during the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of aboriginal people moved away from the towns and missions in which they had been settled years before. they returned with their families to the areas where they grew up, and set up camps or homes there. this became known as the outstation movement. for most people, it was an attempt at returning to the traditional way of life and getting back their autonomy and self-sufficiency. this movement developed after the australian government had decided to give welfare benefits to indigenous people. it had also started policies encouraging self-determination and self-management for indigenous communities. this was the opposite of what the government had previously planned for indigenous australians (cultural assimilation).