This year, Australia’s National Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Grounded in Truth: Walk Together with Courage’. But just how courageous has Australia’s Indigenous policy been, and what will it take to get it right? Will Ken Wyatt’s appointment as the first Indigenous minister for Indigenous Affairs bring the change that Australia needs? On this episode, we hear from Tony Dreise on the ups-and-downs of Indigenous policies past and present, and get his suggestions for policies for the future. We also consider government spending and whether it’s been proportionate to the levels of disadvantage felt across Indigenous communities.
\nTony Dreise is Professor of Indigenous Policy Research and Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University. He is nationally and internationally recognised as a First Nations leader in policy, evaluation, and research in the field of education.
\nOur presenters – Sharon Bessell and Martyn Pearce – also chat about New Zealand’s recent wellbeing budget and how to measure societal success. What’s more, they also reveal a new way for our listeners to win Policy Forum’s highly coveted mugs – so listen up!
\nSharon Bessell is Director of the Children’s Policy Centre at Crawford School, the ANU lead on the Individual Deprivation Measure Project, and Editor of Policy Forum’s Poverty: In Focus section.
\nMartyn Pearce is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod and the Editor of Policy Forum.
\nShow notes | The following were mentioned in this podcast:
\nNew Zealand’s wellbeing budget
\nGross Happiness National Index
\n\n\nReconciliation Week in Australia
\nIndigenous communities and wellbeing
\nThe Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
\nCentre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (ANU)
\nThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC)
\n\nRecognition of Aboriginal rights in the form of native titles
\nKevin Rudd’s national apology (2008)
\nUluru Statement from the Heart
\nPaul Keating’s Redfern Park speech
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