This seminar explores the subjective wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. We focus on mean levels of self-reported life satisfaction, inequality in life satisfaction within the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian populations, and the prevalence and severity of dissatisfaction with one’s life. Evidence on differences in the determinants of life satisfaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is provided. Results indicate that Indigenous life satisfaction peaked in 2003 and has since declined. We also find that inequality in life satisfaction is greater for Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians. Despite a downward trend in the level of dissatisfaction for non-Indigenous Australians, dissatisfaction among Indigenous Australians has remained relatively unchanged.

Matthew Manning is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research. Dr Manning was previously Co-Director of Griffith University’s Social and Economic Research Program (SERP), and an economist in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University. Matthew's research involves adapting economic methods for measuring objective and subjective outcomes associated with developmental prevention programs in vulnerable communities. Matthew uses economic methods for analysing complex multiple criteria problems for the development of prevention policy and has conducted a number of economic analyses (e.g. cost-benefit analysis) for government and non-government organisations. Matthew has published in areas such as juvenile justice, developmental/life-course prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, police legitimacy and wellbeing/life satisfaction.

Christopher Fleming is an Associate Professor at Griffith Business School in the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, and a Senior Associate of MainStream Economics and Policy. An applied micro-economist with teaching, consulting and public policy experience, Christopher’s research and consulting interests include, social and economic project/program evaluation, labour market assimilation and wellbeing, natural resource and environmental economics, the economics of renewable and efficient sources of energy, the economic determinants of subjective wellbeing, the economics of crime, the sustainable management of natural resources and the economics of sustainable tourism. Prior to joining Griffith Business School, Christopher worked as a senior consultant for Marsden Jacob Associates and as a senior advisor within the Sustainable Development Policy Group of the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment.