Acknowledging Country
Victoria University (VU) acknowledges and recognises:
- the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as First Nation Peoples to live according to beliefs, values and customs in the process of self-determination, and
- the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultures and knowledge to strengthen and enrich the heritage of all Australians.
VU acknowledges, honours, recognises and respects the Ancestors, Elders and families of the Boonwurrung (Bunurong), Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) and Wadawurrung (Wathaurung) people of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne campuses), the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eora Nation (Sydney campus) and the Yugara/Yugarapul people of the Turrbal Nation (Brisbane campus). These groups are the custodians of University land and have been for many centuries. Read about the Traditional Owners and languages of our VU campuses.
VU’s First Nations Action Plan outlines our commitment to Protecting Country and advancing recognition, inclusion and self-determination for First Nations Peoples.
What is an Acknowledgement of Country?
An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement of public recognition of the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land. It is a way that all people can demonstrate respect for Aboriginal people and protocols and honour the knowledge and legacy of Traditional Owners and Custodians.
Any person can give an acknowledgement. The host of a ceremony or event should make an acknowledgement, unless someone else is performing this task.
An Acknowledgement of Country can be personalised, as long as it acknowledges the correct Traditional Owners of the land on which you're conducting business and is delivered in a way that genuinely reflects respect for the Country, its people, culture and their ongoing connection to the land.
Formal Acknowledgement of Country
Melbourne
"We/I acknowledge the Ancestors, Elders and families of the [insert relevant language group(s)] of the Kulin who are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of University land. As we share our own knowledge practices within the University may we pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and their ownership of Country.
We/I acknowledge that the land on which we meet is a place of age-old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal and that the Kulin people’s living culture has a unique role in the life of this region. VU is committed to building better relationships and fostering greater understanding between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
Sydney
“We/I acknowledge the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eora Nation upon whose ancestral lands our place of learning now stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the Traditional Custodians of knowledge for the land on which our campus is situated.”
Brisbane
“We/I acknowledge the Yugara/Yugarapul people of the Turrbal Nation upon whose ancestral lands our place of learning now stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the Traditional Custodians of knowledge for the land on which our campus is situated.”
Online
We/I also acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands which we are all meeting from remotely today.
Informal Acknowledgement of Country
To give an informal Acknowledgement of Country, any of the follow phrases are appropriate.
- I acknowledge the Ancestors, Elders and families of the [insert relevant language group(s)] of the [insert relevant Nation for your campus] as the traditional owners of land.
- I would like to acknowledge the [insert relevant language group(s)] who are the traditional owners of the land on which we meet.
- I would like to pay my respect to Elders past and present and extend my respect to Aboriginal people/staff/students/community who are present today.
- I acknowledge that the footprints of the Kulin are found across the landscape of the western region.
- I recognise and acknowledge the [insert relevant language group(s)] as the traditional owners of this land and pay my respect to their Ancestors and Elders.
Online
To give an informal Acknowledgement of Country to an online audience, please use any of the suggestions above after you check who are the Traditional Owners of the land where you are located.
Acknowledgement of Country & smoking ceremony
Campus locations & who to acknowledge
Aboriginal Country is not always clearly agreed upon by Traditional Owners and Custodians. Therefore, acknowledging one people over another may unintentionally exclude some people.
The University’s protocol is to acknowledge the following language groups, based on location.
- If you are in Victoria, you can check who the Traditional Owners and Custodians are of the land you are located on by using the interactive map available at the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council.
- If you are located outside of Victoria, you can also check the AIATSIS language map.
Wurundjeri Woiwurrung
- City campuses
- Footscray campuses
- St Albans and Sunshine campuses
- Sunbury City Council area
Bunurong Boonwurrung
- Werribee campus
Gadigal and Guring-gai
- Sydney Campus
Turball
- Brisbane campus
