutual respect, and open dialogue. The indigenous communities are also involved in the development of national programs and policies. The Government assists the charitable organizations to meet the legal obligations also enhancing effective indigenous communities’ engagement (Glover, et al. 2015, 28). Indigenous populations are provided services such as education, legal, employment, medical, child welfare, art and cultural, housing, and health and aged care with reduced discrimination cases, thus empowering them to participate in the community decision-making, community activities and be members of community-based groups. The indigenous people are employed in different sectors similarly with non-indigenous people as long as they meet the qualifications (Langton, Palmer, and Rhea, 2014, 84). Even if the number of employed indigenous people have not grown much, it continuous rising with time as the indigenous people continue acquiring education and training to work in different professions. The indigenous people are strengthened for leadership among their communities and the leaders are trained and motivated through being engaged in leadership of the national groups and organisations (Jackson, Tan, Mooney, Hoverman, and White, 2012, 61). Cultural competence is built in the indigenous communities (van Putten, Lalancette, Bayliss, Dennis, Hutton, Norman-López, Pascoe, Plagányi, and Skewes, 2013, 97). In order to enable the indigenous people meet the employment requirements, the employers set the minimum standards for them in various positions and offer the required training to improve their skills. Organisations also become aware of their perceptions, beliefs, and values, as well as the cultural impact from the employment positions (Quitian, and Rodríguez, 2016, 13). The resources necessary to support the community development of the indigenous populations are identified and made available to the community development practitioners. To aid communication with the indigenous people, there is the application of plain national language such as English and interpreters who understand the diverse indigenous communities’ language. The indigenous people are also trained on how to support each other and embrace their differences in order to improve their general economic and social status. The implementation of this strategy has born fruits because it has been possible to improve the social, economic, cultural, and physical well-being of the indigenous people. Through the community participation, it becomes possible to promote people’s health and their economic status (Bohensky, Butler, and Davies, 2013, 20). Through the community involvement and engagement, it has been possible to make the community initiatives and developing infrastructure available to the indigenous people. It has been possible to address the disadvantages experienced by the indigenous people. This has occurred through the involvement of the indigenous communities in efficiently integrated infrastructure bringing together all sectors. The strategy has enabled the indigenous people to feel embraced in the Australian society by being allowed to manage the community-based institutions (Browne-Yung, Ziersch, Baum, and Gallaher, 2013, 26). The recognition of the human rights of the indigenous people allows them to utilize their capacity. The strategy has enhanced closing of the gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous populations. Conclusion The aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities used to suffer discrimination and denial of their human rights. The ACNC’s engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the community engagement strategy fought for engagement of the indigenous communities in Australia. The indigenous communities are consulted and engaged in development activities through provision of the necessary education and other resources as well as being allowed to participate in different community projects and programs. The community development strategy has successfully helped in improving the participation of the indigenous people in the community activities. There is increased employment and education opportunities, as well as leadership chances for the indigenous people. This helped in closing the gap existing between the indigenous and non-indigenous people. References Bohensky, E.L., Butler, J.R. and Davies, J., 2013. Integrating indigenous ecological knowledge and science in natural resource management: perspectives from Australia. Ecology and Society, 18(3), p.20. Browne-Yung, K., Ziersch, A., Baum, F. and Gallaher, G., 2013. Aboriginal Australians' experience of social capital and its relevance to health and wellbeing in urban settings. 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A systematic review of barriers and facilitators to participation in randomized controlled trials by Indigenous people from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States. Global health promotion, 22(1), pp.21-31. Jackson, S., Tan, P.L., Mooney, C., Hoverman, S. and White, I., 2012. Principles and guidelines for good practice in Indigenous engagement in water planning. Journal of Hydrology, 474, pp.57-65. Langton, M., Palmer, L. and Rhea, Z.M., 2014. Community-oriented protected areas for indigenous peoples and local communities. Indigenous Peoples, National Parks, and Protected Areas: A New Paradigm Linking Conservation, Culture, and Rights, p.84. Quitian, A.S. and Rodríguez, G.A., 2016. Guidelines for inclusion: Ensuring Indigenous peoples’ involvement in water planning processes across South Eastern Australia. Journal of Hydrology. 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