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After watching the video, please take action and reflect: 

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After watching the video, please take action and reflect: 

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

- What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

You will be able to share your own personal Acknowledgment of Country with your HG during intensive.

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- My key takeaway from the session was that we should educate ourselves more into what an Acknowledgement of Country entails.The Acknowledgment of Country should be heartfelt, informed and personalised.
-  Going forward, I will further educate myself about Noongar Country that I live in now and be more aware and informed when I visit another Country.
- As an educator, an Acknowledgment of Country is very important in taking steps towards reconciliation. It is also important in educating students about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and showing respect and recognition.

Sarah Ghossein

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Key takeaways:
Country isn't the simplistic concept of land, but an environment that fosters connections to and between land, culture, journeys and community.
Going forward:
I will continue to educate myself about the Country and the traditional custodians of the Country that I am currently on – nipaluna of the muwinina people – and that I am moving to – the lands of the Bunurong people.
As an educator:
Acknowledgement of Country means not only recognising my role in educating based of Western knowledge, but respecting, appreciating and committing to the continual recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander knowledge and culture.

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Key Takeaways:
- This introduction to relational worldviews and the ontological basis behind the Acknowledgement of Country was an eye opener for me.
Actions to take:
- I will research more about the Eora Country. I would like to know more about what parts of this Country are important to FN people.
- I would also like to read Sand Talk (Tyson Yunkaporta) as I think it may shed further light on the FN view of the world.
As an educator:
- I would like to continue to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of the Acknowledgement of Country. I would like to be able to pass this onto my students so they have an opportunity to appreciate the complex and deep meaning of the Acknowledgment of Country.

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- Welcome to Country is not just a welcome to the land itself, but an intimate encounter with the community, culture and connections on that particular land.
- Parallels can be drawn between the Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing and other cultures, for example identity as a collective and individual.
- Cultures cannot be understood/examined in isolation.
- As an educator, I will strive to educate myself not only on the traditional customs and cultures of the place I am moving to - the lands of the Wurundjeri people - but also on other cultures of the people in the community.

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An acknowledgment of country clearly indicate a sense of respect towards first-nations peoples and this respect should carry through beyond the statement of acknowledgment.

The concept of country is about the connection between the land, people and culture.

Going Forward-

I will continue to educate myself the customs and culture of the Wodi Wodi people (where I live) and will do the same in any other area I may move to.

-As an educator, knowing how to properly make an acknowledgement to country is an important part of showing respect to students and the community. It is also important to make a commitment to teach these skills and pass them on to further generations so respect and recognition may continue to be shown.
- Genevieve Sutton

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I feel extremely moved and humbled by the inter-connectedness of First Nations culture. The relational ontology makes so much sense to me and learning and beginning to understand how rich those relationships are helps to me conceive more teaching ideas and strategies for the classroom and for working alongside First Nations students. The Acknowledgement of Country demonstrates the respect I feel towards the First Nations people and allows me to begin to create more meaningful relationships with the students I am working alongside. I really appreciate the different communication style in that lecture - I feel the conversational tone and rich explanations helped me to begin to understand a more nuanced view of Country and culture.

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Key takeaways:
- Acknowledgement of Country means more than just acknowledging that you are on stolen land. It means to acknowledge the meaning and connection the traditional custodians have with Country and reflect on this personally.
Future actions
- Continue to listen and learn.
- Respect the customs and culture of First Nations people and seek out advice of local Elders
Meaning as a teacher
- Creating a space for First Nations knowledge in your classroom
- Creating a dialogue with all students that assists in furthering reconciliation

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- My key takeaways is that there is so much more to the acknowledgement of country than a few words said at the start of meetings and speeches. The depth and profoundness was moving.
- As a result of this I will further educate myself about the traditional land which I live in which is the Wurundjeri Country and its people, traditions and heritage.
- As an educator, I believe I play a pivotal role in passing on this knowledge to my students so they not only learn the subject area but have an appreciation and respect for the traditional owners of the land we now share and their deep connection with it.

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Key Takeaways:
- Acknowledgement of Country is about recognition and respect for culture, history, relationships, environment and everything in it.
- Country and knowing is very different place to place so listen and learn first and foremost.

Actions:
- Connect with Seymour Local Aboriginal Network (where I will be going) to listen and learn.
- Improve at holding what Country means when I am acknowledging Country.

