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Category: First Nations

Signs of Being Humbugged in First Nations Elders

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Humbugging is when a person makes unreasonable demands from a family member.

First Nations Elders can become vulnerable to humbugging as a form of financial elder abuse.

Here are some signs of being humbugged as a form of elder abuse, and some tips to protect yourself as an Elder, or protect your Elders.

 

Why does humbugging happen?

First Nations Families may struggle with the financial demands of living in colonised Australia, where employment opportunities and other pressures impact family life.

Some individuals and families may not have learned the skills of managing on a tight budget. They may turn to risky means, like borrowing or taking from Elders who have a limited income.

 

When does humbugging become financial elder abuse?

Humbugging may be difficult to spot when it is done against older people, especially when it is between a parent and child.

Humbugging can become financial elder abuse when there are threats, theft, or other types of abuse involved.

 

Humbugging behaviours

Signs of humbugging as financial elder abuse may include:

  • Demanding money
  • Only visiting around payday
  • Not returning “borrowed” money
  • Paying for things with your money
  • Forcing you to sign up for a credit card
  • Overstaying their welcome in your home
  • Forcing you to claim government benefits
  • Taking control of your money or your property
  • Taking advantage of the relationship by not repaying.

 

Protecting yourself from humbugging

An Elder may feel confused about handing over money, because they may have grown up in poverty and they do not want to see their family members experience that, too.

However, protecting your money will help you to protect yourself.

You can protect your money from humbugging by:

  • Prioritising yourself when budgeting
  • Checking your bank statements regularly
  • Not sharing your PIN codes to your bank cards
  • Not letting others know your payment schedule
  • Setting up a savings account that cannot easily be accessed when shopping or at the ATM.

 

How to get help

There is no shame in asking for help.

First Nations Peoples are welcome in our service, and we are happy to help. The Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Service provides free, confidential, and culturally safe support for older Queenslanders who may be experiencing elder abuse.

 

If you or an older person you know may be a victim of elder abuse, our experienced counsellors are here to help. We can help you explore your concerns and possible solutions in a safe and supportive environment.

You can learn more about our Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Service here, or call 1300 063 232.

 

 

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Is Australia meeting our Closing the Gap targets?

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National Close the Gap Day is observed on the third Thursday of March, falling on March 16 this year.

It aims to raise awareness of  a range of  significant social and economic issues and barriers faced by First Nations – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and is an opportunity to show support for the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the Agreement).

Colonisation has caused ongoing trauma across generations of First Nations Australians.

There are First Nations Peoples living today who:

  • Were denied an education
  • Could not receive healthcare
  • Did not have the right to vote
  • Had children stolen from them
  • Were not permitted in public places
  • Are members of the Stolen Generations
  • After the abolition of slavery had their wages stolen
  • Were forced to work for colonial settlers and government agencies for no wages
  • Contributed to the Australian economy and defence forces and were never acknowledged
  • Were forcibly removed from their own Traditional Lands and detained in government Reservations.

The objective of the Closing the Gap framework is to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and governments to work together to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.

The Agreement came into effect in July 2020 and sets out a 10-year framework. It identifies 17 socioeconomic outcomes important to the rights, wellbeing, and quality of life of First Nations Australians.

So, how are we doing so far? Is Closing the Gap working? We take a look at our progress here with some help from Aunty Deb, Lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement and Cultural Advisor at RAQ.

This article is informed by the Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report July 2022.

 

What are our Closing the Gap targets?

Health and wellbeing

  1. Close the gap in life expectancy within a generation by 2031.
  2. Increase the proportion of babies with a healthy birthweight to 91% by 2031.
  3. Increase the proportion of children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census to 55% by 2031.
  4. Reduce the rate of overrepresentation of First Nations children in out-of-home care by 45% by 2031.
  5. Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of First Nations Peoples towards zero.

Beyond Blue’s ‘Invisible Discriminator’ campaign highlights the impact of racism on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations Peoples: The Invisible Discriminator – Beyond Blue

Education and Employment

  1. Increase the proportion of children enrolled in Year Before Fulltime Schooling early childhood education to 95% by 2025.
  2. Increase the proportion of people aged 20-24 years attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification to 96% by 2031.
  3. Increase the proportion of people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70% by 2031.
  4. Increase the proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) who are in employment, education or training to 67% by 2031.
  5. Increase the proportion of people aged 25-64 years who are employed to 62% by 2031.

