Welcome to Country is a ceremony that’s been performed by First Nations people for thousands of years. In recent decades both Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country have become an everyday part of public gatherings, a national custom. Following the Voice referendum, and during the 2025 federal election campaign, a public debate about Welcome to Country flickered into life. Is a Welcome to Country divisive or inclusive? What is their purpose and impact? What is lost if they cease? Join us to explore this current conversation.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face / Online

SUGGESTED READING

• Reconciliation Australia, Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country
• AAP News, Modern ceremonies claim misleads on Indigenous history
• SBS News Australia, Acknowledging Country: a modern history
• Institute of Public Affairs, Why welcome to country is a brake on economic reform
• Pauline Hanson's One Nation, Senator Pauline Hanson Demands End to Divisive Welcome to Country Ceremonies
• The Spectator Australia, Australians reject Albanese’s Welcome to Country
• ABC News Australia, How the Acknowledgment of Country became a core national custom — and why it matters

COURSE OUTLINE

• What is the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgment of Country? What is the history and purpose of a Welcome to Country?
• Where did the current debate originate? What is their impact?
• What is lost if this traditional practice ceases? Is a Welcome to Country divisive or inclusive?

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, student should be able to:

1. Distinguish between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgment of Country.
2. Understand the history of this First Nations tradition.
3. Evaluate the key points on either side of the debate.
4. Make informed contributions to the public debate.