As educator:
- Be open to creative ways I can integrate Country in my day to day teaching activities (i.e. activities we do in class)

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-An acknowledgement of Country is a significant mark of respect towards the land, including all the animals, plants, waterways, culture and history. An acknowledgement is also key to recognising the people who have cared for the land as a part of Country.

Actions
- As I am moving to a new location for the next two years I will endeavour to learn about the Country that I will be a part of
- I will try to pause, listen and learn to both what people and places have to tell

As an educator
- An acknowledgement recognises that people identify themselves and their place in the world differently and I need to try to take this into account. It also provides a lesson to not just get stuck in the traditional Western ways of knowledge and learning

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Key Takeaways:
- Acknowledgement of Country is so much more than just saying the words but also genuinely meaning them. By doing this we are able to create an intimate connection with Country and all that it has to offer.
- To acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country is significant because it recognises that there is rich knowledge available from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that holds and will continue to hold value in eveery generation.

Actions:
- I would like to read up more on the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to understand their perspective and their stories.
- Upon commencing my palcement, I will endeavour to understand the culture and history of the Country I am in. I believe the first step towards any meaningful action is understanding why we are doing it in the first place and by educating myself in this area, I hope to be able to better serve the community which I am in.

Meaning of Acknowledgment of Country to me as an educator:
- I think it's about understand that there exists knowledge in different forms, especially beyond those of a Western framework. By understanding the Acknowledgement of Country, it is about having the humility that we do not possess all the knowledge in the world and we do have strength is our diversity. It is about having the courage to admit that we do not have all the answers and accepting that we have much more to learn and if we are fortunate, open, and humble enough, these truths may be revealed to us from Country.

Ying Xiong (David) Goh

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Key takeaway: Acknowledgement Of Country needs to be felt not just said.
Actions: I will research more about my home country (Wadawurrung) and the country I am moving to (Gunai/Kurnai). I will also endeavour to acknowledge Country wherever appropriate and possible, and really mean and feel what I say.
What does it mean to me as an educator: Acknowledgement Of Country makes me feel optimistic that we are moving in the right direction as a nation, so I hope to instil this optimism in my students. I also know that each student will have a different idea and interpretation of these Acknowledgements, so I will identify and accept these.

- Eliza Kramer

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

I have always heard and even administered an Acknowledgement of Country as part of gatherings but I never understood the depth of meaning until now. Not only as a way of respecting the Traditional Owners of this land but also as a reflection of my own relationship with country, something I've never thought of before in the way. Thank you.

- What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

I will strive to ensure that all Acknowledgements of Country in my classrooms will focus on both paying respects and including all of our relationships to this ancient land, the varied ways we experience it and the continued journey of learning.

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator? (You will be able to share your own personal Acknowledgment of Country with your HG during intensive)

To me, participating in an AoC as an educator is about helping facilitate a mutual understanding of respect, reconciliation and unity within a classroom.To bring a deep understanding of this land and the First Nations people who live on it as well fostering a connection between kids and Country.

By Sam McDonald

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- My key takeaway was to never assume someone's ontology and epistomology, and that their perception of reality can and probably is different to mine.

- An action I will take will be to acknowledge the environment that I am in, and acknowledging how that is informing my state of being.

- As an educator of First Nations people I will be consistent in considering how not just humans hold knowledge. And validating that knowledge when it is brought up.

Matt Nicholas

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- My key takeaway on the session is that Acknowledgement of Country stems deeper than simply identifying that we live on stolen lands, and recognising traditional owners. It's recognising their history and perspectives of the world.

- As a result of this knowledge, I think it's important to share my understanding of this knowledge and what it actually means to perform an acknowledgement of country. Furthermore, I will endeavour to learn more about the specific culture of the land of the peoples I live on.

- As mentioned, as an educator I feel obliged to share this knowledge and inform students. Furthermore, setting standards and expectations around acknowledgement of country, and normalising the ritual of acknowledgement of country, will play an important role for me as an educator.

Kyle Britto.

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Key Takeaways

It is more than just acknowledging the land. We acknowledge the sovereignty of the traditional custodians; the Elders, past, present and emerging in cyclical time; and the land and its entities.

Actions
I first plan to research the acknowledgement protocols of the Wajuk land upon which I now stand.

I also plan to craft my own personal acknowledgement and to explore deeply what it means to me.

