2000s

Jimmy Little creates the Jimmy Little Foundation to support Indigenous people with kidney disease. He still sings and performs at many national events. (V42), V42,’The city’s full of opportunities’)

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs in the Faculty of Education is awarded the UTS, Equity Social Justice and Human Rights Award for their work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education.

The Koori Centre, University of Sydney offers a block mode course for regional NSW Indigenous students. The Diploma in Education (Aboriginal) is a 2 year course which offers students education skills training. The Diploma in Education articulates directly into the Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Aboriginal Studies).

The Tribal Warrior Association is formed to train Aboriginal people in Master class in Commercial Maritime Certificate and Marine engineering and Radar Certificate. The Tribal Warrior uses a Gaff rigged ketch Deerrubun to train on. They run harbour cruises and culture tours around Sydney Harbour. (V46, ‘Tribal Warrior Harbour Cruises’)

'Wuganmagulya’ (Farm Cove), an artwork created by Brenda Croft, is opened by the Lord Mayor Frank Sartor in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Croft speaks at the opening ceremony, ‘I did this work for the people of this place, Warrang/Werang, which has become known as Sydney. For the people of this place. You cannot live here respectfully if you do not acknowledge who inhabited the space before you. You also have to think about those who will come after you, and realise the impact of your actions on them.’ (Heiss, 28-31)

Angela Pitts concludes that the new millennium has concluded three decades of failed planning attempts at the Block. The PC sets out new ways to develop the Block including creating a cultural project precinct that can attract Aboriginal cultural tourism.

Anthony Mundine is named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person of the Year, after converting to Islam in 1999. Until becoming a professional boxer he plays football for St George-Illawarra Dragons. Among his accomplishments are professional super-middleweight class boxer, 2001-; world title holder, 2003. http://www.answers.com/topic/anthony-mundine#ixzz1RHa8qYy0

Ten people including Isabel Coe use rowing boats to storm the fences of Cockatoo Island. Coe states, ‘Claiming Cockatoo Island for Aboriginal people', they then set up an Aboriginal Tent Embassy. On the island's highest point, the activists light a flame to begin the healing of the island and to assert title to the island for "ceremony, healing and to set in place the treaty process’.

The Aboriginal Education and Training Unit of TAFE NSW and OTEN provides educational, cultural advice and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Both face to face and distance education is provided. Certificate Courses such as Education Support, Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Issues and Vocational and Study Pathways are offered.

At Macquarie University, Warawara - Department of Indigenous Studies is an Academic Department located within the Faculty of Arts. Apart from teaching Indigenous studies across the university, Warawara facilitates an alternative entry program aimed at providing access for Indigenous people to undergraduate courses across the University. The research specialties include Indigenous education and health, Indigenous methodologies, rock art archaeology and Aboriginal Astronomy. Warawara also offers two residential or "Block attendance" courses. One of these is the Bachelor in Community Management while the other is the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood). In addition to facilitating educational opportunities for Indigenous people, Warawara also offers student support to Indigenous students enrolled across the University.

Wyanga carries out work to assist elderly Aboriginal people in the inner city. A day centre in 35 Cope St, Redfern offers care, advice and meals. The CEO is Milly Ingram. .

Alan Madden and Chicka Madden are active in the Metropolitan Land Council. Aboriginal sites are recovered and managed and Aboriginal remains are ceremonially repatriated. Education of Indigenous youth and wider community is a priority.

The Koori vessel Tribal Warrior sets out to circumnavigate Australia in a timber hulled pearling lugger more than 100 years old. She carries a crew of seven Aboriginal/Koori men. The voyage lasts 648 days. They visit 120 Aboriginal communities, over 26,000 kilometres. This is the first circumnavigation of Australia in a sea going vessel crewed only by Indigenous Australians (V46 ‘Tribal Warrior Harbour Cruises’)

Uncle Chicka Madden retires from the railways, owns his own house and car, is on the Board of the Aboriginal Medical Service, Treasurer of the Metropolitan Land Council for several years, is a life member of the Redfern All Blacks Rugby League Club, is, and attends Eora College with Uncle Cec Bowden. (V 48, Now I think they’re proud of being Aboriginal’)

A series of court cases in the NSW Supreme Court last until 2002, when the Cockatoo Island tent embassy was removed. Evidence of the embassy however, remains on the island. The mural on the wall of Building 19 was painted by tent embassy members.

