Following the 2023 Social Justice Statement, this years message for the Feast of St Joseph the Workerhighlights the ongoing disparity and discrimination facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workforce.
For those wishing to learn more of these challenges, a supplementary set of case studies, suggested prayers and actions are available.
Inequality Facing Indigenous Australian Workers
Last year, The Bishops of Australia issued their Social Justice Statement Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, highlighting the systemic dispossession facing Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, and calling for a new way forward that respects their dignity and cultural heritage.
These are challenges that Indigenous Australians have faced for generations, and efforts to address the significant gaps between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians have met with middling success. Disparity in employment remains one of the key indicators of efforts to close the gap, and a driving factor affecting social, economic, and health outcomes.
The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker emphasizes the dignity of labor and the importance of work in the life of an individual, as exemplified by Saint Joseph’s dedication to his craft as a carpenter.
Historical Context
To comprehend the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the contemporary workforce, it is imperative to acknowledge the historical injustices that have shaped their experiences. Colonization, dispossession of land, forced removal of children (the Stolen Generations), and discriminatory policies have had enduring impacts on Indigenous communities.
By recognizing and working in partnership with First Nations Peoples in addressing these challenges, we can strive towards a future where Indigenous individuals have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in their chosen careers.
Please click here to Read More…
‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it’
(Gen 2:15)