As an educator
It struck me that due to cyclical time, I can pay respects to the Elders past by providing a safe, positive and cultured environment to the Elders emerging.

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Key Takeaways

An acknowledgement of Country is a significant sign of respect towards the land, ancestors and all natural things the land dis and will provide with the people who interact with it.

Actions

I will ensure that all Acknowledgements of Country in my classes, meetings and  community events will focus on both paying respects to the Wajuk Noogar land which we will be meeting on.

As an educator

A welcome to country is a practice which keeps the classroom respectful to the opportunity they are given on the land on which we are learning, however is also enables a sense of community, culture and inclusivity withing the classroom.

Anaiya Dabasia

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Key Takeaways:

That there is a lot I don’t know, so for me listening and learning are very important to begin with.
The idea of connectedness between everyone and everything, I was aware of  the strong connection to Country, but didn't realise the full extent of it (e.g. that everything is an equal entity and that everything is animate)

Actions I will take:

I want to learn more, and listen more, and practice grounding myself in Country and Acknowledging where I am and what Country I am on. I also want to work on being aware of when I move onto different Country.

As an educator:

It is a such a simple and important thing to do, to show respect and acknowledge the Country we are learning on and what we can learn from Country itself. I think it is important for First Nations students to see educators acknowledge Country and show an understanding and respect for their culture, and make the classroom a more inclusive space, seeing as we are literally standing on Country that has been cared for and looked after for longer than any of us have been alive, and will continue to be cared for long after we are gone.

Lucy James

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That there is so much philosophy imbedded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and a learning of this enhances my own experience of being.  I loved the ideas of Garraba and Wutja and 'the greater the knowledge, the greater the responsibility'.

Actions:
I will reach out to the community where I am moving to before arrival, through the  relevant Land Council. I will endeavour to embody humility, conscious of my ignorance, and strive to be a better listener. I will be patient with communication styles I do not understand. I'd also like to read Sand Talk.

As an educator, it is important to me that my students feel respected. A heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country is one way to do this.

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An Acknowledgement to Country holds a lot of significance and should not be seen as a formality. It is important to acknowledge the difference between our Western worldviews and those of First Nations people, and to have an open mind towards their beliefs and culture.

When in meetings, lessons or events where an Acknowledgement to Country is given I will be more considerate and respectful towards the land I am on, the history of it and my relationship to the land and my Country.

As an education I will play an important role in passing these lessons onto my students and allowing those with different backgrounds to my own to share their beliefs and customs in a safe, respectful environment.

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Acknowledgement of Country is something that, until today, I did not know much about. I now know that there is so much meaning, spirituality and respect behind each Acknowledgement of Country. There is a lot for me to learn and unlearn in this space. I feel like I have just scratched the surface and for me a key takeaway is the depth and layers within an Acknowledgement of Country and that I need to explore more.

For me, some actions that I will take is passing on some of what I have learnt today. I do not feel like I can do the topic justice but if it gets someone to develop an interest, I guess that's a start.

As an educator, it will be important to pass on these learnings. When I was at high school, there was very little discussion about First Nations People (feeling that now!). I missed out on the opportunity and feel that I now have an opportunity to make up for this short fall.

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I am more aware of how significant biding by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and knowledges is in being part of the human race.

I will make time and space in the rhythms of everyday to be quiet, to reconnect and to establish better ways of knowing, being and doing.

As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country means connecting to the boundless history and knowledge of geographical location, of each other, and of oneself.

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 An Acknowledgement of Country is more than a formality, it is rather a time of significance and reflection. I appreciated learning about the principles and understandings that are prevalent within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly the interconnectedness of nature and oneself. It allowed me to recognise and further develop my understandings of these worldly perceptions.

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 An Acknowledgement of Country is more than a formality, it is rather a time of significance and reflection. I appreciated learning about the principles and understandings that are prevalent within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly the interconnectedness of nature and oneself. It allowed me to recognise and further develop my understandings of these worldly perceptions.

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From these learnings I wish to further develop my knowledge surrounding the land on which I am on, and the significant cultural aspects. In doing so I will further my own understandings, and appreciation for this land, and the Indigenous communities that guide it.

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My key takeaways are how interconnected the First Nations People are to nature and other people and that Acknowledgement of Country has always been their way.
I will explain to people why this is done at the beginning of ceremonies, speeches or any other formal occasion.
As an educator I will pass on this knowledge to my students as this is where the change in attitude in crucial.

