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"This special presentation by Dr Lois Peeler AM, Principal of Worawa Aboriginal College, celebrates the release of a new education resource, Aboriginal Change Makers, for Victorian schools." - from site

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Difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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"It’s best to find out what individuals prefer to be called, rather than making assumptions."

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It's best to find out what individuals prefer to be called, rather than making assumptions.

Today, the term 'Indigenous Australian' is used to encompass both Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people. However many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not like to be referred to as 'Indigenous' as the term is considered too generic.

When used in Australia, the words Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are capitalised, as would be the name of any other group of people. It is best not to resort to the acronyms of ATSI or TSI.

Aboriginal people have referred to themselves for example as Koori, Murri or Nunga, which is relevant to the greater region they are connected to. Aboriginal identities can also directly link to their language groups and traditional country (a specific geographic location), for example, Gunditjamara people are the traditional custodians of western Victoria, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation are from Sydney, and the Yawuru people are the traditional custodians of Broome in Western Australia.

Another way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people might describe themselves, which again relates to their country (including the waters), is 'saltwater people' for those who live on the coast, or 'freshwater', 'rainforest', 'desert' or 'spinifex' for people who live in that ecological environment.

Torres Strait Islander people prefer to use the name of their home Island to identify themselves to outsiders, for example a Saibai man or woman is from Saibai, or a Meriam person is from Mer. Many Torres Strait Islanders born and raised in mainland Australia still identify according to their Island homes.

In Australia, there are a range of specific grants, scholarships, university courses or government programs directly intended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. To access these programs or services, which have generally been established to address the historical social, health and educational disadvantage of Indigenous people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may be asked to confirm their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage. This help ensures that the specific programs or grants or scholarships intended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reach and are used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Indigenous Australians: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

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Australia's Indigenous peoples are two distinct cultural groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

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"This Quick Guide provides information about Indigenous Australian parliamentarians in federal and state/territory parliaments. For the purposes of this Quick Guide, ‘Indigenous parliamentarian’ refers to a parliamentarian who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or as having Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry." - from site

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15 June 2021

PDF version [ 379 KB]

Lisa Richards
Politics and Public Administration Section

This Quick Guide provides information about Indigenous Australian parliamentarians in federal and state/territory parliaments. For the purposes of this Quick Guide, 'Indigenous parliamentarian' refers to a parliamentarian who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or as having Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this Quick Guide, it cannot be guaranteed to be comprehensive. The Parliamentary Library would appreciate receiving any additional information or amendments that would assist in compiling future updates.

This Quick Guide lists the name, party, chamber, state/electorate, dates in office, identity (where readily available) and significant firsts. This information is compiled from a range of publicly available sources including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Handbook, The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate, the websites of Australian state and territory parliaments, political websites and personal biographies. Additionally, we are grateful to the state and territory parliamentary libraries for their assistance in compiling this Quick Guide.

Party and chamber abbreviations

Indigenous Australian federal parliamentarians

As of June 2021, the 46th Parliament includes six parliamentarians who identify as Indigenous or as having Indigenous heritage-two members of the House of Representatives and four senators:

Linda Burney, MP (ALP, Barton, NSW)

Ken Wyatt, MP (LIB, Hasluck, WA)

Senator Pat Dodson (ALP, WA)

Senator Jacqui Lambie (JLN, Tas.)

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy (ALP, NT) and

Senator Lidia Thorpe (GRN, Vic.).

Significant firsts

Neville Bonner (LIB; IND, Qld) was the first Indigenous member of any Australian parliament, appointed to the Senate on 11 June 1971.

Ken Wyatt (LIB, Hasluck, WA) was the first Indigenous member of the House of Representatives, elected on 21 August 2010. He is also the first Indigenous person to hold assistant ministerial, ministerial, and Cabinet roles in the Australian Government:

Assistant Minister for Health, appointed 30 September 2015

Minister for Aged Care, appointed 24 January 2017 and

(Cabinet) Minister for Indigenous Australians, appointed 29 May 2019.

Nova Peris (ALP, NT) was the first Indigenous Australian woman elected to the Senate in 2013.

Linda Burney (ALP, Barton, NSW) was the first female Indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives on 2 July 2016.

David Kennedy (ALP, Bendigo, Vic.) was the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to both a state/territory parliament and the federal parliament. He was first elected at a by-election as the ALP member for Bendigo in the House of Representatives in 1969 and served until his defeat at the 1972 federal election. In 1982 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, serving for approximately 10 years. Kennedy's Indigenous heritage was unknown when he entered both parliaments nor did he self-identify as Indigenous at that time. For these reasons Neville Bonner is recorded as the first Indigenous parliamentarian.

Linda Burney (ALP, Barton, NSW) and Malarndirri McCarthy (ALP, NT) are the first Indigenous women to be elected to both a state/territory parliament and the federal parliament. They served in the New South Wales and Northern Territory parliaments, respectively, prior to both being elected to the Federal Parliament on 2 July 2016.

Aden Ridgeway (AD, NSW) was the first Aboriginal person to use an Australian Indigenous language in the Federal Parliament. In hisfirst speech to the Senate delivered on 25 August 1999, he stated:

On this special occasion, I make my presence known as an Aborigine and to this chamber I say, perhaps for the first time: Nyandi baaliga Jaingatti. Nyandi mimiga Gumbayynggir. Nya jawgar yaam Gumbayynggir. Translated, it means: My father is Dhunghutti. My mother is Gumbayynggir. And, therefore, I am Gumbayynggir.

