How many Australian Aborigines are still hunting and gathering?

Question

I'm doing a sort-of theoretical research proposal for my class tomorrow, and I chose the Australian Aborigines as a subject. However, I can't seem to find any information on whether or not any of them are still truly hunter-gatherers.

How many Australian Aborigines are still 'traditional' hunter-gatherers? Any additional info would be incredibly useful.

In the spirit of Yahoo! Answers, this is due tomorrow. =)

Answer 1

There are very few full blooded Aborigines living in Australia. Most Aborigines have other racial groups mixed in with them.

As for those full bloods that remain, most of them live in small Aboriginal communities where there are limited employment opportunities and mass unemployment. There are problems  overcrowding and sexual abuse within these communities. Most of them rely on social security money to survive. Recently there have been some changes, but most of them are alcoholics and spend the money on grog.  Their life expectancy is well bellow that of main stream Australia.  Very few of them hunt and gather and those that do don't sole live off it.

It is very sad. The Australian gov. is now monitoring how their money is spent and handing out food vouchers rather than money in some cases. They are doing what they can to remove those who are engaged in sexual abuse. They are trying to get rid of the alcohol problem. They are a unique group of people who need to take more pride in who they are.  Having said that, some of them do.

Answer 2

I doubt any of them ,if they do it is out of personal choice not necessity ,as the Australian Government provides generous assistance to them.

Answer 3

Many Aborigines engage in so-called aboriginal subsistence whaling.

Here are a couple of articles about Aboriginal subsistence strategies in the Western Desert.    http://www.springerlink.com/content/v700...

http://www.springerlink.com/content/v247...