Look forward, not back : aborigines in metropolitan Brisbane, 1965-1966

Abstract

Aborigines who come to Brisbane from settlements and small country towns face all the problems of rapid urbanisation - housing, employment, education, morale. They have had some previous experience of white Australian society, but little of the social institutions that white Australians take for granted. In Brisbane, these social institutions and their agencies are available, yet Aborigines do not take advantage of them, partly because of their past lack of experience and partly because they do not always see such institutions as compatible with their life styles. The authors of this book believe that Aborigines can and will determine their own futures. They argue that white Australia must encourage the Aborigines to use existing social institutions and, if these are unsuitable, create new ones that will help Aboriginal Australians to a satisfying life. In redressing thus the neglect and indifference of the past, Australia might approach a multi-racial society rich in diversity.