Government provides information about payments to Aboriginal audiences
An article published by the Aborigines Welfare Board explained Widow Pension and Old-age Pension in simpler language than earlier government ads.
This guide to entitlement to widows’ pensions was prepared by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services ... These pensions are paid to widows and other women who satisfy certain conditions.
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In 1967, the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board published information about federal government payments in their magazine, Dawn.
Dawn was a state government publication for Aboriginal people. Most of the content supported policies of assimilation. Issues included personal stories and photographs of Aboriginal people from across New South Wales to appeal to its audience.
The information in this piece was from the Department of Social Services and outlined eligibility and payment rates for Widow Pension and Old-age Pension. They explained how to apply and how the means tests worked.
Although the information is one of the earliest examples of government communicating with an Aboriginal audience, the language and examples aren’t specific to Aboriginal people. This is reflective of the broader government policy of assimilation, expecting Aboriginal people to adjust to one ‘Australian way of life’.
In contrast, the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders had used specific information about Aboriginal people’s unique circumstances when communicating to their audience in the Yinjilli leaflet.
Another example of generic government communication is in a Western Australian Government brochure from the same year. Its only distinguishing feature was an illustration on the cover of an Aboriginal family.
The NSW Aborigines Welfare Board published Dawn from 1915 to 1969. Dawn didn’t talk about social services often, however, in a March 1960 article they claimed the board had been advocating for Aboriginal people to be eligible for government payments for many years.
Full issues of Dawn are available on the AIATSIS website.
Permissions
Permissions to reproduce these excerpts from Dawn were granted by AIATSIS and NSW Aboriginal Affairs in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Citation
Aborigines Welfare Board (July 1967) ‘Widows Pension’, pp 7–9, Dawn.
Aborigines Welfare Board (September 1967) ‘Widows Pension’, pp 8–10, Dawn.