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My key takeaways are how connected First Nations people are to the land and to relationships, and that we need to acknowledge this and respect all people.

As an educator, I will acknowledge this with my students and ensure that I respect First Nations protocols in my classes.

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings ?

Acknowledgement of Country is a really powerful and important message that is more than the words said, it can be felt within you. It really opened my eyes to how meaningful and special it really is.

- What actions will you now take?

I want to be able to really connect to Country when an Acknowledgment is said.

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

As an educator it is important to help teach and distribute our knowledge of Country to our surroundings. We need to acknowledge there is a history greater than our own and we should show respect this
through our acknowledgements.

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Acknowledgement of Country is a powerful and inspiring way to acknowledge and appreciate the land on which we collectively gather. It is not only about acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, which I always thought it was, but about acknowledging the life, the culture and the knowledge which flows through the land, and thanking the traditional owners for caring for the land so that we may benefit in gathering on it. I love the concept of taking deep breaths and really feeling your feet touching the earth and gaining energy from it. I also love imagining the land on which I feel most at home, or the land in which I feel held. I will do this every time I hear or give an acknowledgement of Country and I will encourage others to do the same; To not only listen and acknowledge but to really feel, appreciate and respect Country. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Acknowledgement of Country is a powerful and inspiring way to acknowledge and appreciate the land on which we collectively gather. It is not only about acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, which I always thought it was, but about acknowledging the life, the culture and the knowledge which flows through the land, and thanking the traditional owners for caring for the land so that we may benefit in gathering on it. I love the concept of taking deep breaths and really feeling your feet touching the earth and gaining energy from it. I also love imagining the land on which I feel most at home, or the land in which I feel held. I will do this every time I hear or give an acknowledgement of Country and I will encourage others to do the same; To not only listen and acknowledge but to really feel, appreciate and respect Country. 

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-I found it deeply moving to think of Country away from the eurocentric colonialist human-centered philosophy. I think that this concept meant more to me today than it would have done so even a week ago after leaving Melbourne for the first time in many months on Monday. We drove past the hedgerows of Kyneton and surrounds and watched the landscape become less tempered with European involvement. We sat in a creek and thought about what this place might mean to the custodians of it and how much had changed. 

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-I found it deeply moving to think of Country away from the eurocentric colonialist human-centered philosophy. I think that this concept meant more to me today than it would have done so even a week ago after leaving Melbourne for the first time in many months on Monday. We drove past the hedgerows of Kyneton and surrounds and watched the landscape become less tempered with European involvement. We sat in a creek and thought about what this place might mean to the custodians of it and how much had changed. 

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_I am now very committed to learning the correct placenames of places I visit and live in.

-It is an honor to teach the future leaders of Australia and Acknowledging Country in a respectful and appropriate way will set and example that hopefully students will follow, as well as acknowledging those in the classroom who are the emerging custodians of Country.

Christy Roberts

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- For me, I really appreciated learning more in-depth about Acknowledgement of Country, especially learning about the what occurs during Acknowledgement of Country: sovereignty, cyclical time, locatedness, and balance. I value the importance of Acknowledgement of Country but personally have always struggled myself giving an Acknowledgement of Country more because I feel like I am still learning so much about the culture and history of the land I'm on, and I want to make sure I am paying respects properly. So it was very useful for me during the video to see ways to approach how to do an Acknowledgement of Country, and especially about reaching out to the Traditional Owners and elders in the community to learn about how to do it properly in that location.

As well as those actions mentioned above, I also really want to learn more about the animals, waterways, trees, that are important to the Traditional Owners and community where I'll be based.

I want to try as much as possible to use resources in my classroom that acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the culture and the history. But I want to make sure I am always listening and learning from my students and from the community to make sure I am always being respectful.

- Natasha Woodcock

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My key takeaway was that acknowledging Country is an act that extends beyond the moment that it is performed in and positions us within Country that extends into the past, present and future indefinitely. An acknowledgement of Country demonstrates respect for Country and everything that belongs to Country. With this respect comes an openess to be constantly learning from and recognising the traditional custodians whose connection to Country has existed for time immemorial.