Justice

  1. Reduce the rate of adults held in incarceration by at least 15% by 2031.
  2. Reduce the rate of young people (aged 10-17 years) in detention by 30% by 2031.

Safety

  1. Reduce the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against First Nations women and children by at least 50% by 2031, as progress towards zero.

Housing

  1. Increase the proportion of people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88% by 2031.

Land and waters

  1. First Nations Peoples maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical, and economic relationship with their land and waters.
  • A 15% increase in Australia’s landmass subject to First Nations Peoples’ legal rights or interests by 2030.
  • A 15% increase in areas covered by First Nations Peoples’ legal rights or interests in the sea by 2030.

Languages

  1. There is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken by 2031.

Digital inclusion

  1. First Nations Peoples to have equal levels of digital inclusion by 2026.

 

What targets are on track?

It’s important to note that the targets provide limited information on progress at this stage. No new data are available since the baseline year for eight of the targets, and for the targets where there are new data available, the most recent data are for 2021.

For the targets that have new data and assessments of progress, the results are mixed and most need to be used with caution.

According to the Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report July 2022, four of the Closing the Gap targets are on track. These include:

Healthy birthweight of babies

89.5% of First Nations babies born in 2019 were of a healthy birthweight.

This is an increase from 88.8% in 2017 (the baseline year) and is on track to meet the target of 91% by 2031.

Enrolment of children in the preschool

96.7% of First Nations children in the Year Before Fulltime Schooling age cohort were enrolled in a preschool program in 2021.

This is an increase from 76.7% in 2016 (the baseline year) and is on track to meet the target of 95% by 2031.

Youth detention rates

In 2020-21, the rate of First Nations Young Peoples aged 10–17 years in detention on an average day was 23.2 per 10,000 young people in the population.

This is a decrease from 31.9 per 10,000 young people in 2018-19 (the baseline year) and is on track to meet the target to decrease by at least 30% by 2031.

Land mass subject to rights and interests

4,027,232km2 of the land mass was subject to First Nations Peoples’ rights or interests in 2021.

This is an increase from 3,911,679 km2 of the land mass in 2020 (the baseline year).

The target to see a 15% increase in land mass subject to First Nations Peoples’ rights or interests by 2030 is on track to be met.

What targets aren’t on track?

The report shows five Closing the Gap targets are not on track. These include:

Children commencing school developmentally on track

34.3% of First Nations children commencing school were assessed as being developmentally on track in 2021. This is a decrease from 35.2% in 2018 (the baseline year) and is not on track to meet the target of 55% by 2031.

Out-of-home care

In 2021, the rate of First Nations children aged 0–17 years in out-of-home care was 57.6 per 1000 children in the population. This is an increase from 54.2 per 1000 children in 2019 (the baseline year) and is not on track to meet the target of reducing the rate of out-of-home care by 45% by 2031.

Adult imprisonment

As of 30 June 2021, the age-standardised rate of First Nations prisoners was 2222.7 per 100,000 adult population. This is an increase from 2142.9 per 100,000 adult population in 2019 (the baseline year) and is not on track to meet the target of reducing the incarceration rate by at least 15% by 2031.

Suicide deaths

The suicide rate (for NSW, QLD, WA, SA, NT combined) for First Nations Peoples was 27.9 per 100,000 people in 2020. This is an increase from 25 per 100,000 people in 2018 (the baseline year) and is getting us further away from the target of a ‘significant and sustained reduction in suicide towards zero’.

“Suicide was unknown to Aboriginal people prior to invasion. Appalling living conditions and past traumas have led to a suicide rate that by far exceeds that of non-Aboriginal people.” – Creative Spirits

Sea country subject to rights and interests

90,555km2 of the sea country was subject to First Nations Peoples’ rights or interests in 2021. This is an increase from 90,252 km2 of the sea country in 2020 (the baseline year).

While this was an increase, the target to see a 15% increase in sea country subject to First Nations Peoples’ rights or interests by 2030 is not on track to be met.

 

Closing the Gap targets progress 2023

Image: Online report – Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report July 2022 | Closing the Gap Information Repository – Productivity Commission (pc.gov.au)

 

The following eight targets not listed above have no new data available since the baseline year:

  1. Close the gap in life expectancy within a generation
  2. Children enrolled in Year Before Fulltime Schooling early childhood education
  3. Proportion of people aged 20-24 years attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification
  4. Proportion of people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification
  5. Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) who are in employment, education or training
  6. Proportion of people aged 25-64 years who are employed
  7. Number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken
  8. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to have equal levels of digital inclusion

You can read the full 2022 report here: Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report July 2022

 

What next?

