Aboriginal Australians have been subjected to many structural problems throughout history, including significant disparities in education and employment rates. Indigenous Australians frequently have lower levels of educational attainment and higher unemployment rates than non-Indigenous Australians, even though they make up more than 3 percent of Australia’s total population (He et al., 2021). According to Educate (2022) and YarpaHub – NSW Aboriginal land council (2021), in order to address these systemic problems, organizations such as Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training and Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub have been established in response to these persistent disparities respectively. Both of these organizations provide education and training for indigenous adults. Opportunities for education and training are made available to Indigenous Australians through the Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training program, which aims to help close the educational attainment gap. Classes in literacy and numeracy, as well as training for vocational careers and opportunities for personal growth, are some of the offerings made available by this organization.
Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub’s mission is to reduce the unemployment of Indigenous Australians, which is high compared to non-Indigenous Australians. According to Leroy-Dyer (2022), the organization assists Indigenous Australians in finding and maintaining meaningful employment by providing career counseling, job placement, and assistance in business development. The Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training Center and the Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub are both extremely important institutions for addressing the structural problems that plague Indigenous people in Australia. These organizations are working to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians so that they can realize their full potential and improve the opportunities available to them by assisting in education and employment. These initiatives are essential to the realization of a more just and egalitarian society in which every individual in Australia has the opportunity to realize their full potential. While the Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training organization in Sydney has made significant contributions to addressing the systemic education issue for Aboriginal Australians, some shortcomings still need to be addressed. Some of the shortcomings of Tranby include Limited resources, accessibility, and the need for collaboration. Despite the vital work of Tranby, the organization faces challenges in terms of funding and resources, which can limit its ability to reach and support as many Indigenous Australians as they would like. In addition, Tranby is based in Sydney. While they provide some online and remote learning opportunities, their services are not always accessible to Indigenous Australians living in rural and remote areas. As Tranby organization is working to address the systemic education issue for Indigenous Australians, there is a need for increased collaboration with other organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions to maximize the impact of their efforts and reach more Indigenous Australians.
There is still a significant amount of work to be done to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians regarding educational and employment outcomes. Indigenous Australians still face significant disadvantages in these areas, despite the efforts of organizations like Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training and Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub. For Indigenous Australians to have the support and opportunities they need to be successful, it will be necessary for community and business leaders, as well as the government, to commit to long-term efforts to address the systemic issues that have been identified. Compared to non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal Australians have significantly lower educational attainment and outcomes, which has been a problem for Aboriginal Australians for a long time and is a systemic issue (Phillips, 2021). These inequalities have contributed to the worsening of several other systemic problems, such as lower rates of employment, lower incomes, and poorer health outcomes. The provision of specialized assistance to Indigenous Australians in the interest of facilitating their participation in and achievement within the educational system is one strategy for addressing the systemic nature of the problem. Indigenous people in Australia have less access to educational and employment opportunities than their non-Indigenous counterparts, a problem addressed by groups in Sydney, such as the Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training Centre. Classes in literacy and numeracy, as well as vocational training and personal development, are just some of the offerings at Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training, which also offers a variety of other courses. By providing Indigenous Australians with these opportunities, Tranby is assisting them in enhancing their educational and professional opportunities. Indigenous Australians frequently face significant cultural and linguistic barriers to education (Parbury, 2020). This organization helps to provide Indigenous Australians with a supportive and culturally safe environment, which is essential for Indigenous Australians. Despite all of these efforts, there is still room for improvement in how the structural problem of Indigenous Australian education is being addressed (Harper & Rennie, 2019). For Indigenous education and training programs, for instance, there needs to be a significant increase in funding and resources. Additionally, ongoing support is required to assist Indigenous Australians in gaining access to educational opportunities and thriving in those opportunities. This support must include assistance with housing, transportation, and child care. Despite the challenges, Aboriginal people have demonstrated a remarkable capacity for resilience and survival in their efforts to address these issues. They have paved the way for change by advocating for their rights, developing and implementing solutions to systemic issues, and working to build a better future for themselves and their communities. This has allowed change to take place. Indigenous Australians are reclaiming their cultural identity and heritage while pursuing education and training opportunities, demonstrating their strength and resilience in facing adversity. However, a linguistic barrier is still an area that needs improvement for better implementation of accessible education for Aboriginal Australians.
Aboriginal Australians have been confronted with a systemic employment issue for several years. Compared to non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal Australians have been shown to have higher unemployment rates and lower levels of workforce participation. These inequalities have contributed to several other systemic problems worsening, including lower income, poorer health outcomes, and fewer personal and professional growth opportunities. Providing specialized assistance to Indigenous Australians in the form of assistance with job acquisition and upkeep is one potential solution to the systemic issue at hand. Efforts are being made to address these inequalities by organizations such as the Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in Sydney, which offers Indigenous Australians employment support and services to develop their businesses. Career counseling, job placement, and assistance with business development are some of the services offered by the Yarpa Indigenous Business and Employment Hub, which aims to assist indigenous people in Australia in obtaining and retaining meaningful employment. The organization also provides a supportive and culturally safe environment, which is essential for Indigenous Australians, who have historically faced significant cultural and linguistic barriers to employment. This is especially important for the Indigenous Australian community in Australia. Despite all of these efforts, there is still room for improvement in how the structural problem of Indigenous Australian employment is being addressed. For instance, there is a requirement for increased investment in Indigenous-led employment programs and businesses (Heaton, 2021). There is also a requirement for ongoing assistance to be provided to Indigenous Australians to assist them in achieving success in the workplace (Jordan, 2018). This assistance may include transportation, childcare, and housing (Hughes, 2022). Despite the challenges, Aboriginal people have demonstrated their ability to persevere and survive in the face of these problems (Briggs, 2022). They have sparked change by starting their businesses and initiatives that create jobs, advocating for their rights, and working to build a better future for themselves and the communities in which they live. Indigenous Australians seek employment and begin their businesses, demonstrating their strength and resilience in adversity. However, limited outreach and awareness and lack of support services such as transport and childcare pose a shortcoming to the organization’s services as these make it challenging for Indigenous Australians to access and succeed in their programs.
