Indigenous heart patients disadvantaged
Indigenous Australians are 40 per cent less likely to receive diagnostic procedures for heart disease while in hospital than their non-indigenous counterparts, a conference has been told.
The disparity of care was staggering, said Traven Lea, manager of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program for the National Heart Foundation.

SMH, May 6, 2007

Aboriginal brothers recognised for unprecedented military service
Four Aboriginal brothers from south-western Victoria could hold a unique place in the military history of the British Empire. The chief historian at the Imperial War Museum in London says there is no known precedent for the war service record of the Lovett brothers, who served in both world wars. Frederick, Leonard, Edward and Herbert Lovett from Lake Condah saw action in France and Palestine during World War I. All re-enlisted and served in World War II, despite being in their 40s and 50s.

ABC News, May 5, 2007

Court action starts against fed govt over mine expansion
A group of traditional land owners has begun legal action against the federal government over the expansion of the Northern Territory's largest zinc mine. The Northern Land Council (NLC) mounted the challenge against former federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell, claiming he failed to take into account mandatory considerations and follow mandatory procedures.

National Indigenous Times, May 4, 2007

New Indigenous housing scheme launched in NT
The Federal Government has launched a new Aboriginal housing scheme where families will be offered a Government loan if they can prove they'll be able to make repayments. Under the scheme, families will rent their new houses for two years and if payments are kept up they'll be eligible for the loan.

Lateline, May 3, 2007

Aboriginal health '100 years behind' other Australians
The standard of health of Aborigines lags almost 100 years behind that of other Australians, with some indigenous people still suffering from leprosy, rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis, according to a report for the World Health Organisation.

Guardian Unlimited, May 1, 2007

Black and white issues unite foes
They entered the world in the same week - and their parents hope and dream each will have a long and happy life. But the hard truth is that these two healthy infant boys, born two days apart in Alice Springs hospital, are already divided by the colour of their skin. While each can assume better living standards than their parents' generation, little Lachlan Williams, can expect to live to 77 years of age. Thane Sampson, the official statistics say, will be lucky to celebrate his 60th birthday. Despite the approach of the 40th anniversary of the referendum that began the reconciliation process, little has changed in the life expectancy of the indigenous community. But there is a renewed political momentum to tackle the problems of indigenous disadvantage.

The Australian, May 5, 2007

The stage is set for closing the gap
"Forty years of reconciliation can at best be described as having mixed outcomes. If reconciliation is about developing a relationship that works between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, if it's about ending indigenous disadvantage, we have certainly not achieved it. The social statistics are almost too well known to need repeating, but the 17-year gap in life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous children tells us that we, the most prosperous of nations, are the worst performers of all settler societies in addressing this challenge. In education, employment, health, rates of imprisonment, as well as sexual and social violence, the position is totally unacceptable. On the other hand, it's important in this anniversary year that we recognise and build on developments that could not have been imagined 40, or even 20, years ago."
Mick Dodson and Fred Chaney.

The Australian, May 5, 2007

1967 Referendum 40th Anniversary
website aims to provide a comprehensive range of resources which enable Australian students, teachers and the general public to understand the history and personalities behind the 1967 referendum, and to consider the significance and consequences of the vote. The site offers a number of learning trails which take the viewer through various aspects of the event. The trails contain material from a diversity of authoritative reference sources. Trails are designed to be appropriate for different levels, from primary through to secondary, and all are relevant to many areas of school curriculums across Australia. Each trail is marked with a language level to make appropriate selection easy. The site was created by MacquarieNet in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia.

www.macnet.mq.edu.au

Awaye!
is produced and presented by Aboriginal broadcasters and is Australia's only national Indigenous arts and culture program. Awaye! covers music, arts, spirituality, politics, dance, literature, theatre - in short, the healthy and vibrant diversity of Aboriginal culture across the country. Awaye! is also a showcase for features and documentaries produced by indigenous people overseas, including Maori, Polynesian, native American and South African broadcasters. This week's program, "The Gunditjmara Garrison", examines the war service record of four brothers and asks: could the Gunditjmara Lovett brothers hold a unique place in Allied military history? Past Awaye! programs can be downloaded from the program's website.

Radio National, Saturday @ 6:00 pm, repeated Monday @ 3:00 pm

"In regard to the Aboriginal people of your land, there is still much to be achieved. Their social situation is cause for much pain. I encourage you and the government to continue to address with compassion and determination the deep underlying causes of their plight. Commitment to truth opens the way to lasting reconciliation through the healing process of asking for forgiveness and granting forgiveness - two indispensable elements for peace. In this way our memory is purified, our hearts are made serene, and our future is filled with a well-founded hope in the peace which springs from truth."

Pope Benedict XVI's address to new ambassador of Australia to the Holy See, May 2006