A further update is scheduled for June 2023, which is anticipated to include reporting for the first time on the further eight targets not listed in the above data. The release of the 2023 Annual Data Compilation Report is anticipated by mid-July.

We look forward to having access to this updated snapshot of Australia’s progress in Closing the Gap.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians has released the 2023 Commonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation Plan. This Implementation Plan is the first under the Albanese Government and outlines the Commonwealth’s strategic priorities and efforts to close the gap over the next 12-18 months. You can read the plan here.

RAQ stands with First Nations staff, clients, and communities. We acknowledge the generosity of First Nations Peoples as they continue to build upon their resilience and resourcefulness and endeavour to develop and maintain respectful relationships with all other Australians and international visitors on their Lands.
RAQ offers culturally appropriate support online and in person. You can call 1300 364 277 to make an appointment with one of our counsellors. Or you can connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7) to talk with a First Nations Crisis Supporter.

Hard Yarns: The Uluru Statement from the Heart

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We’re aware this content may cause distress for some people. We encourage you to seek trauma-informed and culturally appropriate support from a trusted professional.

Readers are advised to hold a trauma-informed approach through any sharing of materials on this page.

Lifeline: 13 11 14

13YARN: 13 92 76

 

We’ve been hearing a lot about the Uluru Statement from the Heart in the news lately.

On May 21, Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese started his victory speech with a message of support for the Statement.

“I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respect to their Elders, past, present, and emerging, and on behalf of the Australian Labor Party I commit to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full,” he said.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart didn’t get the same support when it was first presented in 2017.

Then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed cabinet had rejected the First Nations Voice to Parliament proposed in the Uluru statement, stating it was not “desirable or capable of winning acceptance at referendum”.

This outcome was described by a number of senior First Nations leaders and organisations as a fatal blow to any hope of Indigenous recognition in the Australian constitution.

Sean Gordon, the chief executive of the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council and one of the main spokespeople in support of the Uluru statement proposals, said he was “extremely disappointed” by the rejection.

 

What is the Statement from the Heart?

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a 2017 petition by Australian Aboriginal leaders to change the constitution of Australia to improve the representation of First Nations Australians.

It’s an invitation to the Australian people from First Nations Australians, asking Australians to walk alongside them to build a better future by establishing:

  • A First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the constitution
  • A Makarrata Commission for the purpose of treaty-making and truth-telling.

The Yolngu concept of ‘Makarrata’ captures the idea of the coming together after a struggle. It’s about acknowledging that something has been done wrong, and it seeks to make things right.

“We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.”

 

Why is a First Nations Voice important?

The call for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution provides a practical path forward to finally address the issues that governments alone have been unable to resolve.

The Statement argues that reforms such as a First Nations Voice would empower First Nations Peoples to address the “torment of powerlessness” that sees them overincarcerated and their children alienated from their families at alarming rates.

A First Nations Voice would provide the foundation for self-determination and better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

 

What happens now?

The new Albanese government made enshrining a First Nations Voice to parliament an election promise.

It’s not yet clear what a Voice to Parliament would look like, but First Nations groups and organisations are requesting that the government provides a timeline for a referendum.

We encourage you to read the Statement in full and learn more here: View The Statement – Uluru Statement from the Heart

 

RAQ stands with First Nations staff, clients, and communities who have been impacted by transgenerational trauma and continue to experience structural and systemic cultural bias and racism.

We recognise First Nations Peoples’ right to self-determination and that they are working to transform their lives.

We acknowledge the generosity of First Nations Peoples as they continue to build upon their resilience and resourcefulness and endeavour to develop and maintain respectful relationships with all other Australians and international visitors on their Lands.

Hard Yarns: Is the Flag Free?

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We’re aware this content may cause distress for some people. We encourage you to seek trauma-informed and culturally appropriate support from a trusted professional.

Readers are advised to hold a trauma-informed approach through any sharing of materials on this page.

Lifeline: 13 11 14
13YARN: 13 92 76
 

For the first time, the Aboriginal flag can be used freely by all Australians.

A few days before Invasion Day 2022, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the federal government had “freed the Aboriginal flag for Australians” by buying the copyright from Harold Thomas, the Luritja artist who created it over 50 years ago.

