Eddie Mabo’s legacy is deeply woven into the rights we fight for today—land, justice, and opportunity. When the High Court recognised Native Title in 1992, it didn’t just rewrite history; it reaffirmed that First Nations peoples never ceded sovereignty.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the land is more than territory—it’s spirit, ancestry, and belonging.
In the employment space, land rights are not just symbolic—they are economic. Securing Country empowers communities to build businesses, manage resources, and drive local employment that is culturally aligned.
Industries like cultural tourism, land management, and community services all grow from a foundation of sovereignty.
Eddie Mabo showed us what’s possible when our voices are heard in the highest places. Today, organisations must honour that spirit by creating culturally safe workplaces, recognising the value of Indigenous knowledge, and hiring mob into meaningful roles—not just token positions.
This Mabo Day, we remember a man who changed the law of the land—and we recommit to changing systems that still hold our people back.
At Indigenous Employment Australia, we support pathways that lead to real empowerment and justice through work.
But remembering Mabo is also a reminder of unfinished business. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to face systemic barriers to employment, often linked to dispossession and intergenerational trauma.
Recognising Native Title is a start—but true justice means investing in our people’s futures through education, training, and culturally affirming work.
We can all honour Mabo’s legacy by creating space for mob to thrive. Whether you’re an employer, a policymaker, or part of community, your actions today can help build the legacy of tomorrow.
