Younger Australians show greater interest in Indigenous histories, but know less about them: new research
- Written by: Weekend Times
It has been 50 years since Australia first marked NAIDOC week. Originating in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander political protest and advocacy, the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC)
href="https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-week">describes the celebrations as “an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories”.
But how much do Australians actually know about these histories, and are they interested in learning more about them? I surveyed 1,503 Australians aged 18 and over to find out.
The study
In January 2026, I led a national survey as part of my work with the War Studies Research Group, with the aim of gauging public attitudes towards history in general.
The survey asked a range of questions to determine Australians’ knowledge of and engagement with Australian history, how they learn about it, and what they think about its relevance to society today.
Although Indigenous histories were not the sole focus of the survey, the data provide insights into the current level of understanding of these histories among Australians today.
Age a key factor in interest and claimed knowledge levels
One of the key questions in the survey revolved around the aspects of Australian history that were of most interest to respondents, and about which they felt most knowledgeable.
Respondents were given a list of 12 suggested options. They could also select “none” or “other”.
While none received majority support, Indigenous history ranked second for both interest and knowledge. Colonial history came first, with cultural history taking third position.
But a closer look at the demographic data reveals greater variation in opinion than these results suggest.
Younger Australians aged 18–39 proved more interested in and felt more knowledgeable about Indigenous histories. In fact, Indigenous history was the leading area of interest and knowledge for these age groups.
Around 40% of younger Australians were most interested in Indigenous history. By contrast, one-quarter or less of those aged 50 or over said they were interested in Indigenous history.
The difference was even starker when it came to levels of claimed knowledge. Around one-third (34%) of those aged 18–29 said they knew most about Indigenous history, but this dropped to 13% of those aged 50–59, and only 6% for those aged 70 or over.
More to the story
These findings demonstrate a clear generational divide. However, other results in the survey indicate that the gap in knowledge between younger and older Australians may not be all that it seems.
When asked to indicate whether they were aware of seven specific events in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, only three received majority recognition from respondents overall.
The remaining four received minority recognition, with around 1 in 10 Australians saying they were unaware of any of the listed events.
Again, age proved the key factor in determining awareness of these events, but here the trend reversed. While younger Australians claimed greater knowledge of Indigenous history, they ranked lowest on these key events.
In general, awareness levels trended upwards with age. The exception is the Frontier Wars, for which there was minimal difference between the youngest and oldest cohorts (35% versus 39%).
No listed event received majority recognition from those aged 18–29, though the Rudd government’s apology to the Stolen Generations came close with 48% recognition.
By contrast, more than 70% of those aged 70 or over said they were aware of most events. The exception was the Howard government’s denial of the Stolen Generations, which received 58% recognition.
More work needed on knowledge of Indigenous histories
Since the Voice to Parliament referendum failed to pass in 2023, surveys have identified decreasing public interest in Indigenous issues. They have also identified clear generational divides in public attitudes towards these challenges, with younger Australians proving more likely to register interest in them.
In some ways, this new survey echoes these earlier findings. But it also indicates there is room to improve public understanding of Indigenous histories.
Younger Australians demonstrated the greatest interest in learning about Indigenous histories. However, despite benefiting from the still relatively recent inclusion of these histories in the school curriculum, they appear less knowledgeable about key events.
This perhaps isn’t helped by the often non-mandatory status of Indigenous history content, despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures being a cross-curriculum priority.
Yet while many older Australians attended school before these changes were implemented, they are more aware of key events in Indigenous history.
This perhaps speaks to the divide between formal education (where most Australians gain their historical knowledge) and the power of living through events when it comes to historical awareness.
Nonetheless, younger Australians’ interest in these histories presents an opportunity both within and outside of the formal schooling system, where most Australians learn about history.
Ensuring the broader Australian community has a stronger understanding of Indigenous histories is a necessary step in the reconciliation process. Without understanding the past, it will be more difficult to move towards a shared future.
Nicole Townsend does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
