Cultural protocols

Notre Dame acknowledges the profound importance of respecting and honouring the cultural practices, traditions, and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Notre Dame is proud to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the lands upon which our campuses sit:

• the Fremantle Campus is located on Nyungar Whadjuk Country,
• the Broome Campus on Yawuru Country, and
• the Sydney Campus on Gadigal Country.

The video below illustrates the importance of the land on which Notre Dame campuses are situated. The video features Whadjuk Nyungar Elders describing the significance of the Walyalup area, today known as Fremantle.

• Significant cultural events

  Throughout the year, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students celebrate significant dates and events.  These events are recognise a number of Aboriginal events.

  26 January	Australia Day / Survival Day / Day of Mourning This date marks the landing of The First Fleet in Sydney Cove and Survival Concerts around the country celebrate the survival of colonisation.
  13 February	Apology to Australia's Indigenous People This date marks the National Apology by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.
  21 March	National Close the Gap Day This day is a national day of action to pledge support for achieving Indigenous health equality, closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. It is a chance for organisations and communities to hold events and raise awareness of the Indigenous health crisis.
  21 March	United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination This day marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, when South Africa tried to peacefully protest the apartheid regime.
  26 May	National Sorry Day Anniversary of the 1997 'Bringing them Home' report. A day to express sorrow over the forced removal of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
  27 May - 3 June	National Reconciliation Week Time to focus on ways to move towards reconciliation between non-indigenous and indigenous Australians.
  27 May	Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum Australia's most successful referendum where 90% of Australians voted to acknowledge Indigenous Australians as citizens.
  3 June	Mabo Day Anniversary of the High Court's 1992 decision which recognised Native Title rights of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and overturned the myth of terra nullius.
  1 July	Coming of the Light Celebration of the introduction of Christianity to the Torres Strait Islands.
  7-14 July	NAIDOC Week National celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  7 July	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (NATSI) Sunday Starts NAIDOC Week with some prayer and honest reflection.
  4 August	National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day was established by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in 1988. Each year, SNAICC has a theme for Children's Day to highlight a significant issue, concern or hope for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. See SNAICC (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care) website for theme, information and posters.
  9 August	International Day of World's Indigenous People To recognise the value and diversity of indigenous cultures and to strengthen international cooperation for the support of indigenous people. This day also recognises the achievements and contributions that Indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
  4 September	Indigenous Literacy Day Indigenous Literacy Day is a national celebration of Indigenous culture, stories, language and literacy. The aim is to focus attention on the disadvantages experienced in remote communities to encourage and advocate for more equal access to literacy resources for remote communities.
  13 September	Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly during its 61st session at UN Headquarters in New York City on 13 September 2007.
  10 December	Human Rights Day Celebrates the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Cultural awareness training for staff

  Cultural Awareness Training Workshops for staff take place on the Fremantle campus, over 4 times a year. They are scheduled during the months of April, June, October and December and a maximum 15 staff are invited to participate at each workshop.

  Contact:
  Clive Walley
  National Director, Partnerships and Community Engagement
  Clive.walley@nd.edu.au

• Cultural safe places

  Manjaree Aboriginal Student Place – Fremantle

  In November 2017, Artist in Resident Juanetia (Neta) Knapp and a group of Aboriginal Students created a mural ‘Manjaree Mia Kaart’ (meaning place of learning, a place of history and a place of spiritual journey and knowledge).

  

  The artwork is designed to bring to life the colours symbols and stories of the land and Notre Dame Aboriginal Students across Australia and to assist them in feeling connected to each other and the University.

  The Manjaree Place is a meeting place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students and is used for student cultural and educational gatherings, study, recreation and get-togethers, it is located on the Notre Dame Fremantle Campus in Bateman Court (ND9 104).

• Events

  The Manjaree Aboriginal Student Place in Bateman Court holds a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events throughout the year. See our significant dates for more information. Manjaree is also used to hold Tutor and Student Inductions and Staff Cultural Awareness Training.

• Contact us

  Todd Phillips
  Indigenous Employment Advisor
  Todd.phillips@nd.edu.au

  Clive Walley
  National Director, Partnerships and Community Engagement
  Clive.walley@nd.edu.au