Year 10: Rights and
Freedoms (1945 - present)
An elective depth study as part of ‘The Modern World
and Australia’
The Modern World and
Australia
The Year 10 curriculum provides a study of the history of the
modern world and Australia from 1918 to the present, with
an emphasis on Australia in its global context. The twentieth
century became a critical period in Australia’s social,
cultural, economic and political development. The
transformation of the modern world during a time of political
turmoil provides a necessary context for understanding
Australia’s development, its place within the Asia-Pacific
region, and its global standing.
1. The origins and significance of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, including Australia’s
involvement in the development of the declaration –
The Four Freedoms
Watch: Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Four Freedoms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iHKtrirjlY
Other resources:
Australian Human Rights Commission (formerly HREOC)
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
United Nations
http://www.un.org/en/
2. Background to the struggle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples for rights and freedoms before 1965,
including the 1938 Day of Mourning and the Stolen
Generations
Coranderrk
The fight for Coranderrk was one of the first political
struggles for Aboriginal people in Victoria.
Watch: Episode 3 of the SBS series ‘First Australians’ –
Freedom for our Lifetime.
http://www.sbs.com.au/firstaustralians/index/index/e
pid/3
William Cooper
William Cooper was a prominent Victorian Aboriginal
activist who was a founding member of the Aborigines
Advancement League, and helped coordinate the 1938
Day of Mourning. He also led the only known public
protest against Khristallnacht.
Watch a news clip about William Cooper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8y5deS7akI
Other resources
Day of Mourning
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/
Stolen Generations
http://stolengenerationstestimonies.com/
3. The US Civil Rights movement and its influence on
Australia: 1961 US Freedom Rides
The US Civil Rights movement was a major influence
in the struggle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
rights and freedoms in Australia. In particular, the
Freedoms Rides were of great inspiration.
Watch a trailer for a documentary about the US
Freedom Rides:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8CAKAXR-AM
1965 Freedom Ride
http://www.abc.net.au/archives/80days/stories/2012/
01/19/3414788.htm
http://indigenousrights.net.au/section.asp?sID=33
Bain Attwood
4. The significance of the following for the civil rights of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:
1962 Right to Vote
http://www.aec.gov.au/Education/index.htm
1967 Referendum
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home/resources/school-resources/1967-referendum
Faith Bandler
Faith Bandler was a prominent Aboriginal woman who
worked to ensure the success of the 1967 Referendum.
Here she explains the importance of the changes for
Aboriginal people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzIMVo-_hag
http://antar.org.au/
Mabo Decision
http://www.mabonativetitle.com/theman.shtml
Eddie Mabo: First Australians
Episode 7 of the First Australians looks at the case of
Eddie Mabo. Click here to watch:
http://www.sbs.com.au/firstaustralians/index/index/e
pid/7
Bringing Them Home Report
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/bth_report/index.html
The Apology
Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Stolen Generations was
of great significance in terms of reconciliation.
http://www.youtube.com/wath?v=b3TZOGpG6cM
5. Methods used by civil rights activists to achieve change for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the role of
ONE individual or group in the struggle
Gary Foley and Black Power
Gary Foley was an active member of the 1970’s
Redfern Black Power movement. Below is a trailer from
a show he performed with Ilbiderri Theatre:
http://vimeo.com/35112588
Tent Embassy
The 1972 Tent Embassy is a great example of
Indigenous activism.
A documentary was made on the tent embassy, and is
available on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIdi1seNbA
Other Resources
Gary Foley History website
http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/indexb.html
Charles Perkins
http://charles-perkins.wikidot.com/freedom-rides
National Museum
http://indigenousrights.net.au/
6. The continuing nature of efforts to
secure rights and freedoms in Australia
and throughout the world, such as the
Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
Keating’s Redfern Speech
Paul Keating’s 1992 Redfern Speech, on the even of
the Year of the World’s Indigenous People’s, was one
of the first speeches by an Australian Prime Minister
that directly acknowledged the immense harm caused
by past government policies on Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1S4F1euzTw
Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/en
http://www.amnesty.org.au/hre/index_new/
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-foraction/protect-indigenous-rights-brazil
http://www.amnesty.org/en/how-you-can-help
Rights and Freedoms Resource
http://www.htav.asn.au/shop/id/236/cid/54/parent/
0//t/shop/title/Rights+and+Freedoms
For more information please contact HTAV or Alister
McKeich alister.mc@gmail.com