Question:
There has been a fraught history between Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and others in Australia since 1788.
Choose one policy and one related practice and write an analytical essay that considers the impact of this policy and practice in the location of Aboriginal Peoples in Australia – both historically and in contemporary terms.
What is the Question asking?
‘Choose a policy and a related practice’:
i) Context and what they are – remember to make the distinction between ‘policy’ and ‘practice’ – they are not the same thing (eg. Policy of assimilation; practice of forcible removal – Stolen Generations);
ii) Ongoing impact (how it did and does affect Aboriginal Peoples;
iii) A couple of improvements to redress the impact.
The challenge is that you only have 2000 words (10 – 12 references using Harvard Referencing). It is a research essay also so use third person.
You have to cover a fair amount and the risk is that you may end up ‘speed dating’ the issues.
I would suggest you choose one policy, connecting it to legislation (for example ‘Protection Act’ and then one policy of it (eg. Segregation or assimilation) and then a practice (eg. Forcible removal of children or institutionalisation or restriction in education etc). This gives you more scope to ‘drill’ down and provide analysis (which is what the essay is actually asking you for).
Again, when you consider impacts, be careful to include relevant material only, and consider perhaps looking at only a few because there is so much material and you really don’t have the space. And perhaps only one or two improvements to redress because you really don’t have the space to cover everything (less things but you can go ‘deeper’, if this makes sense).
‘Location’ in this sense means the relative level of disadvantage, disempowerment and marginalisation that Aboriginal Peoples continue to experience.
Finally you need to show the relationship between policy – practice – impact, so be logical and sequence accordingly.
Don’t forget to proof-read your work and include Indigenous authors and voices – it helps to bring an authenticity to your work.