As a result of learning these things I want to ensure that my acknowledgement and understanding of Country is always guided by the traditional owners whose Country I reside on. I want to ensure that I ask questions and am constantly open to learning, in recognition that the histories, people, ancestors, places and everything else that belong to Country are different across Australia and Indigenous communities do not belong to one single culture, experience or Country. In doing so I want to acknowledge Country in a way that is grounded in genuine respect rather than being superficial.

As an educator an acknowledgement of Country means recogising different world views and ways of knowing. It also means recognising and celebrating Indigenous culture not only as the oldest continuous culture in the world but as something that is alive today, often being lived through the emerging custodians who may be in our classrooms and their communities. To me it also means recognising that we are not experts in everything, that our Indigenous students and their communities have a lot to teach us about their culture, Country and how we can live and teach respectfully in these spaces. So acknowledging country is recognising this need to listen and learn from these people and the Country they belong to .

-Ellen

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I've gleaned a much better understanding of the welcome and acknowledgement of Country and how it's so much deeper than a reconciliation based administrative gesture but something deeply ensconced in thousands of years of tradition with strong spiritual ties. Hopefully it's something I can feel confident to incorporate into my teaching practise.

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My key takeaways are how interconnected the First Nations People are to nature and other people and that Acknowledgement of Country has always been their way.
I will explain to people why this is done at the beginning of ceremonies, speeches or any other formal occasion.
As an educator I will pass on this knowledge to my students as this is where the change in attitude in crucial.

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Key takeaway for me was the emphasis on the contrasting and very different ways of understanding the world between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. It is difficult as someone with a Western/ancient Greek/individualistic mind to fully comprehend the Aboriginal way of relating oneself to the world.

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Key takeaway for me was the emphasis on the contrasting and very different ways of understanding the world between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. It is difficult as someone with a Western/ancient Greek/individualistic mind to fully comprehend the Aboriginal way of relating oneself to the world.

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An action I will take is to consciously remind myself of these differences, and to educate myself more about  indigenous understandings, and especially to take every opportunity to make friends with Aboriginal people and to learn from them, and I have done in the past and it has been wonderfully rewarding.
In terms of my attitude to Acknowledgement of Country I have to confess that I am quite ambivalent about this ritual. Although I recognise the value of Acknowledgement of Country I often cringe when I see powerful, white people give what appears to be a tokenistic gesture towards Aboriginal people - so I am not sure at this point how what attitude to take, I am still keeping an open mind about it.
by Daniel Lah

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Key takeaways:
a welcome to country should be a call an response snd we answer the welcome with respect, responsibility and reciprocity.
That a welcome involves an interconnectedness that I hadn't thought about before.

Actions:
I will make sure to make all acknowledgements of country that I do heartfelt, meaningful and informed.
I will also learn more about not only the land on which I live, but the land I came from, and the land I'm going to.

Educator
I would like to help my students students learn the names and meaning of the land on which they live. I also want to help them to understand that we are guests here on this land and to approach it with care and love.

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The key takeaway for me was how interconnected first nations people are to other entities. I have heard the phrase 'connected to Country' used many times but have never really understood how much that phrase actually encompasses and how varied it's meaning is across first nation people. 

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The key takeaway for me was how interconnected first nations people are to other entities. I have heard the phrase 'connected to Country' used many times but have never really understood how much that phrase actually encompasses and how varied it's meaning is across first nation people. 

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I would love to understand more about the variations between different first nation communities and their beliefs. I would also love to know more about Noongar culture and how to pay respect to Noongar customs and people in an acknowledgment of Country.

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I was moved especially by the whole-heartedness of all the  contributors.  The interconnectedness seems  complex at first glance but somehow it seems incredibly simple - as long as we slow down to notice the contributing relationships and their interconnectedness.  The notion that Country is more than a physical place but is the combination of so many intangible parts was impactful for me...

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I was moved especially by the whole-heartedness of all the  contributors.  The interconnectedness seems  complex at first glance but somehow it seems incredibly simple - as long as we slow down to notice the contributing relationships and their interconnectedness.  The notion that Country is more than a physical place but is the combination of so many intangible parts was impactful for me...

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I look forward to learning about the place names which can teach us so much about the land and its history. Also, the importance of localising the Acknowledgment to Country and  noticing the special diversity that exists.

