Acknowledgement of Melbourne’s First Peoples

Wuy-Wrung or Wurundjeri people (Yarra) and the Boon wurrung are the first custodians and traditional owners of a large part of the land, rivers, seas and waterways of inner and outer Melbourne. The symbol of the Wurundjeri is Bunjil the eagle and the symbol of the Boon wurrung is Waang the crow. The University of Divinity (UD) and its Colleges acknowledge with respect the traditional custodians of this land and, in particular, the Wurundjeri and Boon wurrung people of the Kulin nation. We encourage and support UDiv staff and students to work creatively in implementing appropriate policies and practices in our various Colleges, in consultation with Indigenous leaders. We recognise our responsibilities and opportunities as Christian educational institutions to respect and understand Australia’s Indigenous peoples, to build a more just Australia and to commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation and truth telling of our shared history.

The Archdiocese of Melbourne is based in a region originally inhabited by Indigenous communities whose history extends for tens of thousands of years. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land of the Kulin Nation who have walked upon and cared for this country for thousands of years. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present and emerging.

The aim and purpose of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) is to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding, taking responsibility for the pastoral care of Catholic Aborigines and supporting them in the living of their Faith.

Below are two new videos produced by the School of Indigenous Studies (University of Divinity) and Churches Together South Australia.

Morning session with Prof Anne Pattel-Gray

A call to churches to support a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

Evening session with Rev Dr Garry Deverell

A lecture on the Uluru Statement and the design of the Voice.