Protocols for Recognising Traditional Owners

In Australia, there are protocols for recognising traditional owners of the country, because of its strong and proud Aboriginal history and complex ownership and land stewardship systems stretching back many thousands of years.

An Acknowledgement of Country should be given at formal events, forums and functions such as Government and Local Government meetings, conferences, school assemblies, concerts, board meetings, and official openings.

So at both seminars during the Open Access Week there were the following words displayed on the screen before the event started:

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where QUT now stands, pay respect to their Elders - past, present and emerging - and acknowledge the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within the QUT community.