Australian Indigenous Ministries facts for kids

Australian Indigenous Ministries, once known as Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia (both called AIM), is a Christian group that helps Aboriginal Australians. It was started in 1905. AIM ran many missions across Australia, like the Retta Dixon Home in Darwin, Northern Territory and St Clair Mission in Singleton, New South Wales.

AIM used to publish two monthly newsletters: Our AIM and The Australian Evangel. In 1998, the organisation changed its name to Australian Indigenous Ministries.

History of AIM

In November 1894, a Christian group built a house in La Perouse, near Botany Bay. A woman named Miss J. Watson started working with local Indigenous people there. When she left in 1896, Retta Dixon took over.

In 1905, Retta Dixon moved to the Singleton area. This is where the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia (AIM) officially began. 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. Around 1909, AIM set up a centre in Herberton, 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, including three Indigenous people. They hired Aboriginal assistants whenever they could. These assistants worked as pastors, missionaries, local helpers, 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 AIM. Many of them lived simply, much like 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 things like choosing pastors and managing properties. They also oversaw a bible school in Rockhampton that offered different courses. Each mission worked on its own.

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, located on the Bagot Aboriginal Reserve in Darwin.

St Clair Mission

St Clair Mission was located between Muswellbrook and Singleton, in a place called Carrowbrook. Many Aboriginal groups found safety on James White's land in the 1860s. Reverend James White opened the mission, and Baptist missionary Retta Dixon ran it from 1893. It was a church and a school, and Indigenous people farmed the land. In 1905, 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. Missionaries left in 1920, and the home closed in 1923.

Singleton Aboriginal Children's Home

The Singleton Aboriginal Children's Home looked after both girls and boys from birth up to 14 years old. The Aborigines Protection Board used this home to place children who were moved from other stations and reserves until 1920.

AIM Bible Training College

The Aborigines Inland Mission Bible Training College was in Minimbah House. It opened in 1953. This college replaced the Native Workers' Training College. Its goal was to train Indigenous teenagers and young people from all over Australia for Christian ministry. It closed in 1973.

What AIM Believed

AIM's beliefs were based on Protestant teachings. They had a generally conservative and evangelical view. They focused on being nonconformist, believing the Bible was most important, and that personal salvation was key.

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 "God's word."

The main goal of AIM was to help people find salvation and learn more about the Bible. They focused on preaching, teaching, and living by the word of God. AIM believed that teaching life skills, improving health and education, and helping people resist bad influences would build stronger Aboriginal Christian communities. Some missionaries taught, while others walked thousands of kilometres each year to visit small groups and families in communities.

Retta Dixon said that by 1935, after 30 years, AIM had helped 11,000 people spiritually. They had 35 centres, 100 smaller outposts, and 106 workers.

AIM Today

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

Today, Australian Indigenous Ministries is a Christian group that helps Aboriginal Australians in various ways.

Locations of AIM Missions

Australian Indigenous Ministries had several locations, including Longs' Children, St Clair Mission, Singleton House, Native Workers' Training, and the Singleton Bible Training Institute. Missionaries worked in big cities like Darwin and Alice Springs, or in Aboriginal communities and outback towns.

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

Here are some places where AIM set up mission stations:

New South Wales

Northern Territory

• Parap

Queensland

South Australia

• Port Augusta
• Tarcoola

Western Australia

• Bassendean