Table 1: list of Indigenous Australian federal parliamentarians, by date first elected

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library.

*Selected under Section 15 of the Australian Constitutionin the Senate or at a by-election in the House of Representatives.

^ Aden Ridgeway was elected to the Senate 3.10.1998, his term began 1.7.1999.

# Jacqui Lambie was elected to the Senate 7.9.2013, her term began 1.7.2014.

** Jacqui Lambie resigned on 14.11.2017 and was subsequently disqualified by the High Court on 8.12.2017, pursuant to section 44(i) of the Constitution.

Indigenous Australian state/territory parliamentarians

Significant firsts

Hyacinth Tungutalum (CLP, NT Legislative Assembly) was the first Indigenous Australian elected to a state/territory parliament in October 1974.

Carol Martin (ALP, WA Legislative Assembly) was the first female Indigenous Australian elected to any Australian parliament in February 2001.

Ernie Bridge (ALP; IND, WA Legislative Assembly) was the first Indigenous Australian to hold a ministerial role and Cabinet position in any Australian government in July 1986 as Minister for Water Resources, the North-West and Aboriginal Affairs.

Marion Scrymgour (ALP; IND; ALP, NT Legislative Assembly) was the first female Indigenous Australian to hold a ministerial position in December 2003 as Minister for Family and Community Services, and Environment and Heritage. On26 November 2007 (p. 20) she was appointed Deputy Chief Minister of the NT, becoming (at that time) thehighest-ranked Indigenous parliamentarian in Australian history.

Adam Giles (CLP, NT Legislative Assembly) was the first (and so far, only) Indigenous Australian head of government, serving as Chief Minister of the NT from 14 March 2013 to 27 August 2016.

Chansey Paech (ALP, NT Legislative Assembly) was the first Indigenous Australian appointed as Speaker of any Australian parliament in June 2020, shortly before the 2020 NT election.

Ngaree Ah Kit (ALP, NT Legislative Assembly) was the first female Indigenous Australian appointed as Speaker of any Australian parliament in October 2020.

The information in Table 2 is derived from state/territory parliament websites, as such the data has not been standardised. The following parliamentarians are listed under each state/territory in order of date first elected.

Table 2: list of state/territory Indigenous Australian parliamentarians, by state/territory

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library.

*By-election.

Note 1: retired parliamentarians are listed as 'resigned'.

[1] The spelling is sourced from Hansard records. The AIATSIS Austlang thesaurus provides alternative spellings.

[2]. Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory,Members of the Legislative Assembly: 1st Assembly 1974 to 13th Assembly, updated 21 August 2020.

For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.

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Indigenous Australian parliamentarians in federal and state/territory parliaments: a quick guide

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15 June 2021 PDF version [ 379 KB] Lisa Richards Politics and Public Administration Section This Quick Guide provides information about Indigenous Australian parliamentarians in federal and state/territory parliaments. For the purposes of this Quick Guide, 'Indigenous parliamentarian' refers to a parliamentarian who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or as having Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry.

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"This is the clearest explanation I've ever heard of so much of Australia's history. And what seems like something of a roadmap toward practical reconciliation. Wow. Makes me want even more to do my part in that." - Iain Gray (YouTube comment)

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Listen to Koorie people speaking the names of their own languages.

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The maps below show the diversity of languages of Victorian Aboriginal people. Each message stick is located within the Country connected to that language.

Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) identifies 38 languages and 11 language families in Victoria. Many of the 38 languages are further divided according to clan groups and their traditional lands, while the 11 language families are grouped according to shared words, grammar and sounds.

You can read an interview with Paul Paton, VACL CEO, about the Victorian languages map.

In the Upper Murray language family
Bangerang external links

Barababaraba

Also: Barapa Barapa

In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Bidwell Maap

Also: Bidawal, Bidhawal
External links External links

Boonwurrung

Also: Boon wurrung, Bunurong

In the Eastern or Central Kulin language family
External links

Brabralung

Also: Brabuwooloong

In the Gunaikurnai language family
External links

Braiakaulung

Also: Brayakouloong

Part of the Gunaikurnai language family
External links

Brataualung

Also: Bratowooloong

In the Gunaikurnai language family
External links External links

Dhauwurd Wurrung

Also: Dharwurd Wurrong

In the Gunditjmara language family
External links External links

Dja Dja Wurrung

Also: Djadjawurrung, Jaara

In the Western Kulin language family. Spoken by the Jaara people.
External links

Djab Wurrung

Also: Djabwurrung, Tjapwurrong

In the Western Kulin language family
External links
In the Western Kulin language family
External links External links
Also: Kolakngat
External links

Gundungerre

Also: Yaithmathang, Jaithmathang
External links

Jabulajabula

Also: Jabula Jabula, Yabula Yabula

In the Upper Murray language family
External links

Jardwadjali

Also: Jadawadjali

In the Western Kulin language family
External links
In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Kee Woorroong