In conclusion, systemic issues, such as education and employment, have created significant barriers to Aboriginal Australian success, participation, and inclusion. These impediments have exacerbated several other systemic issues, including lower income, poorer health outcomes, and fewer personal and professional development opportunities. Aboriginal people have shown resilience and survival in dealing with these issues despite these obstacles. They have pioneered change by establishing businesses and employment initiatives, advocating for their rights, and pursuing educational and training opportunities. Indigenous Australians are demonstrating their strength and resilience in the face of adversity by reclaiming their cultural identity and heritage and pursuing education and employment opportunities. However, much work remains to be done to address these systemic issues and remove barriers to Indigenous Australian success, participation, and inclusion. Investment in Indigenous-led businesses, employment initiatives, and dedicated funding and resources for education and training programs are required. Additionally, ongoing assistance is required to assist Indigenous Australians in accessing and succeeding in education and employment, including assistance with transportation, childcare, and housing. Systemic issues create significant barriers to Indigenous Australians’ success, participation, and inclusion, and addressing these issues is critical for creating a better future for Indigenous communities. We can help remove barriers to success, participation, and inclusion for Indigenous Australians and create a brighter future for Indigenous communities by providing targeted support, investing in Indigenous-led initiatives, and addressing underlying systemic issues.
A Professional Reflection
A job in education or as a teacher offers individuals the possibility of contributing to resolving the structural problems that affect Aboriginal people. Several systemic issues within this industry violate the equal rights of Indigenous Australians. These issues include unequal access to quality education, limited representation within the teaching workforce, and a need for more cultural competency among educators. In order to “Get Up, Stand Up, and Show Up!” in this industry, as an aspiring educator or teacher, I could take a few different steps to address the systemic problems that exist. To begin, I could look for opportunities for Aboriginal Australians to educate themselves on Indigenous history and culture and work to improve their cultural competence. This will include gaining an understanding of the experiences that Indigenous students and families have had, as well as working to create a learning environment that is culturally safe and inclusive. Second, I could advocate for increased Indigenous representation in the teaching workforce and support the continued professional development of Indigenous educators. This includes promoting initiatives led by Indigenous people, such as the Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education and Training organization, and addressing the systemic barriers preventing Indigenous Australians from entering the teaching profession. Another aspect of this goal is to improve the education of Indigenous children. Thirdly, I will incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into their teaching practice to give students an educational experience that is culturally diverse and rich. This involves incorporating Indigenous stories, traditions, and perspectives into their curricula and teaching methods that respect Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing. Additionally, it involves using language that is culturally appropriate for the students.
Pursuing a career in education presents the opportunity to address the systemic issues affecting Aboriginal people and contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable future for Indigenous communities. This can be accomplished by addressing these issues in the classroom. Future educators can “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” and work to address the systemic issues impacting Indigenous Australians by developing cultural competency, advocating for Indigenous representation, and integrating Indigenous perspectives into their teaching practice. This will allow them to “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!”
References
Briggs, C. (2022). Australian Government Social Policy-Where is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Positioned in Policy-making? Social Work & Policy Studies: Social Justice, Practice and Theory, 5(1).
Educate. (2022, August 30). Tranby. https://tranby.edu.au/educate/
Harper, H., & Rennie, J. (2019). Why a Book About Indigenous Literacy Education in Australia? Literacy Education and Indigenous Australians: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1-12.
He, V. Y., Nutton, G., Graham, A., Hirschausen, L., & Su, J. Y. (2021). Pathways to school success: Self-regulation and executive function, preschool attendance and early academic achievement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Australia’s Northern Territory. Plos one, 16(11), e0259857.
Heaton, A. P. (2021). First, increasing job opportunities and improving life outcomes for aboriginal people in rural and remote Australia. first things, 4(05).
Hughes, B. Y. (2022). Collective impact: Closing the gap in educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland (Doctoral dissertation, Queensland University of Technology).
Jordan, K. (2018). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment policy and Welfare to Work: The Community Development Programme and the need for new narratives, alliances, and institutions. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 53(3), 239–261.
Leroy-Dyer, S. (2022). Closing the gap on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment disadvantage in Australia. A Field Guide to Managing Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Organisations (pp. 33–46). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Parbury, N. (2020). A history of Aboriginal education. In Teaching Aboriginal Studies (pp. 132–152). Routledge.
Phillips, J. (2021). Foundations of teacher knowledge in Indigenous education. In Indigenous Education in Australia (pp. 7–20). Routledge.
YarpaHub – NSW Aboriginal land council. (2021, September 22). NSW Aboriginal Land Council -. https://alc.org.au/yarpahub/
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