Australian Indigenous Ministries facts for kids

Australian Indigenous Ministries, also known as AIM, is a Christian group that helps Aboriginal Australians. It used to be called the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia. AIM started in 1905 and ran many missions across Australia. These included the Retta Dixon Home in Darwin, Northern Territory and St Clair Mission in Singleton, New South Wales.

The Aborigines Inland Mission published two monthly newsletters. They were called Our AIM and The Australian Evangel.

The organization changed its name to Australian Indigenous Ministries in 1998.

History of AIM

In November 1894, a house was built at La Perouse, near Botany Bay. A woman named Miss J. Watson lived there and started working with local Indigenous people. When she became ill in 1896, Retta Dixon took over her work.

In 1905, Retta Dixon moved to the Singleton area. This is where the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia (AIM) was officially formed. The first public meeting was held on September 11, 1905, in the Singleton Methodist Church.

Soon after, AIM was allowed to build missions in Queensland and Western Australia. Retta Dixon married Leonard Long. Around 1909, AIM opened a center at Herberton in Far North Queensland. By 1938, they had created their first training college for Indigenous people.

How AIM Was Run

By 1906, AIM had ten missionaries. Three of these were Indigenous people. Aboriginal helpers were hired whenever possible. They worked as pastors, missionaries, local assistants, deacons, and deaconesses.

AIM was special because most of its workers were women. They mainly hired young, single women. Between 1905 and 1968, 243 women worked for the group. Many of them lived in difficult conditions, similar to the Indigenous people they helped. By 1935, AIM had 50 missionaries, 20 associates, and 36 Indigenous employees.

The Australia Indigenous Mission Church was in charge of many things. This included choosing pastors and managing properties. They also oversaw a bible school in Rockhampton. This school offered short and long courses in different places. Each mission was run somewhat independently.

Retta Dixon Home

AIM started working in the Top End of Australia in the 1930s. In 1946, AIM opened the Retta Dixon Home. This was a place for Aboriginal children. It was located on the Bagot Aboriginal Reserve in Darwin.

In 2015, a special investigation looked into how institutions responded to harm against children. It found that AIM did not properly train its staff to notice or handle reports of harm to children. In 2017, 71 people received payments after an agreement was reached outside of court.

Since then, at least ten people have asked for help from the Australian Government's National Redress Scheme (NRS). This scheme was set up to help people who experienced harm in institutions as children. However, the government has not allowed Australian Indigenous Ministries (AIM) to join the NRS. This is because the government believes AIM cannot afford to pay people who make claims. There is a chance that government money could be used to help these people. This is being looked at as part of a review of the scheme. People who were harmed and AIM are also looking for ways for AIM to apologize to those who suffered at the home.

St Clair Mission

St Clair Mission was located between Muswellbrook and Singleton. Many Aboriginal groups found safety at James White's property in the 1860s. The mission was opened by Reverend James White. It was run by Baptist missionary Retta Dixon in 1893. It was set up as a church and a school. Indigenous people also farmed the land there. In 1905, Retta Dixon officially took control of St Clair.

The mission closed in 1918. It was taken over by the Aborigines Protection Board and renamed Mount Olive Reserve. In 1920, the missionaries moved out. The home was fully closed in 1923.

Singleton Aboriginal Children's Home

The Singleton home was for both girls and boys from birth up to 14 years old. The Aborigines Protection Board used it to place children who were moved from other stations and reserves. This continued until 1920.

AIM Bible Training College

The Aborigines Inland Mission Bible Training College was located in Minimbah House. It opened in 1953. It replaced an earlier training college. Its goal was to provide Baptist ministry training for Indigenous teenagers and young people from all over Australia. It closed in 1973.

AIM's Beliefs

AIM's beliefs were based on Protestant Christianity. They were generally conservative and focused on evangelical ideas. They believed in being nonconformist, that the bible was most important, and in personal salvation.

AIM did not get involved with groups that took children who became part of the Stolen Generations. Their main focus was on helping people find salvation and understand the Bible. They wanted to help those who were "eager to read God's word."

The main goal of AIM was to help people find salvation and learn more about the Bible. They especially focused on preaching, teaching, and living by God's word. AIM believed that teaching life skills, improving health and education, and helping people resist bad influences would create a stronger Aboriginal Christian community. Some missionaries taught classes to create Indigenous Christian followers. Other missionaries walked around communities, visiting small groups and families. Some walked thousands of kilometers each year.

Retta Dixon said that in the first 30 years of the organization (up to 1935), they had helped 11,000 people. They had 35 centers, 100 smaller outposts, and 106 "agents at work."

AIM Today

The organization changed its name to Australian Indigenous Ministries in 1998.

Today, Australian Indigenous Ministries is a Christian group that works with different churches. It continues to provide ministries to Aboriginal Australians.

Locations of AIM Missions

Australian Indigenous Ministries had several important locations. These included Longs' Children, St Clair Mission, Singleton House, Native Workers' Training, and the Singleton Bible Training Institute. Missionaries were placed in big centers like Darwin and Alice Springs. They also worked in Aboriginal communities and outback towns.

The Orphan House opened on August 14, 1907. It was moved to another organization in 1918 and closed in 1923.

Mission stations were set up in the following places:

New South Wales

Northern Territory

• Parap

Queensland

South Australia

• Port Augusta
• Tarcoola

Western Australia

• Bassendean