Also: Gai wurrung, Kee Wurrong

In the Gunditjamara language family
External links

Keerray Woorroong

Also: Girai Wurrung, Kirrae Wurrung

In the Gunditjmara language family
External links

Koornkopanoot

Also: Koornkopanut

In the Gunditjmara language family
External links

Krauatungulung

Also: Krowathunkooloong

In the Gunaikurnai language family
External links

Ladji Ladji

Also: Latje Latje

In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Mogullumbidj

Also: Mitjambuta, Mogullumbidg
External links

Mutti Mutti

Also: Mutthi Mutthi, Madhi Madhi

In the Western Kulin language family
External links External links
Also: Monaro, Monero, Ngarigo

In the Yuin language family
External links
Also: Yuyu

In the Upper Murray language family
External links

Peek Woorroong

Also: Bi:gwurrung, Peek Wurrong

In the Gunditjmara language family
External links
Also: Dadi Dadi

In the Upper Murray language family
External links

Tatungalung

Also: Tatungoloong

In the Gunaikurnai language family
External links

Taungurung

Also: Daung Wurrung, Daungurung, Taun wurrung, Taunwurrung, Taunerung, Thagungwurrung

In the Eastern or Central Kulin language family
External links External links

Tyakoort Woorroong

Also: Djargurdwurrung, Djargurd Wurrong

In the Gunditjmara language family

Also: Watti Watti

In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Wathaurong

Also: Wathaurung, Watha wurrung
External links
Also: Pallanganmiddang, Waveroo
External links
In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Wemba Wemba

Also: Wamba Wamba

In the Western Kulin language family
External links
Also: Wertigkia

In the Western Kulin language family
External links

Woi wurrung

In the Eastern or Central Kulin language family. Spoken by the Wurundjeri people.
External links

Wooloowoorroong

Also: Wulluwurrung

In the Gunditjmara language family
External links

Wotjobaluk

Also: Wudjubaluk

In the Western Kulin language family.
External links

Yorta Yorta

In the Upper Murray language family
External links

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The maps below show the diversity of languages of Victorian Aboriginal people. Each message stick is located within the Country connected to that language. Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) identifies 38 languages and 11 language families in Victoria.

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Prior to colonisation there were approximately 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia - approximately 38 in Victoria.

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VACL Language Map of Victoria - Our Story - Culture Victoria

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Prior to colonisation there were approximately 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia - approx…

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Aboriginal Languages Victoria – Portal for Aboriginal Language Reclamation & Research

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Aboriginal Languages Victoria – Portal for Aboriginal Language Reclamation & Research

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If you're the reading type...

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Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages

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Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages

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"Language is important to Aboriginal people because it is a way for them to express their identity and be proud of where they come from and who they are." - from site.

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"Despite the past and present impacts of colonisation, Aboriginal kinship systems, customs and traditions still thrive, and Aboriginal people, families and communities remain strong and resilient." - from site.

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Aboriginal cultural capability toolkit - VPSC

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Supports public sector workplaces to build their capability to attract, recruit, retain, support and develop Aboriginal staff at all levels.

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Not all content is based exclusively in the past. Look at current movements and what underpins...

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Buy Aboriginal-Designed, Australian Made Clothing Australia

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Made in Australia - we have a wide range of Aboriginal-designed pieces like t-shirts, hoodies, accessories and more. Support Clothing The Gaps and shop online today!

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An historical inquiry into Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud peoples.

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An historical inquiry into Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud peoples.

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"Amidst the chaotic displacement of the Aborigines of Victoria's Western District, Francis Tuckfield and the Mission he served tried to make a difference. A compelling local story, an episode in an unforgettable national history." - synopsis

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Due to delays with some suppliers, some online deliveries are taking a little longer than usual. Please continue to track your delivery via the link provided.
Christmas Order Cut-off Dates

Due to increased demand during the Christmas period, there may be some delays in shipment and delivery due to high traffic. The table below is a guide to our Christmas order cut-off dates, however please check your "ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE" on all items ordered prior to checkout to ensure you receive your order by 24th December.

In Stock Titles

Next Day Delivery

To Order

Dispatches in 4-5 days

To Order

Dispatches in 5-7 days

To Order

Dispatches in 5-14 days

To Order

Dispatches in 14-21 days

ORDER BY
7th December

ORDER BY
1st December

ORDER BY
25th November

ORDER BY
14th November

ORDER BY
7th November

ORDER BY
10th December

ORDER BY
3rd December

ORDER BY
30th November

ORDER BY
21st November

ORDER BY
14th November

Delivery options: Shipping to an Australian address

Saver Delivery (Tracked)
via Australia post

Items in order will be sent as soon as they arrive in the warehouse. Order may come in multiple shipments, however you will only be charged a flat fee.

$7.95

2-10 days after all items have arrived in the warehouse

Express Delivery 2 (Tracked)
via StarTrack Express ³

Items in order will be sent via Express post as soon as they arrive in the warehouse. Order may come in multiple shipments, however you will only be charged a flat fee.

$14.95

1-2 days after each item has arrived in the warehouse

¹ The expected delivery period after the order has been dispatched via your chosen delivery method.
² Express is not available on all items.
³ Please note this service does not override the status timeframe "Dispatches in", and that the "Usually Dispatches In" timeframe still applies to all orders.

NB All our estimates are based on business days and assume that shipping and delivery don't occur on holidays and weekends.

When will my book be dispatched from your warehouse?

Once we receive your order we verify it, complete invoicing and prepare your item(s) before we dispatch them from our Sydney warehouse.

You will notice that each product page on the Web site includes an estimated delivery date range for Saver Delivery, as well as for Express Delivery if it is available for that product.

