Outstation (Aboriginal community) facts for kids

An outstation or homeland is a very small community of Aboriginal Australian people. These communities are often in remote areas. People living there are usually connected by family ties. They live on land that is important to them, often their traditional land.

The outstation movement or homeland movement is when Aboriginal people chose to move from towns back to these smaller, remote places. This happened mostly in the 1970s and 1980s. People moved to live more independently and keep their culture strong. Governments sometimes supported these moves. People often saw improvements in their health and happiness after moving. This showed how important it was for people to make their own choices and stay connected to their land.

The Outstation Movement: A New Start

The outstation movement began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Aboriginal people created these small, remote communities. They moved from towns where the government had tried to make them live like non-Indigenous Australians. This move was about taking back control of their lives and becoming self-sufficient.

Outstations were also called "homelands." The term "outstation" suggests a connection to a main town but with some independence. Aboriginal people created outstations because they wanted to decide how to live their lives. They did not want to be controlled by government or markets. This was a way for remote Aboriginal Australians to have more self-determination, meaning they could make their own decisions.

People chose to live in outstations for many reasons:

• To protect sacred sites and stay connected to their ancestors and traditional lands.
• To live off the land, using its resources.
• To avoid social problems that were common in larger towns.

Government Support and Changes

Government support for outstations changed over time. In the 1970s and 1980s, governments supported these moves. They saw benefits for people's health and well-being. They also saw that it helped maintain culture and connection to country, which is very important to Aboriginal people. This policy of spreading people out came with new ideas about self-determination and land rights. Governments realized that earlier policies of trying to make Aboriginal people live like others had not worked.

For about 30 years, the federal government helped fund outstations. Even without a clear policy, the number of outstations grew, especially in the Northern Territory.

Outstations are very diverse:

• Most are small family groups.
• A few have more than 100 people.
• Some are only lived in during certain seasons or rarely.
• People often move between outstations and larger towns.
• Some outstations have successful local economies. They might have arts centers, jobs as Indigenous rangers, or gather food from nature. Others rely on government support.

What Are They Called?

The names for these communities have changed over time and in different areas. In 2009, the Northern Territory Government said that "Homelands" was the preferred name in some areas. But they also said that "Outstations" and "Homelands" could be used to mean the same thing.

The Northern Territory still uses the term Homeland Learning Centres for special schools in these small communities.

The 1987 Blanchard Report

In 1987, a government committee looked into the lives of Aboriginal people in homeland centers or outstations. This committee was led by Allen Blanchard.

On May 14, 1987, the committee released its report, called Return to country: the Aboriginal homelands movement in Australia. This report formally recognized how important outstations were. It defined homelands as "small communities of close family members." These communities were set up when Aboriginal people moved to land that was important to them culturally and economically.

The Blanchard report said that the definition of homelands should include:

• Recognizing the importance of Aboriginal people returning to their traditional country.
• A clear difference between homelands and larger settlements, missions, or reserves.
• Recognizing the traditional connection to the land and ancestral spirits.
• Describing homelands as permanent, traditional home territories.

The report made 58 recommendations. These aimed to improve the economic security of outstations and increase the services available to people living there. At this time, everyone recognized the good effects of outstations on people's quality of life.

Changes in the 1990s and 2000s

Funding outstations became very expensive. As government ideas changed, some saw the funding as a waste of money. Health services were not always good enough, and job training was not funded. By the 1990s, problems with spreading services out to many tiny communities became clear. It was very expensive to deliver services to remote places with few ways for people to earn their own money.

From 1990, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) mostly funded outstations. Small organizations based in a main community, called Outstation Resource Centres (ORAs), provided services.

In 1997, ATSIC asked for a review. At that time, about 12,000 Indigenous Australians lived in about 1,000 outstations. The review aimed to reduce waste and improve efficiency. However, politicians often criticized the funding. There were examples of waste, like new houses built in empty places. But there were also many successful and well-run communities. The review aimed to improve how ORAs were funded and managed. But by this time, the costs of running outstations were very high, and political support was decreasing.

