Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Swinburne’s Australian campuses are located in Melbourne’s east and outer-east, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We are honoured to recognise our connection to Wurundjeri Country, history, culture and spirituality through these locations, and strive to ensure that we operate in a manner that respects and honours the Elders and Ancestors of these lands.

We also respectfully acknowledge Swinburne’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, partners and visitors.

We also acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of lands across Australia, their Elders, Ancestors, cultures and heritage, and recognise the continuing sovereignties of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations.

Welcome to Country

Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin AO is a Senior Wurundjeri Elder who has made significant contributions to the Victorian community for over 40 years. She is well known for her work in reconciliation, education, social justice, land rights and Wurundjeri cultural strengthening through Woiwurrung language teaching, culture and the arts.

Aunty Joy and other Wurundjeri Elders have provided Welcome to Country ceremonies for Swinburne events over many years including the launches of our Reconciliation Action Plans.

We are honoured to have Aunty Joy provide a Welcome to our Moondani Toombadool Centre website.

Wominjeka Wurundjeri Balluk yearmenn koondee bik” means “Welcome to the land of the Wurundjeri people in the Woiwurrung Language of the Wurundjeri People.

This Welcome reflects the new digital landscape in which many of our communities across Australia are now immersed — from remote communities to urban environments like the Eastern Melbourne campuses of Swinburne that are located on Wurundjeri lands.

I am very happy to see Swinburne University taking a lead in the use of Information Communication Technologies to bring about greater connection and participation of Indigenous communities in education and training. This website is part of that commitment.

It will enable readers to discover what Swinburne is doing on Wurundjeri Country and with other Traditional Custodians and communities across Australia. It will encourage connection between Indigenous Australians and the broader Australian community who share an interest in Indigenous Australia.

Importantly, while personal communications and relationships remain a priority, the website will offer users an opportunity to see what Swinburne can and is doing to support education and employment goals with communities. This is particularly important for our young people and many of our community who live with disability.

I encourage Indigenous and other Australians to explore Swinburne’s Indigenous Australians website.