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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

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Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. Read our commitments to reconciliation.

Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

We’re creating an inclusive city that celebrates our unique cultural heritage through:

  • social and cultural practices and ceremonies
  • corporate and strategic plans and strategies
  • dates of significance
  • local events, programs and partnerships.

Acknowledgment of Country

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.

May we continue to peacefully walk together in gratitude, respect and kindness in caring for this Country and one another.

>>JILL ROBINSON: Brisbane was founded on the lands of the oldest continuing cultures on earth; cultures that are an intrinsic part of our thriving, modern city.

Brisbane City Council is dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to engage with and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and peoples as we make Brisbane an accessible and inclusive city for all.

We’ve been working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to offer programs and events to showcase culture.

To showcase history.

To showcase people.

To showcase achievements.

Our aim is to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to bring these ancient cultures to the forefront of life in Brisbane.

Programs like Black History Month, which runs through July each year, offering experiences from family fun days, dance, art tours, exhibitions, and more.

And the Indigenous Art Program; an annual celebration of some of the most widely recognised artists and stories.

Events like ‘Gathering’ in Queen Street Mall, which remains the only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance happening weekly in the heart of a major capital city in Australia.

And the Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme, supporting opportunities for young people to elders, to participate in local cultural learning activities.

Look around our city and you’ll find artwork by Goreng Goreng artist Rachael Sarra and Quandamooka/Nunukul woman Casey Coolwell integrated into our public transport.

Share in stories, songs, rhymes and play with your little ones during First 5 Forever Jarjum Storytime at Council libraries.

And explore native plants and symbolic totems on the bushland trails at Boondall Wetlands to uncover the historical significance of the area.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and traditions are an important part of the social and economic life of Brisbane and are for everyone to learn about, experience, and enjoy.

Get to know your city better by getting involved in these and many more of Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and events today.

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country

A Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country takes place at the start of a meeting, public event or function.

The size and importance of the event usually determines which custom is used.

Welcome to Country

Involves a Traditional Custodian formally welcoming people to the land where the event is taking place.

Acknowledgment of Country

May be delivered by anyone to show their respect for Traditional Custodians and their connection to their ancestral lands.

Corporate and strategic commitments  

We are committed to achieving better recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. As part of this, we've developed strategies and plans to guide our ongoing efforts towards reconciliation.

Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) builds on the success of our collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to sustain our progress towards reconciliation. 

The 2-year plan will help us build a Brisbane that:

  • acknowledges and respects the Traditional Custodians’ connection to land and water
  • understands and accepts the shared and difficult truths of the past
  • values the diversity and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We use the RAP to benefit Brisbane’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through action items focusing on respect, relationships and opportunities.

Download the Reconciliation Action Plan to learn more.

The Indigenous Aspirations Strategy (IAS) is Council’s first high-level commitment to collaborating with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

That collaboration has created:

  • positive connections
  • improved understanding
  • led to new programs and services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The IAS reflects the leading local government practice at the time of its release and has been an important foundation for several community initiatives. 

Download the strategy to read the commitment in full.

Highlights and community initiatives

We support and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities with a range of projects and events. 

Check out some of the ways our Indigenous Aspirations Strategy is helping to deliver lasting and meaningful change.

Aboriginal Dual Names Park Project

One park per ward in Brisbane has an Aboriginal dual name with interpretative signage. These were installed in 2007 in partnership with Traditional Custodians.

Gathering

Gathering is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts program that encompasses a mix of contemporary and traditional dance, music, art, and storytelling.

The weekly performances in Queen Street Mall provide authentic experiences for audiences and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives. Performances are from February to November.

Find Gathering performances

The Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards

The Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards is an annual competition celebrating local photographers and our great city.

The Lavonne Bobongie Award is one of six categories in this competition, where entrants can win cash prizes for submitting their work.

In 2021, the Lavonne Bobongie Award was introduced. Recognising late artist LaVonne Bobongie's contribution to Brisbane as an advocate of First Nations Country, community, and identity.

