Acknowledgement of Country

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We extend our deepest respect to the traditional custodians of the country throughout Australia, recognising their enduring connection to the land, culture, and community.

We specifically recognise the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation, upon whose ancestral lands the campus of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) now stands. We honour the Elders, past and present, as the custodians of knowledge for these lands.

In writing this book, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands where we live and work, and where this book was created. We pay our respects to the cultural diversity of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and express our gratitude for their enduring contributions to Australian society.

Furthermore, we celebrate the rich and resilient cultures of First Nations Australians, acknowledging their profound impact on shaping our collective identity and heritage. We commit ourselves to fostering understanding, reconciliation, and mutual respect as we continue to learn from and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We also pay our respect to the traditional lands of the First Nations from where our authors are coming. We honour their ancestors, present communities, and future generations.