Acknowledging Country
‘The greatest and oldest geographers are Indigenous peoples, and what geographers and Australian Indigenous peoples have in common is a love of Country.’ (Linda Burney MP, 12 August 2017)
Country is the essence of Indigenous cultures, and in Australia Country has nourished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for millennia. A connection to Country is a special gift that is accessible for everyone in Australia.
As geographers, we have relationships with, and responsibility to Country, as the field of all our work. We acknowledge the Dharawal, Yuin and Wadi Wadi peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Country in the Illawarra. We also acknowledge the ongoing significance of Mount Keira, the ancient teaching site, below which our School resides.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, to all Indigenous peoples living in the region, and extend that respect to other Indigenous peoples with whom we engage. Through our teaching, research and engagement we seek to help others appreciate and act in respect of the significance of Country.