This Estimated Delivery date range is a combination of:

the time to dispatch your order from our warehouse, and

the time taken to ship your order to you.

In addition to the estimated delivery date range, on the product page you will find how long an item will take to be dispatched.

Dispatch time
The time it takes to verify the order, complete invoicing, prepare your item(s) and dispatch.

Explanation
The dispatch time will depend on the status of your item(s) at our warehouse.

Dispatches next business day

Usually dispatches next business day⁺

In stock at our warehouse.

Dispatches in 4-5 business days

Usually dispatches in 4-5 business days⁺

Order placed with supplier, estimated arrival time to warehouse is 4-5 business days.

Dispatches in 5-14 business days

Usually dispatches in 5-14 business days⁺

Order placed with supplier, estimated arrival time to warehouse is 5-14 business days.

+ All our estimates are based on business days and assume that shipping and delivery don't occur on holidays and weekends.

When will my order arrive?

The Estimate Delivery Date is when your order is expected to arrive at your chosen delivery location.

Once you have submitted your order you will receive confirmation and status update emails.

If you order multiple items and they are not all in stock, we will advise you of their anticipated arrival times.

For items not readily available, we'll provide ongoing estimated ship and delivery time frames.

Once your order has been dispatched from our Sydney warehouse you will receive an Order Shipped status email. This will contain your tracking information

All our estimates are based on business days and assume that shipping and delivery don't occur on holidays and weekends.

Tracking delivery

Saver Delivery: Australia post

Australia Post deliveries can be tracked on route with eParcel. You can track your delivery by going to AusPost tracking and entering your tracking number - your Order Shipped email will contain this information for each parcel.

Delivery with Standard Australia Post usually happens within 2-10 business days from time of dispatch. Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery and due to various reasons, the delivery may take longer than the original estimated timeframe.

If you have not received your delivery following the estimated timeframe, we advise you to contact your local post office first, as the parcel may be there awaiting your collection.

If you have not received any information after contact with Australia Post, please contact us to confirm that the details for delivery logged with us are correct. We will then contact you with the appropriate action.

Express Delivery via StarTrack Express

You can track your delivery by going to StartTrack tracking using your consignment number. The consignment number is emailed to you along with the invoice at the time of shipment.

Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery - the approximate delivery time is usually between 1-2 business days.

For enquiries regarding the delivery of your order, contact Star Track Customer Service on 13 23 45 - and quote the above consignment number.

If you have not received any information after contact with Star Track, please contact us to confirm that the address for delivery logged with us are correct. We will then contact you with the appropriate action.

International delivery

To track orders sent by DHL, go to DHL tracking

International orders

Deliveries to destinations outside Australia are made by DHL courier, and cannot be made to post office boxes. Charges for international delivery destinations are available below. For international deliveries we will hold your order until we can send you all your items at once.

If your order weighs more than 1.0kg (2.2lb, roughly equivalent to 1 or 2 paperbacks), we'll let you know what your delivery charge will be, and seek your approval before sending your order.

Please note that some countries may charge the recipient duties on the 'import' of parcels from time-to-time. As these charges are the responsibility of the recipient, please check the customs service in your destination country to see if charges are applicable.

To track orders sent by DHL, go to DHL tracking

Delivery restrictions

Remote areas: Please note that there may be a surcharge if shipping international orders to a remote area. You can check if the delivery address is in a remote area at DHL Remote Area Services.

Reshipping: If your order is returned to us by the delivery company due to incorrect or insufficient delivery details, you will be charged the cost of reshipping the order. Please note that if the delivery address is incorrect and the order has been shipped, depending on the delivery option selected we may not be able to change the delivery address until the order has been returned.

Problems with your delivery

In the event that the courier company fails to deliver your order due to invalid address information, they will return the order back to Dymocks Online.

Dymocks Online will do their best to ensure the information you have input is accurate. We cannot guarantee that your order will arrive at its destination if you have not provided correct address details and as much information as possible to assist the couriers when delivering e.g. company name, level, suite etc.

If your order has not yet been shipped you will need to send Dymocks Online an email advising the error and requesting a change in details. If your order has a status of "packed" or "shipped" we will not be able to guarantee any change in shipping details.

Unfortunately, you will be liable for any costs incurred in return to sender parcels if the information you provided was inaccurate.

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Due to delays with some suppliers, some online deliveries are taking a little longer than usual. Please continue to track your delivery via the link provided. Due to increased demand during the Christmas period, there may be some delays in shipment and delivery due to high traffic.

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"The Wadawurrung are the seven family groups who are the sole descendants of John Robinson, our apical ancestor." - from site

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History | Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation | wadawurrung.org.au

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The Wadawurrung are the seven family groups who are the sole descendants of John Robinson, our apical ancestor. According to John Robinson's birth certificate, he was born in 1846 and lived until 1919. His final resting place is the Warrnambool cemetery.

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"The Wadawurrung people have a patrilineal kinship system, in which a person’s skin-group (otherwise known as a moiety) was inherited from their father and like other Kulin mob, clans belonged to either the Waa (crow) or the Bunjil (eagle-hawk) moiety." - from site

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The Wadawurrung people have a patrilineal kinship system, in which a person's skin-group (otherwise known as a moiety) was inherited from their father and like other Kulin mob, clans belonged to either the Waa (crow) or the Bunjil (eagle-hawk) moiety.