I will listen to my students and be a good student for them in that context - and always make sure to be open to their knowledge and that of their families.
- Claire

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Key takeaways there is so much more to acknowledgement of Country than I imagined. I really have a lot to learn. The ways of knowing, being and doing are different to what I've grown up with, yet kind of intuitive. I was able to reflect and understand my affinity with aspects of Country. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Key takeaways there is so much more to acknowledgement of Country than I imagined. I really have a lot to learn. The ways of knowing, being and doing are different to what I've grown up with, yet kind of intuitive. I was able to reflect and understand my affinity with aspects of Country. 

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I look forward to continuing to learn and increase my understanding of these concepts and learning to embrace and acknowledge Country. I look forward to practicing connecting to Country.
As an educator, acknowledgement of Country will help me to focus on the broader learning experience.

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Key takeaways relate to the complexity and depth of acknowledgment of Country. It's very easy to be lazy and view it as a merely a few words and very 2D. My ignorance of the significance and detail is somewhat frustrating and disappointing & I'll seek to remedy that. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Key takeaways relate to the complexity and depth of acknowledgment of Country. It's very easy to be lazy and view it as a merely a few words and very 2D. My ignorance of the significance and detail is somewhat frustrating and disappointing & I'll seek to remedy that. 

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- My key takeaway from the session was that we need to educate ourselves more into what an Acknowledgement of Country actually is. So often the Acknowledgment of Country is done quick and rushed at the beginning of meetings and presentations, without anyone really reflection on why we are actually doing it and its important/significance.  -  Going forward, I will further educate myself and make myself aware of the land I am on, its people and its history when acknowledgments are done. I look forward to learning more about this.                               - As an educator, an Acknowledgment of Country is an opportunity to educate students on the rich history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The more we learn the bigger steps we will take towards reconciliation. 

# data[].attributes.subject
- My key takeaway from the session was that we need to educate ourselves more into what an Acknowledgement of Country actually is. So often the Acknowledgment of Country is done quick and rushed at the beginning of meetings and presentations, without anyone really reflection on why we are actually doing it and its important/significance.  -  Going forward, I will further educate myself and make myself aware of the land I am on, its people and its history when acknowledgments are done. I look forward to learning more about this.                               - As an educator, an Acknowledgment of Country is an opportunity to educate students on the rich history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The more we learn the bigger steps we will take towards reconciliation. 

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I felt the sincerity of all the contributors and felt humbled to be in their presence, all be it virtually. I felt the words spoken towards the end of the presentation "I know I'm not with you, but I'm with you" very deeply as this has been such a challenging time of physical separation but in fact we are always connected through and by Country.
I had never properly paused to reflect on the difference between "Acknowledgement of Country" and "Welcome to Country" and the importance of capitalising the C in Country. I am also reflecting on the meaning of the word Country which seems to be all-encompassing unlike the dictionary definition. To acknowledge and pay respects to the land and all the beings and the knowledge they hold seems an essential act to take part in before sharing space with someone, especially students whom you will influence. I am curious to learn and discuss with students how they personally feel connected to country in different ways.
- Emma Gates

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- My key takeaway from this session was that an Acknowledge of Country isn't just about recognising the traditional custodians of the land, but about pausing and grounding the entire event in the place and history of our country. The exercise where we had to imagine a place we felt connected to really helped me to understand a little more what an Acknowledgement of Country could be and mean to me.
- The action I will take after this session is both to be more aware of this when I am listening to or presenting an Acknowledgement of Country, but also I want to find out more about the traditional custodians of the land that I will be moving to with TFA, so I am going to do some research into that.
- As an educator, I think Acknowledgement of Country is about recognising the teaching, learning and knowledge sharing that is embedded in the land and brought to light by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and history. It is about understanding that education is not just about what we can teach each other, but what we can learn from Country, by approaching it with a sense of respect and an openness to understanding the knowledge it holds.
- Ceilidh

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I feel privileged to have this knowledge shared with me, so genuinely thank you.

This sharing has made me consider many things, and a key takeaway from this knowledge in a personal sense, is the importance to pause, be still and learn to listen. This is something that I will carry forward with me in my learning and journey.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

I have learnt why it is so important to create my own personal Acknowledgment of Country for Aborigial and Torres Strait Islanders for recognition and inclusivity.

I also got an understanding of the importance of the land and all creatures to the First Nation Groups and how everything is connected.

Also, getting an understanding of Welcome to Country as I didn't have any knowledge of this process, who could complete it and why it is completed.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

I will be sure to find out the name of the Aboriginal Group and Nation for my own personal acknowledgement, be sure to complete my own acknowledgement when I am teaching in a classroom at the beginning of a lesson or meeting.

