The reconciliation process between Indigenous and white Australians may begin with an understanding of how and why racial attitudes are formed, a University of Queensland survey has revealed.
The Aussie Attitudes survey, conducted by UQ PhD student Fiona Barlow, found many white Australians hoped for reconciliation, but fears of intercultural rejection prevented some from joining the fight against racism.
"This is an important start, as it allows us to find out what factors underlie prejudice and discrimination in our country," Ms Barlow said.
"Intergroup relations in Australia define what sort of country and people we are and need to be examined and addressed."
In another study, Ms Barlow identified a positive correlation between Aboriginal history education levels among white Australians and attitudes toward their Indigenous counterparts.
A collaborative 2007 study found New Zealanders considered both white and Maori faces representational of what it meant to be a 'New Zealander', whereas non-Indigenous Australians associated only white faces with the Australian identity.
"Given that Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for at least 62,000 years and are Australian citizens (although citizenship was only achieved in 1967), it is clear that these results did not bode well for intergroup relations," Ms Barlow said.
In yet another study, questionnaires were distributed before and after the Rudd government's Stolen Generation apology to assess the impact of government attitudes on public opinion.
"Attitudes tend to change and correspond with those of governing bodies and after the apology people were feeling more emotional overall: more hopeful, but anxious too," she said.
Ms Barlow's intergroup relations studies were motivated by her rural Queensland upbringing and perceived responsibility as a white Australian.
"Once we start talking about race and racism, we can find common ground and begin to make changes and move forward," Ms Barlow said.
"As members of the group that perpetrates most of this racism, non-Indigenous Australians are in a great position to change or reduce it."
Ms Barlow's PhD is in the field of social psychology and her studies are conducted in consultation with the UQ Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
To become involved in Ms Barlow's latest survey, Australians Have Their Say, or to find out more about postgraduate studies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, please click on the links provided or contact the UQ's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit on (07) 3365 6699.
Media: Melanie Sullivan at UQ Communications (0439 366 001).