“When I created the flag, I created it as a symbol of unity and pride. That pride we have for our identity that harks back to the birthing of our dreaming, to the present existence and beyond,” says Mr Thomas.

The “Free the Flag” campaign was launched by Aboriginal-owned-and-led business Clothing the Gaps in 2019. They had received cease and desist letters from a non-Indigenous company, WAM Clothing, demanding they stop using the Aboriginal flag on their clothing.

Then-copyright owner Mr Thomas had granted WAM Clothing exclusive rights for use of the flag on its clothing. This meant anyone else wanting to use the flag on clothing – even non-commercially – had to get permission from the WAM first.

The #freetheflag campaign demanded new licensing agreements over the Aboriginal flag’s design, especially for First Nations businesses and organisations. Clothing the Gaps started a petition that gathered more than 165,000 signatures and high-profile supporters from across Australia, and earlier this year, the flag was freed.

The flag has had its share of controversy and control over the years.

Cathy Freeman was almost penalised for carrying both the Australian and Aboriginal flags during her 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games victory laps for the 400m and 200m sprints.

Despite this controversy, Ms Freeman again carried both flags during her 2000 Olympic Games victory lap in the 400m sprint – a symbol of reconciliation and pride in her Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Although the copyright settlement is a practical solution to a controversial problem, some people are disappointed that the federal government now owns the exclusive rights to reproduce the Aboriginal flag.

Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman Senator Lidia Thorpe explains:

“I felt shock horror that the colonial system that has hurt our people for so long now has the copyright to the one thing that united Aboriginal people across this country.”

She explained that many people in the First Nations community hoped the government would pay for the copyright to be ended, but the flag should have been returned to First Nations Peoples rather than kept.

While we celebrate that the flag has been legally “freed” for all to use, we must understand and respect that not everyone believes the flag is in the right hands now the Commonwealth owns the copyright.

It can be argued that this approach does not uphold the autonomy and self-determination of Australia’s First Nations Peoples.

Mr Thomas says he hopes the democratisation of the flag will “provide comfort to all Aboriginal people and Australians to use the flag”.

“I am grateful that my art is appreciated by so many, and that it has come to represent something so powerful to so many.”
 

RAQ stands with First Nations staff, clients, and communities who have been impacted by transgenerational trauma and continue to experience structural and systemic cultural bias and racism.
We recognise First Nations Peoples’ right to self-determination and that they are working to transform their lives.
We acknowledge the generosity of First Nations Peoples as they continue to build upon their resilience and resourcefulness and endeavour to develop and maintain respectful relationships with all other Australians and international visitors on their Lands.

Hard Yarns: Suicide and Mental Illness

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We’re aware this content may cause distress for some people. We encourage you to seek trauma-informed and culturally appropriate support from a trusted professional.

Readers are advised to hold a trauma-informed approach through any sharing of materials on this page.

Lifeline: 13 11 14
13YARN: 13 92 76

 

The Commonwealth Government recognises that First Nations Peoples are nearly three times more likely to be psychologically distressed than other Australians, and twice as likely to die by suicide.

Some common contributing factors include:

  • Systemic racism
  • Discrimination
  • Disadvantage (e.g. poverty, homelessness, chronic illness, disability)
  • Continuing experience off loss from incarceration, illness, and premature deaths of family members
  • Generational trauma and grief due to the past systematic removal of children and destruction of communities.

 

“Suicide was unknown to Aboriginal people prior to invasion. Appalling living conditions and past traumas have led to a suicide rate that by far exceeds that of non-Aboriginal people.” – Creative Spirits.

 

Beyond Blue’s ‘Invisible Discriminator’ campaign highlights the impact of racism on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations Peoples: The Invisible Discriminator – Beyond Blue

The research found just over one third of First Nations persons aged 15 years and over felt they had been treated unfairly at least once in the previous year due to their race, and up to four out of five First Nations persons regularly experienced racism.

It also found a ‘dose’ effect: the risk of high or very high levels of psychological distress increases as the volume of racism increases. Subtle or ‘casual’ racism can be just as harmful as more obvious forms.

 

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) has invested $1.8 million in a new First Nations suicide prevention data project to help provide a more complete picture of this complex issue.

The project, due for completion in June 2022, is being delivered by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and aims to help focus the Government’s efforts to ensure that suicide prevention initiatives and services can be more targeted to communities and individuals most at risk.

