Aboriginal Visibility in the ‘System’

In Australia, Aborigines, both adult and juvenile, experience a disproportionately higher degree of contact with ‘authorities’ and ‘the system’ than do members of the mainstream community. An examination of youth offending records in South Australia during the period, 1 July, 1979–30 June, 1983, illustrates that Aboriginal youth are not only over-represented in terms of the numbers appearing before the Children's Court and Children's Aid Panels, but also they are significantly more likely to have experienced previous contact with the ‘system’ than have non-Aboriginal youth. The data show that they are more likely to have records of previous Aid Panel and Court Appearances, are more likely to appear under an existing order or as an absconder and, finally, are more likely to be under the care of the state at the time of their ‘current’ appearance.