Education and Employment

Present day life for the Aborigines in Australia is far from being what you would call a comfortable living. Today most of the Aborigine population is considered to be underprivileged and part of the low social economical class. The ones living in the major cities of Australia have been faced with a couple major problems such as unemployment and lack of good education. A study taken in 2001 showed that their population has been growing and was to continue growing at a fast rate. This is actually not uncommon and is seen in poorer areas all over the world. A main factor of this problem is the lack of education and the people who are unemployed struggle to keep their growing families out of the streets. It is a vicious cycle and it is seen more in the population living in the cities rather than those who live in the rural "outback" of Australia. 

The Aborigines in the rural areas have been trying to hold on to as much of their tradition and history as they can. They hire teachers to teach children the tradition Aboriginal languages and the history behind their people. They use technology like the TV and Radio in attempt to spread and educate about their culture but many also make a living off of selling it and bringing in profit to their people. However life is tougher for the Aborigines living in the cities. Education was once segregated but is now open to and encourages the children to attend but the majority drop out at a young age or just never go. Poor education for the Aborigines has been the source of many other problems they face today as it leads to restricted opportunities in the work force resulting in their unemployment and poverty stricken life.  

Samantha Harris is an ambassador for One Laptop per Child Australia which aims to give 300,00 laptops to primary school aged children living in remote Australia. 

Photo: One Laptop per Child Australia 

www.CreativeSpirits.info,
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Johnson, Ryan. "How Aborigines Work." 2008. Electronic document <http://people.howstuffworks.com/aborigine.htm> Accessed February 8, 2015.

Nadja, Blickle. "The present situation of Aborigines in Australia" 2000. Electronic document <http://www.grin.com/en/e-book/103958/the-present-situation-of-aborigines-in-Australia> Accessed February 8, 2015