You can read more about the project here: Harnessing data for more targeted suicide prevention initiatives | National Indigenous Australians Agency

 

Earlier this year, Lifeline announced the launch of 13YARN, the first national crisis support service for First Nations Peoples, managed by First Nations Peoples.

If you or someone you know need support, you can connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with a First Nations Crisis Supporter.

 

Thirrili offers Indigenous Suicide Postvention Services to support individuals, families, and communities affected by suicide or other significant trauma.

A Postvention Advocate can be contacted 24/7 by calling 1800 805 801.

 

RAQ stands with First Nations staff, clients, and communities who have been impacted by transgenerational trauma and continue to experience structural and systemic cultural bias and racism.
We recognise First Nations Peoples’ right to self-determination and that they are working to transform their lives.
We acknowledge the generosity of First Nations Peoples as they continue to build upon their resilience and resourcefulness and endeavour to develop and maintain respectful relationships with all other Australians and international visitors on their Lands.

Hard Yarns: The 1967 Referendum

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Through our hard yarns, we invite you on a journey to learn, to challenge your previous beliefs, and to consciously ‘unlearn’ the inherent racism we see all too often.
 

Until the 1967 referendum, First Nations Peoples weren’t included in the census and therefore weren’t considered members of the Australian population.

The 1967 Referendum changed the Constitution to allow First Nations Peoples to be included in the census, and giving federal Parliament the power to make laws in relation to First Nations Peoples.

Before this, First Nations Peoples weren’t counted as part of the Australian population, and making laws for First Nations Peoples was the responsibility of the states.

Laws varied greatly from state to state. For example, First Nations Australians could own property in New South Wales and South Australia but not in other states.

This is recent history. There are First Nations Australians today who were born in a country that didn’t think they were worth counting in the Census. This is just one example of the racism that still impacts our First Nations Peoples and communities.

We encourage you to learn more about the 1967 Referendum and its impacts here: The 1967 Referendum | Australians Together  

Time to have some hard yarns

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Do you know the true history of this country we call Australia?

Chances are you learned about Captain Cook and the First Fleet in school. The dark side of our history has generally been omitted in institutes of education.

But it’s important for us, as individuals and as a society, to know the truth.

Only by respecting the whole truth of our shared history – the invasion, dehumanisation, colonial violence, and genocide of First Nations Peoples – can we move towards a more healing future for us all.

Acknowledging these truths also acknowledges the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and cultures.

These are the painful and shameful parts of our history. These are the hard yarns.

 

Truth-telling with Aunty Deb

For the next few months, RAQ will be sharing some of the truths of our shared history, as well as the ongoing systemic racism in our society, to our Facebook page.

We’ll be working closely with Aunty Debra Bennet, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement and Cultural Advisor, to honour First Nations Peoples’ truths and encourage important – and sometimes difficult – conversations.

RAQ acknowledges the generosity, resilience and strength of Aunty Deb as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Traditional Owners, Elders, leaders, and families who share their stories, strengths, realities and hopes.

We stand in solidarity with First Nations Peoples in calling for the truth-telling of previously untold and unrecognised parts of our history. We join them in seeking peaceful resolution to address racism and the social and structural imbalance of the system that they have inherited through colonisation.

Through our hard yarns, we invite you on a journey to learn, to challenge your previous beliefs, and to consciously ‘unlearn’ the inherent racism we see all too often.

Reconciliation Australia explains more about the importance of truth-telling here.

How to Address Discrimination

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Discrimination happens all around us, both online and in real life. It makes people feel unsafe, unwelcome, and like they have to hide who they are.

Whether you’re a part of a group that typically experiences discrimination or not, it’s important that we do all we can to let those on the receiving end know they are welcome and safe.

Speaking out against discrimination (when safe to do so) can be an important way to show support.

We offer some advice to address discrimination when you witness or experience it in your life.

What is discrimination?

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people and groups based on traits such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. It can be extremely damaging and, in many cases, is against the law.

Mission Australia’s Youth Survey Report 2020 revealed that young Australians aged 15-19 years old have significant concerns relating to equity and discrimination.

For the first time, equity and discrimination was reported as the top national issue for young people, rising from third place in 2019 (24.8%) to the top spot in 2020 (40.2%) – an increase of more than 60% year on year.

Discrimination can happen anywhere, from school and work to the shopping centre and on public transport. Obvious examples of discrimination might be someone not getting a promotion because they’re pregnant, or someone of Asian heritage being blamed for COVID-19.

