The Flinders University community is built on a collective vision to recognise and embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, knowledges and cultures. This vision for reconciliation is grounded in the concepts of togetherness, reciprocity, and respect.

An Acknowledgement of Country provides the Flinders community with the opportunity to show our respect for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we work, study and operate, and recognises their ongoing connection to Country.

For many years, Flinders University has embraced and welcomed the importance of many communities who shape our national footprint.

In 2021, the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement began a review of our University-wide Acknowledgement of Country, and began consultation to ensure that each community’s wishes are considered within Flinders University’s Acknowledgement of Country.

After consultation with all these communities, responses were collated and a reworded Acknowledgement to Country has been developed, taking into consideration updated information and changes to locations on which Flinders University operates.

Further consultation was undertaken with internal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, such as the Flinders Indigenous Advisory Committee (comprising noted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander external community members), the Flinders RAP Oversight Committee, and Flinders University’s resident Elders on Campus.

Due to the closure of Flinders University sites in Hamilton, Victoria, and Port Lincoln, South Australia, mentions of the Gunditjmara (Hamilton), Nauo and Bungarla (Port Lincoln) groups have been removed from the Acknowledgement. Any groups that fall outside of the Flinders footprint have been removed.

Other groups have chosen to be known by a name representative of several groups, as in the case of the First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee region (Ngaiawang, Ngawait, Nganguruku, Erawirung, Ngintait, Ngaralte, and Ngarkat) and the First Nations of the South East (Boandik, Meintangk and Southern Tangankald).

The updated Acknowledgement

After this extensive process, an updated Flinders University Acknowledgement of Country has been developed:

Flinders University acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, these are the Traditional Lands of the Arrernte, Dagoman, First Nations of the South East, First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee region, Jawoyn, Kaurna, Larrakia, Ngadjuri, Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri, Warumungu, Wardaman and Yolngu people. We honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

“Acknowledging the Country Flinders University is located on centres First Peoples of this country,” says Associate Professor Simone Tur, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous). ‘The process of connecting and reaching out to traditional owners and custodians, to ensure that we continue to engage respectfully through the offering of Acknowledgment to Country, further strengthens the University’s commitment to reconciliation grounded in the concepts of togetherness, reciprocity, and respect.”

Flinders staff are asked to adopt the revised Acknowledgment of Country in all scenarios where possible and follow the advice below on appropriate use of the various versions of the Acknowledgment of Country.

Full Acknowledgement of Country – includes all sites

Flinders University acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, these are the Traditional Lands of the Arrernte, Dagoman, First Nations of the South East, First Peoples of the River Murray & Mallee region, Jawoyn, Kaurna, Larrakia, Ngadjuri, Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri, Warumungu, Wardaman and Yolngu people. We honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

Preferred uses are:

• Formal publications
• Flinders Website
• University-wide events/conferences
• Email signatures

Short version – Acknowledgement of Country – site dependent 

I would like to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land I stand on today the (add traditional owners here) People, I recognise and honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

Preferred uses:

• Acknowledgements of Country at site specific events
• Email signatures

Condensed version – Acknowledgement – without locations

Flinders University acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located. We honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

Preferred uses:

• University-wide publications/projects that require a condensed version and not site specific.

An Acknowledgement of Country PowerPoint slide has been developed for use during presentations, meetings, conferences, lectures and other events.