Karringalabil Bundjil Murrup, Manna Gum Tree

Artist Deanne Gilson uses her artwork to tell the Wadawurrung creation story.

This Place

The 'This Place' project invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to create a short video about a place name, and the story behind it.

Bryon Powell shares dreaming stories from places across Wadawurrung country.

He shares how the Wadawurrung people were created by Bunjil, our spirit creator, at Kareet Bareet, now known as Black Hill near Gordon, not far from Ballaarat. This area was once covered in forest but is now largely a farming community, mainly of potatoes, due to the rich volcanic soils. That is why the Wadawurrung are known as the red soil people.

Then Bryon takes us to Lal Lal, a very spiritual place for Wadawurrung people. It is a valley of waterfalls and creeks, which was Bunjil's final resting place before his journey into the heavens to live amongst the stars.

Story: Bryon Powell
Producers: Tammy Gilson & Larissa Romensky
Animation: Stephanie Skinner
Actors: Bryon Powell, Indigo Harrison & Rhyder Harrison

How Looern and the Swan Sisters gave us granite

Kirrit Barrett

Places of Wadawurrung Dreaming - This Place

Sources

The sources used to create the content on this page can be found on Wadawurrung Further Reading.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material. To listen to our Acknowledgement of Country, click here.

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The Wadawurrung people have a patrilineal kinship system, in which a person's skin-group (otherwise known as a moiety) was inherited from their father and like other Kulin mob, clans belonged to either the Waa (crow) or the Bunjil (eagle-hawk) moiety. Artist Deanne Gilson uses her artwork to tell the Wadawurrung creation story.

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Famous Aboriginal people, activists and role models.

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Famous Aboriginal people, activists and role models.

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"In 1957, Namatjira became the first Aboriginal person to become an Australian citizen. His art and his life made governments aware of how Aboriginal people were being treated in Australia during that period." - from site

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Why we need Aboriginal role models

Apart from obvious reasons like inspiration, setting an example, or showing what is possible, there's a more opaque reason we need Aboriginal role models: the media.

Journalists lack interest in reporting about Aboriginal achievers. "When you hear of some brilliant Indigenous person working in any of the professional sectors," says Jeff McMullen, a journalist himself, "the media turns away... The media needs to shift its message to an empowering one that gives individuals and families as a whole a sense of inclusiveness."

Read my tips for journalists.

Who's missing? Let me know if you think there's a famous Aboriginal Australian missing from this page!

David Unaipon

If you live in Australia, do you know that you're probably carrying a famous Aboriginal man in your wallet? David Unaipon (1872 - 1967) was a Ngarrindjeri man, a preacher, inventor and writer. Among his patents was a helicopter design based on the principle of a boomerang.

The front of Australia's 50-dollar note, first issued on 4 October 1995, features David Unaipon along with drawings from one of his inventions, and an extract from the original manuscript of his book Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, for which he is known as the first Aboriginal author.

Before the redesign in 2018, the 50-dollar note showed a couple standing in front of Raukkan Church. They are Milerum "Clarence" Long (about 1869-1941) and Polly Beck who were living in the Raukkan community (Unaipon's birthplace) in the Coorong area, southeast of Adelaide, in the late 19th century. They are the great-grandfather and great-grandmother of Aboriginal footballer Michael O'Loughlin. Milerum was the last initiated member of the local native tribe. He was highly respected and played a huge role in the recording of history of the native people of the Coorong area. The illustration is based on a photograph provided to the designer by Jean and Henry Rankine from Point McLeay.

When the Reserve Bank of Australia issued the newly redesigned $50 banknote in October 2018, Westpac delivered a batch of banknotes to a branch in the small town of Tailem Bend, on the Murray River in South Australia, where David Unaipon died in 1967.

The new $50 banknote shows shields from Unaipon's Ngarrindjeri nation which depict particular clan groups, lands and waters, and represent the kind of traditional technologies from which Unaipon drew inspiration for his own inventions. It depicts two types of shields used for defence against spears. The rounder of the two was made from the bark of the red gum tree, the slimmer shield from wood beneath the bark. Both were decorated with ochres, white pipeclay and carvings.

The banknote also includes references to a spiritual and cultural practice Unaipon wrote about, the Ngarrindjeri peoples' spiritual connection to all living things (called Miwi). That connection, or sixth sense, is located in the pit of the stomach and symbolised with an exchange of naval cords. The banknote includes two such cords painted by Yarraldi Aboriginal artist Muriel Van Der Byl.

David Unaipon fact file

Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman is one of the most well-known Aboriginal Australians. Her skills and achievements as a runner have been seen by people all over the world as she has competed in multiple Olympic Games.

Freeman's greatest achievement was being the first Aboriginal person to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event (400 metres sprint). Freeman was further honoured by being given a vital role at the Sydney Olympics (2000), which was the lighting of the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony.

On 28 April 2018, Cathy received the Order of Merit award, the Australian Olympic Committee's highest honour.

Cathy Freeman fact file

Neville Bonner

Neville Bonner was Australia's first Aboriginal politician. He then became a senator for Queensland and served for twelve years (1971-1983). He was also the first Aboriginal person to sit in federal parliament.

A central focus to his work as a politician involved improving the conditions of his fellow Aboriginal people. Bonner helped change the face of Aboriginal rights in Australia. He was an honest man who never let anger dominate his work.