Here are some other more general examples of discrimination:

  • Being teased, bullied, harassed, or threatened
  • Being excluded or left out
  • Being ganged up on
  • Being made fun of
  • Being made to do hurtful or inappropriate things
  • Having to defend who you are and what you believe against stereotypes.

 

Speaking Out Against Discrimination

If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, you can voice your concerns. It’s important to make sure you keep your safety your number-one priority in these situations, though.

Sometimes, speaking up can put you at risk of being hurt – whether physically or emotionally.

If you don’t feel confident or safe taking a stand against discrimination, you can show support in other ways, like by offering help to the person/people affected so they don’t feel alone.

Or you can ask someone with authority to step in, like a parent, teacher, boss, or even the police.

If you feel like it is a safe situation for you to speak up, you might like to keep these things in mind when addressing discrimination:

  • Be calm and direct. If you can’t stay calm, try walking away and approaching the person later.
  • If possible, ask someone to join you so you’re presenting a united front. There’s safety in numbers.
  • Use “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory. For example, “I noticed you singled this person out” or “I’m uncomfortable with that joke.”
  • Explain that what they’ve said or done has upset you or could hurt others. If they’re speaking out of ignorance, this could be a good opportunity to educate them and help them see a different perspective.

 

If you’re impacted by discrimination, counselling might help. Our counsellors can support you to explore the issues you’re facing and find possible solutions. You can learn more about our counselling service here, or call 1300 364 277 to make an appointment.

When Your White Friends Won’t Talk About Race

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Not all conversations are easy, but the difficult ones are often the most important.

Talking about race can make people uncomfortable – particularly people who benefit from the privilege that comes from being white.

They may not consider themselves racist. They might even call themselves an ally. So why is it that some white people go quiet or change the subject at the mention of the systemic racism that they benefit from? Why do some white people post a black square on their social media but refuse to engage in constructive conversation about Black Lives Matter, changing the date, or The Voice to Parliament?

First Nations Peoples – Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – and other Black Peoples and Peoples of Colour shouldn’t have to avoid these conversations to protect their white friends’ comfort.

And while it’s also not your job to educate your friends on these topics, real friends should be there to listen and learn when you do want to discuss these very real issues.

RAQ has had several clients seeking advice around how to have these conversations with the people in their lives over recent months.

So I sat down and had a yarn with Aunty Deb, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement and Cultural Advisor, to get some insights on the topic. We wanted to share some ways you could start a conversation about race with your white friends.

 

Question their perception

Encourage your friends to reflect on how they see the world and what has formed their understanding of what they see.

Do they see First Nations Peoples in their daily lives? Do they see them represented in the media? How are they represented? Do they see stereotypes? Did their parents or friends ever talk about First Nations Peoples – Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples – in a negative way?

These kinds of questions can help your friends consider their perception and start to think about how they can break the chains that constrain their thoughts. Our parents and/or the media might have given us ways to see the world, but it’s up to us to challenge and expand those.

Remember that how you bring people to an understanding is important.

Aunty Deb shared:

“It’s all about context – start with the person’s knowledge base. Try to understand what exposure they’ve had to First Nations Peoples’ collective knowledge of the facts of our colonial to present-day history. If the individual or group have had minimal exposure to this information, it’s important to provide an historical background with a timeline of historical facts from many sources of truth and alternative sources of history.

“For example, The First Australians SBS series and other historical texts by respected Historians like Noel Loos, Henry Reynolds, Bruce Pascoe, Jackie Huggins, Ray Evans. Some people have never heard or been taught these alternative historical viewpoints before.”

 

 “We won’t be constrained by your stagnant perceptions of who we are.”

– Paraphrased quote by Aunty Eve Feisel, SEQ Gubbi Gubbi Elder, Traditional Owner and Academic.

 

Encourage them to unpack their privilege

Whether they’re aware or not, your white friends are receiving advantages, opportunities and rights simply based on the colour of their skin. This is called ‘white privilege’.

Some examples of white privilege include:

  • Seeing people of your race widely represented in mainstream media
  • Being able to choose to be surrounded by people of your race most of the time
  • Easily finding makeup, Band-Aids, stockings and other items that match your skin tone
  • Easily finding picture books, dolls, greeting cards, and magazines featuring people of your race
  • Being able to swear in public or wear worn clothes without people attributing this to your race
  • Not having to think about how your race might impact how you’re treated
  • Not being called a racial slur
  • Not being profiled by police.

