Design Practice 3A: Redfern Health and Fitness Centre

RESEARCH TOPIC 6: Try to discover various perspectives on what it might be like for an Aboriginal Elder living in Redfern

Redfern is widely regarded as the indigenous heart of Sydney.
It is the first place many of the now elders had arrived at when entering Sydney
Now faces a number of social issues and economic problems

The Role of Elders

Traditional Times

Traditionally an elder was an elder male of an extended family group who was appointed by initiation and ceremony.
Elder was a respected and select title and their knowledge and decisions were not questioned or debated
Elders were looked up to for his wisdom, knowledge, leadership and counsel on day-to-day issues and spiritual matters.
Also seen as keepers of the history, which they passed down through storytelling and sacred ritual.

Today

The modern urban context has challenged the traditional social structure of Aboriginal social groups.
No members of the original Gadigal people are known to be living in Redfern. There are many different tribes living in Redfern and as a result of their diverse origins and the lack of traditional claim the community has been unable to come to universally supported decision about their leadership. This has led to community fragmentation and infighting about standing within the community
In Urban context, initiation and ritual ceremonies are no longer performed and elders are recognised through age.
When asked about the role of leadership within the Redfern community, a local, Bronwyn, summed up the problem in the question “who is an elder and who is just old?”. She identified this as one of the key issues that the community would have to resolve in order to have more effective leadership.
While there is still some level of respect among the younger generations it is not as great as it was traditionally. Many of the decision making for the community has been taken out of the hands of the elders by the wider society and social problems such as drugs and crime have a much stronger control on a disengaged youth as much knowledge is less relevant in an urban context. A elderly couple Lin and Max comments “We try and teach them (the younger generation) but they don’t always listen.”
Also while there is still some respect within the community little comes from those outside the Aboriginal community.

Families and Housing

Traditionally Aboriginal people live in kin groups that moved within their lands. Kinship system were essential to physical, psychological and emotional survival in traditional society. They provided “powerful regulatory framework for individual identity, stable relationships and group cohesion.”
As opposed to non-Indigenous society Aboriginal elders are much more likely to live with their extended kin groups.
About 66% of the Redfern Indigenous population live in extended family units. With approximately 72% of Indigenous couples having children as oppose to only 34% of Redfern’s non-Indigenous couples.

According to the Social Plan (AHC 2001) ‘the existing 2-3 bedroom terrace houses [of the Block] are over 100 years old and are inappropriate for an average Indigenous family requiring 4 bedrooms or more. Presently, the houses are unhealthy with suspended floors that encourage cockroaches, fleas and rats, lack of cross ventilation exacerbating respiratory problems, as well as a lack of sunlight to disinfect and fight mould.’
Most Indigenous people in Redfern are identified as low income earners and as a result this makes it even more difficult for Elders to secure adequate accommodation for their whole family group and as a result kin are often separated.

Q: What kind of family group do you live with?

A: Bronwyn – “Up until last year when my mother died there were four generations living together in our house”

Q: Is this typical of families in the Redfern area?

A; Bronwyn – “Yeah, quite common”

Q: What role do elder members of families have?

A: Bronwyn – “With people getting mixed up with drugs and jail grandparents are forced to bring up the grand children. This is happening with at least two families on the Block at the moment.”

Q: What is it like for elders and having adequate housing?

A: Bronwyn: “Many people like me have loans for housing but when you are looking after a family and there are problems with maintenance we can’t afford it and for some this means that they can lose their house cause they can’t afford to maintain it.”

Law and Order

High crime and jail rates have further fragmented the Redfern Community.
There is also a view that the police are insensitive and hold racist attitudes towards Aboriginal people.

Q: Do you think the block has become better of worse during recent times?

A: Lin and Max – “ Worse. There used to be houses all around here but they have been knocked down. Now it’s all about drugs. The police drive around this all the time, always arresting people. Its harassment I tell ya.”

Q: What Major concerns do you have about the area?

A: Clarence- “The police. There are about 100 extra police in Redfern and they are always going around arresting people…none of them police care…they just want to arrest people, push us around and steal our money.”

Health and Welfare

Aboriginal people have a much higher mortality rates than non-Indigenous people.
The elder population is much smaller within the indigenous community than the wider community.
Only 2.6% of Indigenous population over 65yrs whereas 12% on the non-Indigenous population. (1996 Census)
Recently more facilities had been created to accommodate the needs of Indigenous people including the construction of the Medical Centre, Community Centre and Elders Centre.

Group members:

Henry Han Chuan Huang200321411

Sha Li200415771

Chang Liu200410413

Kate Elizabeth Devine200321009

Bibliography:

Pemulwuy Reconstruction Project: Community Social Plan, 2001, Angela Pitts

1996 census