What does an Acknowledgement of Country mean to you as a educator?

It shows respect to the First Nation Groups and as an educator, by completing the Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of a class, this will let the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students know I am respectful of them and their land and also that I am aware of their culture, the importance of their culture continuing and want to make the class aware of their culture too.

Share your own personal Acknowledgement of Country that you have written:

I would like to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we are meeting on today.  I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.

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I'm so glad to have now engaged with this knowledge. It's unfortunately not something I have sought out enough on my own. I learnt about what Country really encapsulates instead of my previous 'literal' understanding. I also now have a much greater appreciation for acknowledgements to Country and their significance. I really admire the connectedness approach and I hope that thinking and feeling spreads.

I will now continue to seek out more information and knowledge from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sources and other sources to grow my understanding as well as hopefully others' along with me by sharing resources. I want to check in on my own potential underlying biases too and call myself out on any negative ones.

To me as an educator, acknowledgement of Country (done sincerely) means showing respect to First Nations people and to Country, and really taking a moment to acknowledge the history (the good and the bad) and to use that knowledge to do better in future.

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Listening and reading about Acknowledgement of Country has humbled and inspired me. I would like to thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who contributed to explaining their values, knowledge, and culture so beautifully. 

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Listening and reading about Acknowledgement of Country has humbled and inspired me. I would like to thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who contributed to explaining their values, knowledge, and culture so beautifully. 

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My key takeaways from this session are how concepts of identity and history influence the way we see ourselves and the places in which we inhabit. Going forward, I want to continue to seek out knowledge on First Nations peoples and ensure that I am learning more about the land I live in. As an educator, I hope to encourage others to do the same, and recognise the deep importance of Acknowledgement of Country.

As I write this message today, it is my deep privilege to be on the ancestral lands of the Ngunnawal people. I acknowledge the First Australians as the traditional custodians of the land, whose cultures are among the oldest living cultures in human history. I would like to pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and future, and extend that respect to any other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are here today.

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Learning and reflecting on different views of knowledges and time has really deepened my understanding, particularly of what Country is and what it means. Now I know that Country is not just all the animals, waters, plants and land and the connection of people to them, but also the connections of people to each other and to the spiritual world, and the resonance through time of these connections.
I took away the fact that an Acknowledgement of Country gives back the right position to First Nations people, and as an educator I hope to keep guiding those I interact with to understand what actions, patterns and positions are right, and how to build that right way.
I now understand that learning entails responsibilities, and I will uphold the responsibilities I gain from what I learn, including the knowledge shared with me about Country.
An action that I want to take is to find more sources explaining different ATSI theologies and philosophies, so I can better understand the diversity of views and what aspects they have in common.

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My key takeaway is a deeper understanding of the term Country, and how it refers not just to the physical world, but how it is all-encompassing in ways of being and doing, the spiritual world and culture itself. I was really struck when one of the videos mentioned the importance of speaking about culture in the present tense, as something that includes and is relevant to modern ways of life - I recognised that unconsciously, I  had assumed that a culture with such ancient roots would be in conflict with some of today's practices, rather than being complimentary.

Based on my learning, I plan on further researching the Country where my placement school is located, including doing a bush walk in the area. I want to practice deep listening while visiting  and allow myself to be truly open to what Country wants to teach me.

Now that I've gained a greater understanding of Welcome to Country, and that it is a true, deep and sincere welcome from the Elders, as an educator I will practice Acknowledgement of Country with that same sincerity. I will strive to convey how humbled and thankful I am to be welcomed on Country and to show respect for the Traditional Owners in not just my words, but also my thoughts and actions.

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Key Takeaways:

1. Country is a deep, spiritual and ontological connection to and understanding of space, time, knowledge and love.

2. I have much work to do to develop my understanding and acknowledgement of Country, its traditional owners and the connection between it and its people, and integrate this understanding into my daily life and professional practise.

Actions I will take as a result of my learning:

1. Through research develop a greater understanding of the history, culture and customs of the traditional owners of the land I currently reside on, and the land I will reside on during my placement.

2. Adopt a mindset of continuous learning and deep listening about Country and its traditional custodians.

3. Engage in more dialogue with and about traditional custodians of the land to collectively further understanding of Country.