The Walking Together Program is conducted twice a year with 75 participants providing one to one counselling. It has 80% attendance.

The Probation and Parole Office develops programs for women in Redfern, with 2 day culture camps and 10 weekly sessions

At UTS, The Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs moves to its new premises in Jones St. Michael McDaniel as Program Director; Joe Fraser coordinates the BEd. in Adult Education; and Karen Vaughan coordinates the MA Indigenous Social Policy.

Jonathon Jones writes, ‘To overcome this issue of appropriation of ‘traditional’ Aboriginal art and the general lack of understanding of contemporary urban Aboriginal culture, we need to expand the narrow stereotyped notion of Aboriginality that mainstream society has created. The education of the community is the foundation of change. To achieve this major re-education of the mainstream community it needs to be facilitated through educational institutions and the major art and cultural institutions. Creating an environment where the mainstream community realises, accepts and respects the reality of urban Aboriginal culture, and in turn Aborigines, so we can feel comfortable with who we are.’ (Heiss, p. 59)

The poet Kerry Reed-Gilbert writes, (Heiss p. 55)

Sydney, what can I say I wanted a new life And came here to stay. Sydney, you’re a terrifying city especially for a blackgin especially for a Black chick from a little bush town. Your lights are so pretty Your building so big The crowds are so thick I just get lost in. Don’t know where to walk Or which turn to take.

Lynette Riley Mundine is acting director of Aboriginal Education and Training NSW DET.

A Community Justice Group is set up in Redfern to provide direct ways for Aboriginal people to become involved in solving their own justice problems. The group works to enable Aboriginal people to be involved in the Justice system so that it works for them and their community both as victims and offenders.

Premier Bob Carr meets with Beryl Bellear.

The tragic death of a young Aboriginal teenager, T.J. Hickey, sparks a violent riot and confrontation at the Block, Redfern.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board of the Australia Council (for the Arts) makes important changes to the Indigenous arts landscape by supporting artists and protecting their artistic works. These changes evolve from recommendations of the Creating Pathways conference for dance (2005), the Senate Inquiry into Indigenous visual arts (2006), Making Solid Ground: Indigenous infrastructure and key organisations review (2008), the development of the Indigenous Australian Commercial Code of Conduct for the visual arts (2009), Song Cycles: An audit of support infrastructure for Indigenous music in Australia (2010), Indigenous Cultural Festivals: evaluating impact on community health and well-being (2010) and the National Indigenous Theatre Forum (2010).

Justine Saunders, OAM is an Australian stage, film and television actress. She is a member of the Woppaburra clan from the Kanomie people of Keppel Island, Queensland. At the age of 11, she is removed from her mother Heather and placed in a convent. Justine first comes to prominence as a cast member of the 1970s soap opera Number 96 in 1976, and is also remembered for her role in Prisoner. Other TV credits include: Farscape, Blue Heelers, the mini-series Women of the Sun, and her film work includes The Chant of Jiimy Blacksmith and The Fringe dwellers. She dies in 2007.

At UTS, the Faculty restrucuture the BEd Adult Education major in Aboriginal Studies/Language Literacy & Numeracy. Lecturing staff include Leanne King, Wendy Jobson, Jennifer Newman and Karen Vaughan. Administration staff include Melanie Saunders and Bertie Watts. Dr Karen Vaughan completes her PhD.

At UTS the Faculty restructure the MA Indigenous Social Policy course into the new Master of Education in Indigenous Studies degree.

Tranby is Australia's oldest Indigenous education provider, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, and has also played an important role in the struggle for the achievement of social justice for Indigenous people.

Wayne Blair is appointed Artistic Associate of Belvoir St Theatre. Blair’s contribution to theatre and film in Australia is impressive, from his acclaimed portrayal of Othello for Bell Shakespeare Company to his short film 'Djarns Djarns'. He continues to find the sweetness and soul in sad stories.

Linda Burney becomes the Minister for State Planning and Minister for Community Services.

Appointment of Dr Dawn Casey, as Chairperson of Indigenous Business Australia. She is also director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, which manages the Powerhouse Museum and the Sydney Observatory.

Heidi Norman, a Koori lecturer at UTS, discovers a 1885 painting by John Rae at the State Library, depicting Aborigines at what is now the Block, watching the first sod turned for Redfern Railway Station.