Neville Bonner fact file

Archie Roach

Archie is Australia's beloved, respected and admired Aboriginal singer/songwriter. He captured the hearts and minds of a nation in 1990 with his debut album Charcoal Lane and the landmark song Took The Children Away which tells the story when he was stolen from his family. Throughout his life Archie has worked tirelessly to heal the Stolen Generations.

In the late 1980s Archie and his long-term partner and soul mate Ruby Hunter formed a band, the Altogethers, with several other Aboriginal musicians.

In 2010 Ruby died, shattering Archie. In mid 2011 he was diagnosed with the early stages of lung cancer and had to go into rehabilitation.

Archie has gone from singing songs about suffering and pain to more uplifting songs after letting go of the past and overcoming his challenges.

Archie Roach fact file

Bronwyn Bancroft

Bronwyn Bancroft is an Australian artist who is amongst the first Australian fashion designers invited to show her work in Paris. Trained in Canberra and Sydney, Bancroft worked as a fashion designer, and is an artist, illustrator, and arts administrator.

In 1985, Bancroft established a shop called Designer Aboriginals, selling fabrics made by Aboriginal artists including herself. She is also a founding member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.

Art work by Bancroft is held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. She has provided art work for more than 20 children's books, including Stradbroke Dreaming by writer and Aboriginal activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and books by artist and writer Sally Morgan.

Bancroft has a long history of involvement in community activism and arts administration, and has served as a board member for the National Gallery of Australia. Her painting Prevention of AIDS (1992) was used in a campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Australia.

Bronwyn Bancroft fact file

Adam Goodes

Adam Goodes was a champion Australian Rules (AFL) football player with the Sydney Swans. He holds an elite place in AFL history, playing 372 matches over 18 years, winning two Brownlow Medals (2003 and 2006) and two premierships (2005 and 2012). Adam is a four-time All-Australian (2003, 2006, 2009, 2011), member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, has represented Australia in the International Rules Series and was inducted to the Sydney Swans Hall of Fame. He is also Australian of the Year 2014.

Adam was actively involved with several Aboriginal sport and community programs. He spent time working with troubled youth, including those in youth detention centres. Together with his cousin and former teammate Michael O'Loughlin, Adam established the Go Foundation which provides educational scholarships and support to the next generation, from kindergarten to tertiary level. Adam co-chairs the foundation, focused on promoting education, employment and healthy lifestyles. His other business, Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium, helps Aboriginal businesses to win contracts.

Adam is a great role model and advocate for the fight against racism both on and off the field. In 2013 he objected to a racist slur from a teenage fan. Because of this he endured more than 12 months of booing from audiences which led to a "I Stand With Adam" campaign against racism. In September 2015 Adam retired from AFL for good, exhausted, and booed until his last match. Two films document his 'final quarter'.

Adam Goodes fact file

Albert (Elea) Namatjira

Albert Namatjira (Elea is his birth name) was the first Aboriginal person to become an internationally renowned artist. He always enjoyed painting whilst he was growing up, but it was not until 1934 (aged 32 years) that he began to paint seriously. A man named Rex Battarbee taught Namatjira a lot about the skill of painting, and Namatjira showed Rex some of the best places to paint in Australia. Namatjira's art was very different to traditional Aboriginal art.

His first exhibition went on show in 1936 in Melbourne, where his paintings sold out. His success continued and his paintings became very valuable. Although he had become very successful and made a great deal of money, Namatjira still had to follow the strict laws placed on Aboriginal people during that time. He was not allowed to buy a home or any land, and could not rent a property.

In 1957, Namatjira became the first Aboriginal person to become an Australian citizen. His art and his life made governments aware of how Aboriginal people were being treated in Australia during that period.

Albert Namatjira fact file

Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Emily Kame Kngwarreye is one of Australia's most significant contemporary Aboriginal artists. Emily was born at the beginning of the 20th century and grew up in a remote desert area known as Utopia, 230 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, distant from the art world that sought her work.

Although Emily began to paint late in her life she was a prolific artist who often worked at a pace that belied her advanced age. It is estimated that she produced more than 3,000 paintings in the course of her 8-year painting career--an average of one painting per day.

For virtually two-thirds of her life she had only sporadic contact with the outside world. It was not until she was about 80 that she became, almost overnight, an artist of national and international standing. She received the Australian Artist's Creative Fellowship award in 1992.

Her remarkable work was inspired by her cultural life as an Anmatyerre elder, and her lifelong custodianship of the women's Dreaming sites in her clan country, Alhalkere.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye fact file

Benn Harradine

Ben Harradine is the Australian and Commonwealth discus champion, and the first Australian male to reach the Olympics final in this discipline.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Harradine became the first Aboriginal athlete to represent Australia in a field event, and in 2010 the first Aboriginal Australian to win a gold field medal. Benn is coached by his father Ken and Melbourne's stalwart throws coach Gus Puopolo.

Benn studied Exercise Physiology at University of Newcastle and Deakin University in Melbourne. He can speak German and a bit of Swedish (he lives part-time in Sweden). Benn only found out his Aboriginal heritage in 2005 when he was 22 after his father wrote letters trying to discover who his relatives were.

He is a speaker and role model for young Australians of all backgrounds. He was a mentor for Athletics Australia's Jump Start to London 2012 program.

