“Wominjeka!” which means hello/welcome in the Woiwarrung language of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We at Heathmont College hope that all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends have experienced a wonderful week (July 3rd to 10th) celebrating NAIDOC week.

Acknowledgement of Country

Heathmont College acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands that we are privileged to walk upon and learn on each day, which is the land of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, who are our knowledge holders, story keepers and teachers. We thank them for looking after the land, sky and waterways, so you and I can enjoy them, and so too can the generations to come. We recognise the special contributions of First Nations peoples and cultures, that enrich and shape the cultural identity of this nation.

Wurundjeri Welcome to Country

by Uncle Colin Hunter Jr

A Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by a local Aboriginal person of significance (usually an Elder) to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands. It is also a sign of respect and protocol which dates back to traditional times prior to colonisation. Whereas, an An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect.

What is NAIDOC Week?

"NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia traditionally each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The week is celebrated not just in the Indigenous communities but also within government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces. The 2022 theme "Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!" is a call for action to bring about “systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities.”

"This is a significant event for all Australians as we work together to bring about a better understanding of our shared history, which is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and languages."

NAIDOC, 2022

The NAIDOC Week 2022 Website states that…

“We all must continue to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! for systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities.

Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.

It must be a genuine commitment by all of us to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms.”

NAIDOC at Heathmont College and the Community

Mentor Group students at Heathmont College had the opportunity to learn about NAIDOC week and what it means. They have also been taught about "Acknowledgement of Country" and the "Uluru Statement from the Heart" .

"NAIDOC week is chance to celebrate Culture and spend time with family. Both myself and my brother are NAIDOC babies which gives us even more chance to celebrate NAIDOC Week along with our birthdays."

- Kaiya Green, Year 12

"For NAIDOC week, me and my family celebrated by going to Healesville Sanctuary. There was a traditional Smoking Ceremony and it was a lot of fun."

- Indi Moorby, Year 9

In the community, Eastland Shopping Centre hosted NAIDOC celebrations which was supported by our friends at Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Ground. The audience was treated to traditional dance and song by the Bandok Tati Dance Group, Didgeridoo playing Ash Dargan, Chris Hume sharing traditional weapons and tools and an acoustic set by Amos Roach (Archie Roach's son).

Shane Hunt

Murrung Coordinator

It's a boy!