Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Find out if you should do a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners.

Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Traditional Owners important?

A Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners recognises the continuing connection of Aboriginal Traditional Owners to their Country.

Monash University supports Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Traditional Owners as part of the process of reconciliation and healing, in addition to affording the appropriate respect to Traditional Owners of Country.

Anyone can provide an Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land. Welcomes to Country must be performed by formally recognised Traditional Owners, or a delegate of their choosing, on their land.

A specific Acknowledgement, or request for a Welcome to Country, is not recommended in areas where formal recognition has not occurred as it may:
- privilege one group’s interests in Country over other groups
- pre-empt the outcomes of formal recognition processes
- lead to disputes between groups who have an interest in or association with Country
Although Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Traditional Owners are a significant way of recognising and celebrating the Traditional Ownership of Country, it is important they occur only when it is appropriate.
The easiest way to find out who the Formally Recognised Traditional Owners are for an area is to consult the interactive map.

Should I organise a Welcome to Country or Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of an area in Australia?

Welcome to Country

A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners for people visiting their Country. These ceremonies vary from speeches of welcome to traditional dance and smoking ceremonies.

To seek support and advice on who the Traditional Owners are at your campus, please contact the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous).

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

An Acknowledgement of Country and Traditional Owners can be done by anyone and is a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is being held. It does not need to be delivered by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person in attendance.

An Acknowledgement of Country should be thoughtful, respectful, and meaningful. It is most effective when it is contextualised and personalised to you, the event or meeting, and the audience present. Monash University has approved Acknowledgement of Country statements that are also appropriate for use. However, staff are strongly encouraged to personalise their acknowledgement where appropriate (ie. Where text allows), rather than relying solely on a generic statement.

Personalisation helps demonstrate genuine respect and understanding, and acknowledges the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country.

How to personalise your Acknowledgement

When preparing an Acknowledgement of Country, consider the following reflective prompts:

Whose Country are you on?
Identify the specific Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land where you are meeting or presenting.
What is your story?
Reflect on whose Country you were born on and/or raised on, and how that shapes your understanding of place.
What is your connection to this Country and purpose?
Are you living, working, travelling, studying, or conducting research on this land? Why are you here?
How does your work connect to Indigenous peoples and knowledges?
Consider how your role, discipline, or activities intersect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, histories, knowledges, or Country.

I acknowledge that we are gathered today on the unceded lands of the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nations, and I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

I was born and raised on the lands of the Wurundjeri people, also of the Kulin Nations, and that has shaped my understanding of place, community, and responsibility to Country.

I recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and I acknowledge the thousands of years that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for Country - holding deep knowledge and custodians of land, water, and sky.

As an academic working and conducting research on these lands, I am committed to respecting and engaging with Indigenous knowledges and to contributing to a culturally safe, inclusive and respectful Monash community.

Personalisation does not need to be lengthy or complex. Even a brief, sincere reflection can make an acknowledgement more meaningful, while maintaining respect for Traditional Owners and recognising their continuing custodianship of land, waters, and cultures.

MONASH UNIVERSITY recognises that its Australian campuses are located on the unceded lands of the people of the Kulin Nations and pays its respects to their Elders past and present, acknowledging in particular the enduring leadership of Indigenous matriarchs as custodians of Culture, family and community.
We acknowledge the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia, encompassing many Nations, languages, Cultures and ways of being. This is reflected in distinct identities, kinship systems and Cultural practices sustained over tens of thousands of years.
Guided by intersectionality as a core principle of the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework, we acknowledge that experiences of gender inequality are shaped by multiple, overlapping identities and that Indigenous women and gender diverse people often experience unique and compounded impacts as a result of colonisation.
We acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonisation and the importance of listening deeply to First Nations voices, particularly those of women and those at the intersections of identity and lived experience.
Monash remains committed to truth-telling - a principle guided by the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the nation’s first truthtelling process, and advanced through Victoria’s Treaty process. Truth-telling means acknowledging history honestly, learning from it, and taking action to ensure Indigenous perspectives shape the University’s future.
I acknowledge that we are gathered today on the unceded lands of the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nations, and I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
I was born and raised on the lands of the Wurundjeri people, also of the Kulin Nations, and that has shaped my understanding of place, community, and responsibility to Country.
I recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and I acknowledge the thousands of years that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for Country - holding deep knowledge and custodians of land, water, and sky.
As an academic working and conducting research on these lands, I am committed to respecting and engaging with Indigenous knowledges and to contributing to a culturally safe, inclusive and respectful Monash community.
Personalisation does not need to be lengthy or complex. Even a brief, sincere reflection can make an acknowledgement more meaningful, while maintaining respect for Traditional Owners and recognising their continuing custodianship of land, waters, and cultures.

