On a per person basis, government welfare expenditure was $13,968 per Indigenous Australian, compared with $6,019 per non-Indigenous Australian in 2012–13—this equates to expenditure of $2.32 per Indigenous person for every $1.00 spent per non-Indigenous person.
Taking into account the $300 million allocated for Indigenous housing and the $177 million underspend in 2021–22, the October 2022–23 Budget provides $1.1 billion more than the March 2022–23 Budget for Indigenous Australians-related matters, averaging $4.2 billion per year over the forward estimates.
In 2018–19, the median gross adjusted household income per week among Indigenous Australians aged 18 and over was $553, after adjusting for household size and age profile.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency funds projects aimed at helping Indigenous Australians. Funding is allocated through: the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), National Partnership Agreements, Special Accounts and Special Appropriations.
The New South Wales Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme provides ex-gratia payments of $75,000 to living Stolen Generations survivors who were removed from their families and committed to the care of the New South Wales Aborigines Protection or Welfare Boards.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous holding entities don't need to pay income tax or capital gains tax on native title payments or benefits.
There are no personal loans created exclusively for Aboriginal Australians. However, government services and community organisations can provide financial advice for our First Nations people. If you want a loan to buy a home, you can learn more about Aboriginal home loans.
If you're an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian, you can access Medicare services that meet your needs. You can access better health services if you have a Medicare card and complete health checks.
The ABA receives and distributes monies generated from mining on Aboriginal land in the NT. Payments into the ABA are based on royalty equivalents that are determined by the estimated value of the statutory royalty payments.
At the end of the June quarter of 2016, around 45% of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over (220,800 people) were receiving some form of Centrelink income support payment, compared with 26% of non-Indigenous Australians of this age (4.9 million people).
Funding available
The maximum available is $2,500. This grant can be used toward: Legal fees including the administrative costs of buying a property, and preparing a will. Property valuations.
One Nation NSW has proposed to abolish self-identification and introduce a “new system” relying on DNA ancestry testing with a result requiring a finding of at least 25 per cent "Indigenous" before First Nations identification is accepted.
The Schoolkids Bonus is worth $410 for each child in primary school and $820 for each child in secondary school per year. Half is paid in January to help with back-to-school costs and half in July to help with mid-year and ongoing expenses.
NSWALC Funeral Grants
Financial assistance for funeral expenses may be available from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC). Further enquiries should be directed to NSWALC.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights and interests in land are formally recognised over around 50 per cent of Australia's land mass. Connection to land is of central importance to First Nations Australians.
But Aboriginal people are subject to the same social security laws and entitled to no more (and no less) government sponsorship than any other Australian. There has never been a government program that distributed free houses or cars, and Aboriginal students have to pay for university like everyone else.
Some NSW public dental services have specific programs for Aboriginal people. Contact your local clinic to find out more. Children 2-17 years old may also be eligible for some basic free dental care through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).
Aboriginal communities in NSW can claim land to compensate them for historic dispossession of land and to support their social and economic development. The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA) was introduced to compensate Aboriginal people in NSW for dispossession of their land.
High unemployment and lasting impacts from colonialism have caused low income in Aboriginal homes. Today, people often find that Aboriginal communities in non-rural areas live off welfare in crowded housing.
From 1 July 2023, Age Pension age will be 67 years, if you were born on or after 1 January 1957.
Letter from an Indigenous organisation or Community Elder
We prefer a letter from an Indigenous organisation to confirm your heritage. However, we will also accept a letter from a Community Elder. Use the Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent letter to confirm your heritage.
Find out what the average Aboriginal Torres Islander salary is. How much does a Aboriginal torres islander make in Australia? The average aboriginal torres islander salary in Australia is $88,918 per year or $45.60 per hour.
Many Aboriginal people who worked for white people did not receive their wages directly. Their bosses only gave them 'pocket money' while from 1897 to the late 1970s their wages were 'administered' for them by government or police authorities. In Western Australia wages were under "total government control" until 1968.
In December 1976 the federal parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. It was the first legislation in Australia that enabled First Nations peoples to claim land rights for Country where traditional ownership could be proven.