From 2004, there was a big change in how states and the federal government funded outstations. John Howard's government abolished ATSIC in 2005. In 2007, during the Northern Territory National Emergency Response (often called "The Intervention"), the Howard government gave responsibility for outstations back to the Northern Territory. This meant outstations continued to be underfunded.

The Northern Territory then developed a new policy called "Working Future" in 2009. This policy focused on delivering support and services to 20 larger Aboriginal communities in the NT, called "Territory Growth Towns." These towns would get federal funding. This ended the 20-year commitment to supporting homelands that began after the Blanchard review in 1987.

By 2009, there were 560 small communities in the NT. Most had fewer than 100 people. They are almost all on Aboriginal-owned land, which covers a huge area of about 500,000 square kilometers.

In May 2009, the Northern Territory Government said it "values the contribution of outstations and homelands." They outlined new ways to deliver services. They also introduced a new way to share limited government money. This was in line with federal government policy. The NT said it would continue to support existing outstations where people lived for at least 8-9 months a year and had fresh drinking water. But residents had to "commit to increasing self-sufficiency" (meaning becoming more independent). While they didn't stop Aboriginal people from creating new communities, these new ones would have to be self-funded. They would continue to support Homeland Learning Centres and schools.

The Australian Human Rights Commission's 2009 Social Justice Report criticized the government's funding cuts. It said that if governments did not support homelands, it would lead to more social and economic problems in towns. This could make Indigenous disadvantage and poverty worse. In 2009, about 81% of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory lived in remote communities.

The report recommended that the Australian and Northern Territory Governments:

• Review the "Working Future" policy with leaders from homeland communities.
• Develop future homeland policies with leaders from homeland communities.
• Provide funding and support for homeland communities in all states and territories.

Outstations Today

In 2013, NT politician Alison Anderson said that 10,000 people lived on 520 homelands. This was about 25% of the remote Indigenous population of the NT. She spoke about the benefits of homelands, like better health and social harmony. She said her government was committed to providing homeland residents with the same services as other NT residents, "within reason."

In December 2014, the Government of Western Australia said it would stop funding 150 remote communities because it lacked money.

As of 2018, there were about 1,200 outstations in Australia. They are seen as important for keeping culture, language, and relationships strong. This helps with the health and well-being of Indigenous people.

Present and Future

Small communities still exist today. They might not always be called "outstations" because they are not part of a federal program. "Settlements" is a more common term now. They survive on one-time grants for things like Indigenous businesses or environmental protection (Indigenous Protected Areas). They also get private money from residents or royalties from mining on their land.

As of September 2020, there were around 500 homelands in the Northern Territory. About 10,000 people live in 2,400 homes there. The Northern Territory Government helps these homelands through its Homelands Program. It funds groups that provide housing maintenance, basic town services, and essential services like water and power. However, there was concern that many remote schools and other services were not getting enough money.

In 2015, the then Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Adam Giles, agreed that his government would take "full responsibility" for delivering services to homelands. This was in exchange for a one-time payment of $155 million.

In October 2021, the NT Government asked the federal government to build and upgrade homes faster. Housing in some homelands, like Emu Point, was in such bad condition and so crowded that residents were living in tents.

Examples of Outstations

The Blanchard report mentioned many outstations. Here are some examples:

Northern Territory

Most outstations were and still are in the Northern Territory.

• Docker River, Northern Territory
• Hermannsburg, Northern Territory
• Maningrida, Northern Territory
• Utopia, Northern Territory

Queensland

• Various communities near Aurukun, Weipa, Doomadgee, and on Mornington Island.

South Australia

• Pipalyatjara, South Australia
• Mimili, South Australia
• Kaltjiti, South Australia (Used to be known as Fregon)
• Pukatja, South Australia (Used to be known as Ernabella)

Western Australia

• Warmun Community, Western Australia (Used to be known as Turkey Creek)
• Balgo, Western Australia
• Halls Creek, Western Australia
• Warakurna
• Wanarn