Ask your white friends about their privilege and the things they might take for granted each day. How do these separate them from, or connect them with, other people? A little self-awareness can help them start to see through the eyes of others and understand more about the systemic racism in our society.

 

Bring their attention to daily microaggressions

Racism and microaggressions happen all the time, but white people might not notice it (that’s a privilege in itself). If you’re comfortable, start to point out microaggressions as they happen.

If you experience a microaggression on your own or with a friend, bring it up and ask them if they saw a problem with what just happened. It could be someone asking where you’re from in a disrespectful way, a shopkeeper watching you more closely than others, or someone moving away from you on public transport.

This could be a great way to start a conversation about the very real racism you face in your everyday life and prompt them to keep an eye out for these behaviours in the future.

 

Call out performative activism

It can sometimes seem like white people post anti-racist and “woke” content to their social media accounts just for show. Some of the people who posted a black square for Black Lives Matter still chose to celebrate with friends on Invasion Day. Something’s not adding up here!

Ask them if they think their values and actions in real life align what they post on social media.

Are they practising what they preach? Or are they just calling out everyone else’s behaviour without doing the work themselves? It takes more than a social media post to fight racism.

 

Talk about how they can help

White people can use their privilege to advocate for issues faced by First Nations Peoples. Let them know about some of the common frustrations you experience and what requires advocacy in the wider community.

This could be a good way to raise awareness around key issues and also provide your white friends with some guidance if they want to help but don’t know where to start.

There are also several bystander action programs that offer simple steps to stand up to everyday racism, such as:

  • Confronting or disagreeing with the perpetrator (if safe to do so)
  • Calling it “racism” or “discrimination” (if productive to do so)
  • Interrupting or distracting the perpetrator (if safe to do so)
  • Comforting the person(s) targeted
  • Expressing upset feelings
  • Seeking assistance from friend, teacher, manager, coach etc.
  • Reporting the incident to authorities.

 

Encourage them to do their research

Your white friends can increase their exposure to First Nations Peoples and culture by actively seeking nonbiased representation in First Nations-led media and resources such as:

They can also raise their awareness by watching films and documentaries that highlight racial inequality and discrimination. There are also studies about the prevalence of discrimination in Australia and the harm it causes First Nations Peoples and communities.

Here are some statistics about discrimination and negative attitudes towards First Nations Peoples in Australia from a 2014 Beyond Blue study that you might like to discuss:

  • More than half of non-First Nations Australians have witnessed acts of discrimination towards First Nations Australians.
  • One in five (21%) admit they would move away if a First Nations Australian sat near them.
  • One in five (21%) admit they would watch the actions of a First Nations Australian in a retail environment.
  • One in 10 (12%) would tell jokes about First Nations Australians.
  • One in 10 (10%) would avoid sitting next to an First Nations Australian on public transport.
  • One in 10 (9%) would not hire an First Nations Australian for a job.

There’s no end to the information they can expose themselves to on the internet and beyond. It’s their responsibility to continually educate themselves about racism.

 

Know when to end it

As Aunty Deb says: “This is our country – First Nations Peoples have always lived here, and we should not be forced to be an aggressor in our own country. We’re not the problem.”

You’re not the problem. If your friend is causing you pain and frustration and is not willing to do the work or understand your experience, it’s OK to end that relationship.

You can protect yourself spiritually by removing yourself from people who don’t respect your culture and who you are as a person. You don’t have to spend the mental and emotional energy on educating or arguing with people who aren’t open to learning.

RAQ acknowledges the Traditional Owners on whose countries we live and work and Elders Past and Present. We pay tribute to their enduring stewardship, and honour their ongoing contribution to the spiritual, environmental, social, cultural, political and economic fabric of our society.

Response to Black Lives Matter from CEO Ian Law

Posted on by admin

I, along with millions around the world, have watched with dismay as racial tensions escalate globally and echo the calls for social, structural and systemic reform here in Australia.

Relationships Australia Queensland remains committed to reconciliation and our work with First Nations peoples.

We stand in solidarity with First Nations peoples in seeking peaceful resolution to address racism, and the social and structural imbalance of the system that they have inherited through colonisation.

We recognise First Nations peoples and support their right to self-determination.

Our work is focused on building respectful relationships where there is no place for violence.