A Diverse and Multicultural Population

Published on May 1 2014

Before the British colonies came to Australia in 1770 Australia was inhabited by the indigenous people, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, sometimes referred to as the First Australians. The Aborigines lived in all of Australia and the Torres Strait Islanders lived in what is now called the Torres Strait, islands between Australia and Papua New Guinea. At that time there were about 500 different "nations" around the continent with distinct cultures, languages and beliefs.

When the British colonies arrived in Australia they started treating the Aboriginal citizens very badly. They were dispossessed of their land, marginalized, despised for their culture and also murdered. But, the most notorious of all australian policies must have been what has become known as the Stolen Generations.. Under several state programs that continued until the 1970's, the government removed Aboriginal children from their families to send them to white families and church-run institutions for cultural reprogramming. Even though this generation was educated to become domestic servants and farm laborers, they were taken away from their families and of course their culture.

During the few years there have been improvements. A change in the administration led to a national apology from the government to the Stolen Generations, and the whole country celebrates a day called Sorry Day. Kevin Rudd in 2008 gave a speech addressed toward the Aborigines to apologize for the pas mistreatments that they suffered. The Australian government wants to turn a new page on Australia's history.

Today, Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the world. One out of four Australian residents were not born in australia. Many are first and second generation Australians. This wide variety of backgrounds have helped create a special identity and spirits.