Benn Harradine fact file

Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Evonne Goolagong Cawley AO MBE is an Australian former World No. 1 female tennis player. She was one of the world's leading players in the 1970s and early 1980s, when she won 14 Grand Slam titles: 7 in singles (four Australian Open, two Wimbledon and one French Open), 6 in women's doubles, and one in mixed doubles.

Evonne, nicknamed Sunshine Supergirl, ranked in the top 10 for nine years and climbed to the top of the rankings for one week in 1976. She was the first Aboriginal Australian to win a Wimbledon Tennis Championship in 1971. She won Wimbledon again as a mother in 1980, only the second woman to do so. Nicknamed "Gong", she finished her career in the mid-1980s.

Renowned for her grace, ethereal touch and fluid speed around the court, Goolagong Cawley started playing as a young girl by hitting a ball against a wall with a board from an apple crate. Spotted by a neighbour she started playing at the local tennis club before moving to Sydney as a 10-year-old where she went to school and received coaching.

In 1993, the NSW State Transit Authority named a RiverCat ferry in Sydney after Goolagong.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley fact file

Lowitja O'Donoghue

Lowitja O'Donoghue CBE AO (also known as Lois Smart) is an Aboriginal Australian retired public administrator. At the age of two she was taken away from her mother, who she was not to see for 33 years. She never met her Irish father from whom she inherits her last name.

In 1967 Lowitja joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a junior administrative officer in the Adelaide office of the newly formed Department of Aboriginal Affairs. After 8 years she became the Director of the Department's office in South Australia, a senior officer position, responsible for the local implementation of national Aboriginal welfare policy. This work was recognised in 1976 when Lowitja became the first Aboriginal woman to be inducted into the new Order of Australia.

In 1990, she was appointed inaugural chairperson of the now dissolved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), a position she held until 1996.

In December 1992, O'Donoghue became the first Aboriginal Australian to address the United Nations General Assembly during the launch of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous People.

Following her retirement, she formally added the name Lowitja to her existing legal name, Lois O'Donoghue Smart, to emphasise her Luritjan heritage.

In February 2015 she launched the Lowitja Institute - Australia's National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research.

She continues to be a speaker, writer, mover and shaker on behalf of her people.

Lowitja O'Donoghue fact file

Anita Heiss

Anita is one of Australia's most well-known Aboriginal writers. Her books range from historical novels to children's books and poetry collections. In 2007 she released her first 'chick lit' title (or as she says, tongue-in-cheek, "choc lit" ) that sought to find common ground between mainstream and Aboriginal Australia and showed the difficulties of navigating relationships, especially for educated Aboriginal women.

She is constantly working to enhance her readers' understanding of Aboriginality for which she has been labelled "destroyer of stereotypes".

She is also working for the publication of the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, a snapshot of 200 years of Aboriginal literature.

Anita is a strong advocate for Aboriginal education and works to ensure that Aboriginal literature is written and produced by Aboriginal writers and companies.

Lots of my first dates turn into cultural awareness training workshops.
- Anita Heiss

Anita Heiss fact file

Aboriginal Australians of the Year

Each year on Australia Day (January 26th) Australia honours the Australian of the Year, persons who "inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia" .

Here is a list of the Aboriginal Australians of the Year.

2014 Adam Goodes (AFL player)

2009 Mick Dodson (Professor of law)

1998 Cathy Freeman (athlete)

1992 Mandawuy Yunupingu (Yothu Yindi band leader)

1984 Lowitja O'Donoghue (nurse and ATSIC chairperson)

1979 Neville Bonner (first Aboriginal parliamentarian)

1978 Galarrwuy Yunupingu (Yolngu leader, brother of Mandawuy)

1971 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (tennis player)

1968 Lionel Rose (boxer)

Fact In 2014, there were 14 Aboriginal finalists for the Australian of the Year Awards. By 2015, one in 7 Australian of the Year recipients were Aboriginal.

It's this increasingly casual reaction to Indigenous achievement and success that is a marker of how far we've come. It's becoming unexceptional to have successful Indigenous filmmakers, artists, doctors, academics, lawyers, nurses and politicians. This is the other side, the often - and unfortunately - untold side, of the story we hear about Indigenous Australia.
- Mick Dodson, Australian of the Year 2009

Check out the collection of famous Aboriginal sports people.

Aboriginal role models

Who do you look up to? Who's inspiring you? A role model. We all need them to motivate us go through tough times and gather our self-discipline.

But there are only few notable Aboriginal Australian role models to inspire Aboriginal children. Politicians, actors, musicians, comedians-most of these in Australia are non-Indigenous.

Part of this problem is the high rate of Aboriginal unemployment, but also the appalling low rate of airplay for Aboriginal music and the few occasions where Australians can celebrate their Indigenous actors in Aboriginal films. Sport, particularly football and rugby league, is the only area where Aboriginal players are so successful that, at times, they outshine their non-Indigenous team mates.

Video: Role Models and Leaders Australia

Role Models and Leaders Australia (RMLA) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which aims to develop and empower Aboriginal youth through leadership, sport and education. It runs Girls' Academy programs in high schools with Aboriginal girls in Years 7 through to 12 who experience poverty, sickness, misfortune or disconnectedness from their community. RMLA operates several Aboriginal Girls Academies across WA, the NT and NSW, catering to more than 850 Aboriginal girls.

Case study: Samantha Harris

Samantha came into modelling when she was 10 or 11 years old. Since then her modelling career has brought her success and fame. She is now considered a role model for Aboriginal children .

