Culture and Diversity Leader

Over the next year, the school will be making acknowledgement to country a part of our day to day function.

Many of us don’t know the difference between “Acknowledgement of Country” and “Welcome to Country”, which is something that the Epping Secondary team are willing to assist in understanding the difference. 

“Acknowledgment of Country” is when someone who is not a traditional owner of the land that they’re on, at Epping we’re on the land of the Wurundjeri people. In the “Acknowledgment of Country” you should always ‘pay your respects to the elders past, present and emerging’.

“Welcome to Country” is someone who is from the specific traditional land which is most likely an elder of that specific tribe in our area, the Wurundjeri people. In the “Welcome to Country” it’s used to welcome both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people onto their lands and is a sign of respect to listen to the “Welcome to Country”.

Jarneaka Harrison, Culture and Diversity Leader