Uncovering the History of Aboriginal Rights and Policies
Explore the timeline of policies that have shaped the lives of Aboriginal Australians, and the path toward justice.
Timelines by State and Territory
New South Wales and the A.C.T
Policies shaping Aboriginal lives in NSW and the ACT, both restrictive and reformative.
Victoria
Key policies impacting Aboriginal communities in Victoria, from restrictions to rights advancements.
Queensland
Policies in Queensland affecting Aboriginal rights, from restrictive measures to progressive changes.
Tasmania
Tracing Tasmania’s history of policies affecting Aboriginal rights and welfare.
Western Australia
Western Australia’s journey through restrictive and supportive policies for Aboriginal communities
South Australia
Significant policies in South Australia, from discriminatory laws to positive reforms.
Northen Territory
Policies impacting Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, highlighting both restrictions and progress.
The Commonwealth
Federal policies across Australia, spanning both discriminatory acts and steps toward reconciliation.
Activists
This timeline showcases influential Indigenous activists in Australia.
Enduring Effects
Life Expectancy
As of 2020–2022, the life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males was 71.9 years, and for females, 75.6 years. This reflects a gap of 8.8 years for males and 8.1 years for females compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2020-2022). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy. ABS. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-life-expectancy/latest-release.
Education
In 2021, the apparent retention rate from Year 7/8 to Year 12 was 59% for Indigenous students, compared to 84,5% for non-Indigenous students, highlighting a significant gap in school completion rates.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Education outcomes for young people. Indigenous Health Performance Framework. Retrieved from https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/2-05-education-outcomes-for-young-people
Health
First Nations people in Australia have lower overall health scores, higher emotional distress, and increased morbidity compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Size and sources of the health gap for Australia’s First Nations people 2017–2019. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-gap-2017-2019
The inequalities faced by Indigenous Australians today are rooted in a long history of exclusion and discrimination. Past policies displaced Indigenous communities from their lands, limiting access to essential resources, and disrupted family and cultural bonds, leading to widespread intergenerational trauma.