Indigenous Australians are those belonging to one of the ethnic groups that lived in areas on the Australian continent prior to the British colonization.
In terms of the continent, they consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples of mainland Australia and Tasmania, and the Torres Strait Islander peoples, who inhabited the archipelago of more than two hundred islands in the Torres Strait, the part of the sea between Queensland and Papua New Guinea.
The term Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is often preferred, although the terms, First Nations of Australia, First Peoples of Australia, and First Australians are also used. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2022, 91.4% identified as Aboriginal, 4.2% identified as Torres Strait Islanders, and 4.4% identified with both groups.
Although it is believed that Australia has been inhabited for 65,000 years or longer, the earliest human remains discovered were dated to around 50,000 years ago. Isolated from one another by the sea, the Australian Aboriginal peoples developed a variety of regional languages, cultures, and religious traditions.
Consequently, while there are commonalities, there are also differences between various Aboriginal communities. The 2022 census listed 167 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in use by members of the larger group, although the majority speak English or a form of Australian Aboriginal English today, which is English with Aboriginal phrases and words added for a more accurate expression.
Prior to its settlement by British and other Europeans, the Indigenous population of the continent was sparse, with numbers and distribution similar to the current population. As in the continental Americas, a large portion of Australia's Indigenous population died from disease following colonization, beginning with a smallpox epidemic. Many others were killed over land disputes.
Beginning in the 19th century and continuing to the mid-20th century, government policies removed children of mixed heritage from Aboriginal communities, further contributing to a decline in Indigenous populations.
Aboriginal Australians refers to various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, with the exception of the Torres Strait Islands. Although not all of them are distinct today, the people who first migrated to Australia formed as many as five hundred language-based groups with a shared genetic history but who have only recently been defined as a single group.
Aboriginal Australians have a variety of cultural practices and beliefs. At the time of European colonization, there were more than 250 languages and varying degrees of technology and settlements among Aboriginal Australians. Contemporary Aboriginal beliefs are a mixture of Christianity (chiefly Anglican and Catholic), as well as small numbers of various indigenous religions and practices.
Most Aboriginal Australians live in cities today, speak English, and cite Christianity as their religion, although many speak traditional languages at home.
Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, under the jurisdiction of Queensland, Australia. While ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, many of them currently live in mainland Australia and are often grouped with the Indigenous Australians.
There are five distinct groups within the wider designation of Torres Strait Islander people, based in part on geographical and cultural divisions. The two larger language groups are the Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Meriam Mir. Torres Strait Creole is often used as a language of trade. Torres Strait Islanders have an artistic culture that includes sculpture, printmaking, and mask-making.
Of the Torres Strait Islands, only 38 are currently inhabited, each of which is culturally unique. Five colonies of Torres Strait Islanders live on the coast of mainland Queensland, mostly at Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia, and Umagico.
Prior to European colonization, Torres Strait Islanders were not a homogenous group and did not consider themselves to be a single people.
Island culture is Papuo-Austronesian, and they have been traditionally agriculturalists, as well as engaging in hunting and gathering. Traditional foods play a significant role in ceremonies, even among Torres Strait Islanders who don't live on the islands.
Although Torres Strait Islanders accepted Christianity after European colonization, the new religion was integrated into their traditional beliefs and practices, continuing to uphold their connection to the land, sea, and sky.
This portion of our guide, or its subcategories, may include online resources for both Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, known collectively as Indigenous Australians.
Categories
Aboriginal Australians |
Recommended Resources
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Originally known as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse, HealthInfoNet is an Internet resource that collects, collates, interprets, and presents evidence-based information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. Its goal is to make information about Indigenous health issues accessible via the Internet to inform policy, practice, research, teaching, and general community understanding. Contacts are posted.
https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
The AIATSIS was created as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies in 1964 as an independent Australian Government statutory authority. The Institute collects, publishes, and researches topics related to Indigenous peoples within Australia. It has established itself as a leader in ethical research and the handling of culturally sensitive material. Its collections, research programs, educational material, and family history data are provided, along with an online shopping area.
https://aiatsis.gov.au/
The Aboriginal-led, supply nation registered charity is focused on achieving the social, cultural, and economic interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through expert advice, advocacy, and lived experiences. One hundred percent of its profits go back into the economic development of First Nations communities, and the organization works in partnership with its philanthropic and community partners. Its services, scholarships, testimonials, and contacts are noted.
https://firstnationseconomics.com/
The Lowitja Journal is the official journal of the Lowitja Institute, Australia's first community-controlled research institute. It is a community-controlled, international, community member, inter- and multi-disciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to expanding access to First Nations research relating to Aboriginal Australians and Torres Islanders. Topic areas include social and cultural determinants of health, medicine, epidemiology, and medical history.
https://www.lowitjajournal.org.au/
National Indigenous Australians Agency
The NIAA is an Australian public service agency of the Australian Government responsible for the coordination of policy development, program design, and service delivery to Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people, grouped under the term Indigenous Australians. Recognized communities are shown on a map and listed alphabetically. Regional offices, teaching guides, reconciliation documents, stories, postcards, and events are included, along with contacts.
https://www.indigenous.gov.au/
A print newspaper from 2002 to 2016, the Indigenous Australian newspaper is now solely an online publication. Its core editorial content is focused on Indigenous businesses, justice for Stolen Generations survivors, sports, fashion, the arts, and other cultural issues. Indigenous people, languages, and opinion columns are provided. An archive is available in PDF format for issues since October 2020. Editorial, advertising, and operations contacts are posted, along with an online contact form.
https://nit.com.au/
State Library of Queensland: First Nations
Founded in 1896, the State Library of Queensland is the most significant reference and research library in Queensland and is responsible for collecting and preserving a comprehensive collection of Queensland's cultural and documentary heritage. Visitors to the library can learn of the diversity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through photographs, manuscripts, oral histories, and digital stories at its John Oxley Library. Information about these are available online.
https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/collections/first-nations
Style Manual: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
The Australian government offers a style guide on the use of culturally appropriate and respectful language when writing about Australian First Nations people. For example, there is no single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity and authoritative guidance is in the hands of the relevant community or individual; respectful language use starts with the basics, and naming protocols are complicated, so specificity is often more respectful. Others are also included, with details provided.
https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/accessible-and-inclusive-content/inclusive-language/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples
Torres Strait Regional Authority
The TSRA is an Australian Government body established in 1994 to administer the Torres Strait Islands. Consisting of twenty elected representatives, its primary function is to strengthen the economic, social, and cultural development of the peoples of the Torres Strait area. Its organizational structure, programs, grant funding programs, tenders, and employment opportunities are set forth, along with news, an introduction to the Torres Strait, and other resources.
https://www.tsra.gov.au/
Working with Indigenous Australians
Intended for board and committee members, managers, coordinators, team leaders, and workers in human service organizations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities, the site features information to help them provide more appropriate services through a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's history, culture, and social realities. Featured are historical and cultural information, a self-study module, and practical tips.
http://www.workingwithindigenousaustralians.info/