The daughter of a father of English-German descent and an Aboriginal mother, Samantha grew up in Tweed Heads, northern NSW. From an early age her mother entered her in child beauty pageants.

While in high school she won a Dolly Magazine model workshop, and about 2 years later became a finalist in Girlfriend magazine's Model Search.

Harris became aware of her Aboriginality, and that her mother is a member of the Stolen Generations.

Being called a role model for Aboriginal children now sits comfortably with Samantha, although it initially confused her-being relatively young herself.

Harris is an ambassador for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, and One Laptop per Child Australia. Once a year she travels to Uluru to mentor young and aspiring models.

The Sydney Morning Herald listed her among the "most influential people in Australian fashion" in 2016.

Samantha Harris fact file

Nation

Bundjalung, north-east New South Wales

Born

20 July 1990, Tweed Heads, New South Wales

Famous for

Fashion model

Family

Father: Andrew Harris (English-German), mother: Myrna Sussye (Aboriginal)

[Being a role model] I think it's great that indigenous girls can look up to me and they can set goals for themselves because I have pursued what I have wanted to do.
- Samantha Harris

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Famous Aboriginal people, activists & role models

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Apart from obvious reasons like inspiration, setting an example, or showing what is possible, there's a more opaque reason we need Aboriginal role models: the media. Journalists lack interest in reporting about Aboriginal achievers. "When you hear of some brilliant Indigenous person working in any of the professional sectors," says Jeff McMullen, a journalist himself, "the media turns away...

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"Australia has been represented by 60 Indigenous Australian Olympians known to the AOC, 59 Indigenous athletes at the Summer Olympic Games and by one Indigenous athlete at the Winter Olympic Games." - from site

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Basketballer Michael Ah Matt and boxers Adrian Blair and Francis Roberts became the first Indigenous Australians to call themselves Olympians when they competed at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

In 1992 at Barcelona, Samantha Riley became the first female Indigenous Olympian and at these Games she became Australia's first Indigenous competitor to win an Olympic medal, when she won bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

Nova Peris-Kneebone was the first gold medallist as part of the women's hockey team in Atlanta in 1996.

Harley Windsor became Australia's first Indigenous Winter Olympian when the then-20-year-old from Rooty Hill in Sydney's West competed in Pairs Figure Skating at PyeongChang 2018, alongside his Russian-born parter Katia Alexandrovskaya, where the duo finished 18th on debut.

Cathy Freeman is the most successful Indigenous athlete with gold at Sydney 2000 and silver at Atlanta 1996 in the 400m.

A total of 15 medals have been won by the following eight (11) Indigenous athletes:

Women dominate Indigenous Medals

Of the 60 Indigenous athletes known to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, 43 are men and 17 are women. But between them the women have won 11 out of Australia's 15 Indigenous medals.

Indigenous Australian medallists

Boxing is the sport with the greatest representation of athletes (20), followed by Athletics (8), Basketball (7), Football (5) and Hockey (5).

Australia's Indigenous Olympians

Olympic Education Indigenous Partnerships

The AOC supports Australian Indigenous communities through its Olympic education program. Learn about the organisations where partnerships are being developed here >>>

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Basketballer Michael Ah Matt and boxers Adrian Blair and Francis Roberts became the first Indigenous Australians to call themselves Olympians when they competed at the 1964 Tokyo Games. In 1992 at Barcelona, Samantha Riley became the first female Indigenous Olympian and at these Games she became Australia's first Indigenous competitor to win an Olympic medal, when she won bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

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"'What was before Lord Vestey born and I born? It was blackfella country.' Vincent Lingiari (Wattie Creek 1966)" - from site

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'What was before Lord Vestey born and I born? It was blackfella country.' Vincent Lingiari (Wattie Creek 1966)

Australia's First Peoples have been living on the Australian continent for millenia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is made up of many different and distinct groups, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws. They are the world's oldest surviving culture; cultures that continue to be expressed in dynamic and contemporary ways.

The AIATSIS map serves as a visual reminder of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. It was created in 1996 as part of the Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia project and attempts to show language, social or nation groups based on published sources available up to 1994.

The map shows only the general locations of larger groups of people which may include smaller groups. There are also variations in the way that some language or group names are spelt. You can view some of these alternate spellings on the list of alternate spellings for names on the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia below.

Note that the borders between groups are purposefully represented as slightly blurred and are not meant to be exact. Some of the information shown on the map is contested and may not be agreed to by some traditional custodians - the map isn't suitable for native title or other land claims.

The map isn't the only source of information; if you would like more information about Australian Indigenous languages please see our Austlang database. The National Native Title Tribunal also produces maps that show native title claims determinations.

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The AIATSIS map serves as a visual reminder of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.

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Bryon Powell shares dreaming stories from places across Wadawurrung country.

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Places of Wadawurrung dreaming - This Place

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This short video explores the cultural heritage of the Bells Beach Surfing Recreational Reserve. The video features Corrina Eccles discussing the Wadawurrung history of Bells Beach, and Anthony Hume playing didgeridoo.

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Brief intro to Aboriginal occupation in the Eastern Maar region by John Clarke.

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A real history of Aboriginal Australians.

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A real history of Aboriginal Australians.

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Follow-up talk by Bruce Pascoe on Dark Emu.

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A real history of Aboriginal Australians, the first agriculturalists  | Bruce Pascoe | TEDxSydney