2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer

Summary

The Australian Reconciliation Barometer (ARB) is a national research study that looks at the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, and how perceptions affect progress towards reconciliation.

The ARB measures attitudes towards reconciliation, using the five dimensions of reconciliation—race relations, equality and equity, unity, institutional integrirty, and historical acceptance—to inform data collection and analysis.

The 2020 ARB surveyed a national sample of 495 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and 1988 general community members, across all states and territories.

Both the general community sample and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sample are weighted to be representative in terms of age group, gender and location (state and territory populations), as per Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census data.

The 2020 report shows that:

  • As in previous years, almost all Australians–Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and general community members–believe the relationship between each other is important
  • The desire to become a more reconciled nation has increased, with more Australians knowing what they can do to help
  • Experiences of racial prejudice by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have increased in the last year. The feeling that media portrayal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is usually negative has continued to be high.
2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer Cover

2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, Full Report File size: 2 MB

2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer Cover

2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, Summary Report File size: 2 MB

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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