Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

We need a seismic shift in attitude

By Stephen Hagan - posted Wednesday, 7 May 2008


In ivory towers around the nation that house our federal and state public servants there are more pictures of Indigenous people adorning the walls than there are of Indigenous public servants sitting behind desks.

And you wonder why Indigenous people don’t have confidence in the public sector. Last year I had cause to visit an Indigenous specific office in Brisbane with a relative to speak to a public servant and was appalled to observe the process we had to go through in securing a face-to-face meeting.

We had to press a button on a blank wall - there was no Indigenous art décor to speak of or sitting room to take a seat in - and wait patiently for an anonymous voice to come over the intercom to direct us to another floor where someone observed our movement on a security camera and continued to direct us through slowly opening doors.

Advertisement

At the end of a series of sophisticated manoeuvres, that wouldn’t look out of place in a James Bond thriller, we arrived at our destination to be greeted by a non-Indigenous public servant in a most uninviting meeting room.

I shook my head and knew at that instant why Indigenous clients don’t visit these offices. The alternative of phoning a public servant is even worse: the new cost saving automation service that we are all patently aware of is a process that only Centrelink clients endure for fear of loosing their benefit.

The best way of overcoming the indignity of relying on public servants, as the first and last port of call to address our level of social disadvantage, is to be proactive and look at all options available within our communities in addressing specific needs or in getting a job.

I say “get a job” because I’m of the belief that for too long some Indigenous people have been their own worse enemy, regurgitating the well worn “poor bugger me” mantra to justify their high level of unemployment and associated lifestyle they endure today.

It disappoints me that many of our children wake up each morning and prepare their meals and iron their school uniform while their parent(s) lay motionless in bed without a worry in the world because they don’t have a job to go to.

Why should our children have to search for role models outside the home? The head of the household must gain meaningful employment and provide the basic level of sustenance and security for his or her family.

Advertisement

There is no need for such high levels of unemployment of our people around the nation when the mining and agricultural sectors are screaming out for workers - many employers are reluctantly choosing the expensive option of recruiting semi-professional workers from Asia.

In some parts of rural Australian there is a predominance of females taking up labouring jobs around their communities because their men folk have taken up high paying six-figure jobs in the mining sector. Most mining companies offer a ten-day on, ten-day off, arrangement which allows their employees to return regularly to their communities.

Indigenous Australians have got to help themselves and be prepared to travel outside their communities if necessary to secure a job and a better future for their families.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

2 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Stephen Hagan is Editor of the National Indigenous Times, award winning author, film maker and 2006 NAIDOC Person of the Year.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Stephen Hagan

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Stephen Hagan
Article Tools
Comment 2 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy