Timeline
See the table below to track key dates in Dr Charlie Perkins's life:
| 1952-57 | Apprentice Fitter and Turner, British Tube Mills (SA) |
| 1963-65 | President, Student Action for Aborigines |
| 1965 | Led ‘freedom ride’ through northern New South Wales rural towns publicising discrimination against Aboriginal people |
| 1965-69 | Manager, Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1965-78 | Member, Federal Council for Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (renamed the National Aboriginal Islanders Liberation Movement in 1975) |
| 1967 | Vice-Chairman, National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NSW) |
| 1968-70 | Trustee, National Aboriginal Tribal Council |
| 1969-71 | Research Officer, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |
| 1971-72 | Senior Research Officer, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |
| 1969-79 | Secretary, National Aboriginal Sports Foundation |
| 1970-79 | Trustee, Aboriginal Children’s Advancement Society (NSW) |
| 1970-75 | Secretary, Aboriginal Aged Persons Homes Trust |
| 1973-82 | Chairman, Aboriginal Hostels Ltd |
| 1973-75 | Assistant Secretary, Liaison and Consultation Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1975-80 | Secretary and Public Officer, Aboriginal Publications Foundation (Inc.) |
| 1976 | Assistant Secretary, Coordination and Strategy Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1976-86 | Chairman, National Aboriginal Sports Council |
| 1977 | Assistant Secretary, Research and Overview Branch, Department of Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1978 | First Assistant Secretary, Policy Division, Department of Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1979-81 | Deputy Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs |
| 1980-84 | Chairman, Aboriginal Development Commission (part time) |
| 1982 | Administrator, John and Anna Woods Trust Fund |
| 1983 | Member, Education Task Force (SA) |
| 1984-88 | Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Canberra |
| 1984-88 | President, Arrernte Council of Central Australia |
| 1989-92 | Board Member, SBS Television/Radio |
| 1989-2000 | Director, Charles Perkins and Associates, Consultants |
| 1990-92 | Member, Australia Council Aboriginal Arts Committee |
| 1991-2000 | Member, Olympic Bid Committee, Sydney 2000 |
| 1991-2000 | Chairman, Arrernte Council of Central Australia |
| 1994-95 | Commissioner and Deputy Chair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commission |
Sources
National Library of Australia website
Who’s who 1999
Monash biographical dictionary of the 20th century, 1994
Read, Peter Charles Perkins: a biography (Ringwood, Vic.: Viking, 1990)
Charles Perkins Papers (MS 8047)