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working with aboriginal people at redfern
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Seventeen years of working with Aboriginal people at Redfern, became for me a microcosm of Aboriginal issues nationwide.
Pinpointing just two examples among many: In the small, four street area known as the Block, young people become progressively lost in the prevailing drug culture, having first 'lost' educational opportunities for multiple reasons.
Incidents of child abuse mirror what is happening in many Aboriginal communities, such as Cherbourg in Queensland.
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These two issues, born of historic and horrific colonial injustice still present immense barriers to the well being of these gifted people.
Racism is insidious and on-going. Discrimination, prejudice and institutional racism is widespread, impeding personal and community development. Perhaps the most hurtful of these attitudes on the part of non-Aboriginals is the benign racism of those who want to `help`. Here, the indigenous person is treated as an object of sympathy, a welfare recipient. Things are beginning to change, however, as Aboriginal leaders stand up and organise effective strategies to address such issues as above. Two heartening examples are that of Linda Burney, the first indigenous woman in NSW parliamentary history and Ms Scrymgour, the first indigenous woman in a ministry ( Northern Territory). Another example is that of Vickie Walker and Carol Messer who initiated the `Opening the Doors` Foundation. As part of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Melbourne, this Foundation will enable Aboriginal children and young people to pursue their education due to the financial assistance it generates.
The role of a non indigenous friend is that of support and encouragement of such initiatives. But above and beyond all that is to recognise and respect the evident qualities of these people, and to form a relationship of equality and mutual trust in and through the Heart of our God. These are goals and ideals of the Redfern community at Caroline Street.
Patricia Ormesher, rscj
Province of Australia - New Zealand