More information on an Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners.

Acknowledgement of Country – Monash University Approved Statements View

Site/collateral

Printed and Digital – All major University publications, brochures and programs

Example external channels	Statement
Strategic Plan – Impact 2030 Graduation programs Annual report 2025	MONASH UNIVERSITY recognises that its Australian campuses are located on the unceded lands of the people of the Kulin Nations, and pays its respects to their Elders, past and present.

Digital – Where additional information is provided for Indigenous people

Example external channels	Statement
Email signatures – Brand book Emails (eDM) footer: University-wide, Alumni (Chronus) Website (footer): monash.edu	We acknowledge and pay respects to the Elders and Traditional Owners of the land on which our Australian campuses stand, as well as Indigenous peoples of other places where Monash has a campus or major presence. Information for Indigenous Australians

In person – Acknowledgement of Country

Example external channels Statement
Facebook
LinkedIn
X
Instagram
Located on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation
For Monash University social platforms.

Example external channels	Statement
Physical events on campus, i.e: Graduations Conferences Formal meetings VC events	For Monash University campuses (Clayton, Caulfield, Peninsula, Parkville), Monash College campuses, and sites in Melbourne, the following is suggested: I wish to acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nations, the traditional owners of the land on which we are gathered today. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present. Sites outside of Melbourne (eg MHNS Rural Health) – replace Kulin Nations by referencing people of the land on which they are located.

Example external channels	Statement
Facebook LinkedIn X Instagram	Located on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation For Monash University social platforms.

Monash College

Examples	Statement
Publications Promotional materials Noting that in person, the website and email is the same as the University.	MONASH COLLEGE recognises that its Australian campus located on the unceded lands of the people of the Kulin Nations, and pays its respects to their Elders, past and present.

Consultation

The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous)
Indigenous Innovation and Experience Programs
Senior Communications Adviser (Indigenous)

Monash University Guidelines to Acknowledgement of Traditional Land Owners View

Meeting type

Acknowledgement type
1. The Monash University approved Acknowledgement of Country should be included as a written statement as the first agenda item of any meeting.
2. The Acknowledgement should be delivered by the Chair (prior to introductions).
Acknowledgement type
The Monash University approved Welcome to Country should be performed by a Traditional Owner when:
The event is considered significant (internal/external VIPs in attendance) and could be in-person or other delivery mode where appropriate.
For example:
- Graduation ceremonies
- Open Days
- Conferences
- O-Week
- Winter Fest
- External meetings should include a Welcome
- Other festivals
Acknowledgement type
All classes should commence with an Acknowledgement of Country this could be verbal, embedded in learning material or other delivery modes where appropriate.
Acknowledgement type
All University Public reports
For example:
- Annual Report
- All course guides should include Monash University’s approved Acknowledgement of Country
Acknowledgement type
1. All major entrances to campuses should contain Monash University’s approved Acknowledgement of Country.
2. The Australian and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags should always be flown together.

Consultation

The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous)
Indigenous Innovation and Experience Programs
Senior Communications Adviser (Indigenous)

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Traditional Owners important?

Should I organise a Welcome to Country or Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of an area in Australia?

Welcome to Country

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

How to personalise your Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement of Country – Monash University Approved Statements View

Site/collateral

Consultation

Monash University Guidelines to Acknowledgement of Traditional Land Owners View

Meeting type

Acknowledgement type

Acknowledgement type

Acknowledgement type

Acknowledgement type

Acknowledgement type

Consultation