Learn more

Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme

The Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations to design and deliver community led events and projects that reflect local priorities and strengthen cultural connection, providing financial assistance for culturally focused initiatives identified by community.

  • It's community-centred and community-led
  • Focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and community members
  • Prioritises cultural strengthening, healing, wellbeing and self determination
  • Funding is intended to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to design and deliver what they identify as needed.

The program is about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead and deliver outcomes for themselves.

Reconciliation Initiatives

The Reconciliation Initiatives provides financial support for community organisations seeking to deliver meaningful events, programs, and initiatives that strengthen connection, participation, and wellbeing across Brisbane.

This program reflects our commitment to walking together in partnership, fostering respectful relationships, and creating opportunities that uplift and empower local communities.

Through this funding stream, organisations are invited to apply for support to design and deliver sport, recreation, health, or arts-based initiatives that encourage active participation, build confidence, and contribute to vibrant, connected community life.

  • It's relationship centred and cross community
  • Focuses on creating opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community to come together
  • Emphasises truth telling, shared understanding, participation and inclusion
  • Supports activities that strengthen relationships, awareness and social cohesion.

The program is about strengthening understanding and relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community.

Objectives for these programs

Events or projects must align with one or more of the following objectives. These objectives apply to both the Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme and Reconciliation Initiatives, unless otherwise noted.

Support initiatives that strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity, pride, and belonging through connection to Country, culture, Elders, language, and community.

Recognising that strong cultural connection is foundational to social and emotional wellbeing, healing, and resilience across generations.

Enable culturally safe, trauma informed initiatives that support holistic health and wellbeing across physical, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual dimensions.

This includes supporting healing from grief, loss, racism, and intergenerational trauma, in ways that are strengths based and grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led initiatives that place decision making, leadership, and control with community, strengthening collective care, community capacity, and long-term wellbeing.

This reflects the principle of self-determination as central to social and emotional wellbeing.

Support initiatives that create culturally safe, respectful opportunities for truth-telling, learning, and dialogue about the histories, cultures, and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

These initiatives should:

  • promote greater understanding
  • challenge misinformation and racism, and
  • strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community.

Recognising truth-telling as a vital foundation for reconciliation, this objective supports activities that foster mutual respect, shared understanding, and collective responsibility for past, present, and future relationships.

mdi information outline

Note

Applies to Reconciliation Initiatives only.

For more information

To learn more about the Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme and Reconciliation Initiatives:

Dates of significance

Join us to acknowledge and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on these cultural days of significance. 

On this day in 2008, the then Prime Minister of Australia, Honourable Dr Kevin Rudd AC, made an official apology to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian Government. 

An estimated 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly taken from their families and raised in homes or adopted or fostered by European families.

On this day in 1997, the Bringing them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament. ‘Bringing them Home’ is the final report of the ‘National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.’

On 26 May 1998, the first National Sorry Day was held to commemorate the anniversary of the report and remember the grief, suffering and injustice experienced by the Stolen Generations.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements. It’s an opportunity to explore how everyone can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

On this day in 1992, the High Court of Australia handed down a landmark decision in the Mabo case. 

In acknowledging the traditional rights of the Meriam people to their land, the court also held that native title existed for all Indigenous people, paving the way for new federal legislation the following year, the Native Title Act 1993.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. 

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

On this day in 1871, representatives from the London Missionary Society arrived on Erub (Darnley Island) accompanied by South Sea Islander evangelists and teachers, introducing Christianity to the Torres Strait Islands. 

Each year on 1 July, ‘The Coming of the Light’ or ‘Keriba Lagaw Buiya’ in traditional language is a day of celebration, performance, oral tradition and reverence.

This day is an opportunity for the broader community to show support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It’s a chance to learn about the importance of culture, family and community in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.

Frequently asked questions

Both protocols have a similar purpose and must occur at the introduction of an event. The key difference is a Welcome to Country can only be performed by a Traditional Custodian of that Country. 

An Acknowledgement of Country can be performed by both non-Traditional Custodian, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or non-Indigenous Australian.