Geographic variations in the economic status of Aboriginal people: a preliminary investigation

An exploratory analysis of the 1986 Census shows considerable heterogeneity in Aboriginal spatial distribution as well as in socio-economic status. While the majority of Aborigines reside in urban areas, a significant proportion, 34 per cent, still lived in rural areas, in contrast to 14 per cent for non-Aboriginal Australians. The analysis of Aboriginal spatial settlement shows that Aborigines live as a 'minority population' in most localities. Comparisons of socio-economic indicators calculated at State levels showed that overall, Aborigines in the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Victoria enjoyed higher socio-economic status than in other States. On the other hand, Aborigines in the Northern Territory and Western Australia had lower status. Those in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia occupied an intermediate position. With respect to section-of-State, Aborigines resident in major urban centres were better off than those in other urban areas who were generally better off than their rural counterparts. In general, this analysis shows that Aboriginal economic status is positively linked to the economic status of non-Aborigines in the State and section-of-State in which they live. The conclusion raises a range of policy issues in the overall context of the Federal Government's Aboriginal Employment Development Policy

Aboriginal economic status by ATSIC regions: analyses of 1986 Census data

This paper examines differences in Aboriginal socioeconomic status between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) regions. The administration of programs administered by ATSIC Australia-wide have been largely decentralised into 60 regions under the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989. This is an exploratory regional analysis of Aboriginal socioeconomic status; it utilises 1986 Census data tabulations by ATSIC regions, which were produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Commission. The methods used include a comparative examination of selected socioeconomic indicators at regional level, as well as a spatial analysis of an Aboriginal socioeconomic status index. The analyses reveal marked regional variations in Aboriginal socioeconomic status. The paper concludes with a discussion of some important implications for policy formulation.of these regional differences

Further policy implications of rising Aboriginal fertility in the 1990s

Previous Aboriginal fertility studies based on comprehensive analyses of the 1986 and earlier Australian censuses found a trend of a substantial fertility decline in the 1970s and early 1980s, which led to the conclusion that the decline would continue. However, the results of two recent studies, based on the 1991 Census, contradicted the continuation of Aboriginal fertility decline. In general, the results obtained by analysing Aboriginal fertility level and trend are suspect owing to lack of detailed and reliable Aboriginal demographic data. In particular, the two recent studies are suspect, as the 1991 Census did not collect any fertility information. This study, utilising data from the 1986 Census, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey 1994 birth registration and midwives' birth notifications compiled by States, attempts to answer the question of whether Aboriginal fertility has declined since the second half of the 1980s. By utilising these sources of data, this study estimates Aboriginal fertility level as well as analyses the trend in fertility. It also estimates Aboriginal fertility level and pattern for most States. The results of the analysis shows that Aboriginal fertility has not declined since the second half of the 1980s as expected. The conclusion discusses some of the implications of the continued moderate Aboriginal fertility. The paper provides suggestions for improving Aboriginal birth registration and midwives' birth notifications data

Aboriginal socio-economic status: are there any evident changes?

As the relative poverty of Aboriginal people in the Australian context is increasingly gaining recognition, equity issues between Aboriginals and other Australians have become matters of urgent concern for policy formation and implementation. This paper provides a statistical overview of the economic and social deprivation of the Aboriginal population as a whole by examining Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census data from 1971 to 1986. The paper undertakes a comparative analysis between the Aboriginal and total population with respect to labour force characteristics, employment and unemployment, education, and individual incomes. The occupations and industry profiles of employed persons are also analysed. The analysis shows that levels of educational qualification, incomes and employment levels were substantially lower for Aboriginal Australians, while the reverse was true for unemployment and dependency ratios. Statistical data also reveal that Aboriginal employment status has declined between 1971 and 1986 relative to the total population, despite numerous Federal Government programs to improve their economic situation

Social indicators of the Aboriginal population of Australia

This paper presents social indicators of the Aboriginal population in the context of the rapid demographic change that has taken place in the population. The paper identifies the problem of Aboriginal data, the fuzziness of the definition of Aboriginality, the non-utility of a static population structure analysis as well as arguments over the exact size of the Aboriginal population in arriving at meaningful social indicators of the population. This paper develops an analytical framework within which Aboriginal social indicators can be analysed by adopting a dynamic view of population change in which the consequences of the massive demographic change that has taken place over the last three decades are evaluated over a demographic time window covering the period 1981-2001. The analysis has arrived at important social indicators; chief among them are the changing age-sex structure of the Aboriginal population, the rapid growth of persons in young and middle adulthood ages, and the accelerating growth of families and households. The rapid growth of persons in young and middle adulthood ages is reflected in declining Aboriginal employment indicators, while the growth of families and households is reflected in rising new demand for housing. The study also has documented substantial differences in Aboriginal social indicators by location of residence; and in particular, has found out that the relative size of the Aboriginal component of localities/communities is inversely related to the index of economic resources. The policy relevance of the study is that Aboriginal policy programs and initiatives have to address the new evolving population structures, and thus the proposed analytical framework and the findings of the study should provide valuable information for charting directions for new policy initiatives and programs

Indigenous Family Formation

Following a detailed review of Indigenous data issues and sources, this chapter comprises a two-pronged approach to understanding the families of the contemporary Indigenous population of Australia. We begin by exploring Indigenous marriage patterns in twenty-first century Australia. We then turn to the implications of fertility trends for family structures. We draw on available data to explore the timing and quantum of Indigenous fertility and to identify changes in the recent past. While we highlight how underlying fertility patterns contribute to family form, our analysis of standard demographic data is limited by a number data of issues. In the second part of the analysis, we therefore turn to alternative data sources to explore in detail contemporary family living arrangements among Indigenous peoples and the key characteristics of Indigenous families. Our analysis of fertility and families highlights important regional differences. We close by exploring priorities for future research in this area and implications of family structures and dynamics for demography and social policy