Aboriginal people fiercely resisted the theft of their land. Without the land, their culture and traditions of Aboriginal people were severely limited. Surviving Aboriginals were taken as slaves to be nurses, maids, kitchen hands, stockmen and the children adopted out to be raised in the European way. Their wages were often paid in goods such as beef, flour, tea or tobacco and the conditions were harsh.
3.3 In Australia's most recent census, 353 000 people (two per cent of the total Australian population) chose to identify themselves as aboriginal. When the first Europeans arrived in Australia in 1788, estimates placed the total number of Aboriginal people in the land at approximately that same figure around 350 000. It has taken over 200 years for the number of Aboriginal people in Australia to return to what it was before European occupation. In the same time, the number of non-Aboriginal people in Australia has increased from a few hundred to many millions. As you can see many facts and figures show the hardship that most Aboriginal people have suffered and still face today. Time has improved many things but still with less access to education than other groups within the Australian population, they tend to have fewer opportunities to achieve economic independence and their health being numbered the worst rate in this country. Racism is a significant problem that continues to disadvantage many aboriginal people. It is often a major factor in a lack of success in education. .
4.0 Present Assistance.
4.1 There are many organisations and centres available today. Aboriginals now have a Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous Land Corporation, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous Education and a Health system in place. In 1971 Harold Thomas designed a flag, to celebrate Aboriginal consciousness and pride in their culture, the flag symbolises Aboriginal people and their culture.
4.2 The first National Sorry day took place on 26th May 1998, one year after the report into the stolen generations (the report of National Inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families "Bringing Them Home") was released.