The Australian Reconciliation Barometer (ARB) is the only survey undertaken in Australia that measures the progress of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. The ARB is a national research study conducted by Reconciliation Australia every two years.
The 2020 ARB shows that the global and local Black Lives Matter movements have challenged experiences and understanding of racism in Australia.
The Barometer shows that over 90% of Australians place high importance on the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
The Australian Reconciliation Barometer 2020 reminds us all that reconciliation takes action.
To Read the 2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer Summary and full reports click here.
Summary statistics:
- 95% of the general community and 94% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people believe it is important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a say in matters that affect them.
- 81% of the general community (77% in 2018) 88% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (86% in 2018) believe it is important to protect an Indigenous Body within the Constitution, so it can’t be removed by any government.
- 86% of the general community and 91% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people believe it is important to establish a representative Indigenous Body.
- 52% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people have experienced at least one form of racial prejudice in the past 6 months(43% in 2018).
- 60% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander respondents agree that Australia is a racist country(51% in 2020). 43% of respondents in the general community also agree with this statement (38% in 2018).
- 89% of the general community and 93% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples believe it is important to undertake formal truth-telling processes in relation to Australia’s shared history.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people in the general community, generally believe more must be done by government departments to close the gap in outcomes for health, justice, and employment: in Health: 60% general community 73% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; in Justice: 62% general community, 71% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; and in Employment: 57% general community, 64% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