As an educator: Acknowledgement of Country is a duty to collectively pay respect to the traditional owners of the land we are on, and to inspire dialogue in my students to further our collective understanding of Country.

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Key Takeaways:
1. Country is a deep, spiritual and ontological connection to and understanding of space, time, knowledge and love.
2. I have much work to do to develop my understanding and acknowledgement of Country, its traditional owners and the connection between it and its people, and integrate this understanding into my daily life and professional practise.

Actions I will take as a result of my learning:
1. Through research develop a greater understanding of the history, culture and customs of the traditional owners of the land I currently reside on, and the land I will reside on during my placement.
2. Adopt a mindset of continuous learning and deep listening about Country and its traditional custodians.
3. Engage in more dialogue with and about traditional custodians of the land to collectively further understanding of Country.

As an educator: Acknowledgement of Country is a duty to collectively pay respect to the traditional owners of the land we are on, and to inspire dialogue in my students to further our collective understanding of Country.

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Key takeaways:
First Nations people hold relational world views, and that includes the land, animals, plants as well as humans. The self is not held in the centre, but is intertwined with the relations of these beings and places.

That I have a deeply embedded Western viewpoint that values on-timeness and directness, but this is not the ways of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. My new awareness can help me understand different ways of being and doing.

Actions I will take as an educator:
1. I will be more mindful of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being and doing, and adjust my expectations to incorporate this cultural diversity.
2. I will practice deep listening to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
3. I will aim to share my learning with students and encourage students to meaningfully contribute to the conversations and knowledge.

As an educator:
1. I will talk with students about their connection to Country and about the meaning of the Welcome to Country.
2. I would really like to recreate the activity from the presentation where everyone stills and imagines their Country and how they feel. This made me feel connected and safe, and gave me a sense of the ancestors' custodianship and care of Country, and I would like students to gain this understanding too.

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I feel extraordinarily privileged to have had this opportunity to learn about the significance of Country. The key takeaways that I drew from the presentation were that the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country are powerful mechanisms for connecting to place, communicating respect, and listening deeply. I gained a fuller understanding of Indigenous ontologies and the profound significance of Country to Indigenous identity. I was particularly moved by the concept of knowledge manifest in nature and the concept of cyclical time where ancestors and people in the present exist in one space.

I aim to engage in active research and learning to broaden my understanding of Indigenous culture, heritage and spirituality. I am also now driven to learn about and engage with the traditional custodians of lands which have 'held' me, a term which I think so succinctly and elegantly captures the feeling of connection to place.

As an educator I look forward to learning more about how I can integrate the Acknowledgement of Country into my education practice. The Acknowledgement of Country will be a continuously evolving way for me, and those I teach, to express to traditional owners our abiding respect and willingness to listen.

- Tom Jones

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The key takeaway for me is that Acknowledgement and Welcome to country are integral parts of fostering respect for Indigenous culture and values, and connection to the land. I now understand how important these traditions and practices are as we endeavour to work towards reconciliation as a country. As a teacher I will encourage my students to learn more about Indigenous culture and traditions, and also ensure that I continue to learn myself.

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The key takeaway for me is that Acknowledgement and Welcome to country are integral parts of fostering respect for Indigenous culture and values, and connection to the land. I now understand how important these traditions and practices are as we endeavour to work towards reconciliation as a country. As a teacher I will encourage my students to learn more about Indigenous culture and traditions, and also ensure that I continue to learn myself.

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Key Takeaways
- Opened a doorway for me to reflect on the relationship between epistemology, evidence, and how we implicitly use these perspectives everyday
- Appreciated the exploration into Sovereignty, Cyclical Time, Locatedness and Balance and how these inform an Acknowledgement and Aboriginal Relationships

Actions:
- continue to refine and develop an acknowledgement I can use as a classroom teacher
- meet and understand protocal on delivering an acknowledgement when I relocate for placement

What does an Acknowledgement mean to me:
I believe it's a chance for me to lead my audience on  a journey of making Aboriginal culture relevant to them, and as a means of inspiring mindfulness of this within the sessions I lead.

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Acknowledgement of Country is a profound show of respect and, if delivered with sincerity and humility, is a powerful message of engagement and a genuine path to healing.

I continue to seek answers to the following questions: Does the introduced pathway of ‘formal education leading to a successful career’ fundamentally require First Nations people to abandon Country, disrespect their ancestors and Elders and, ultimately, damage or destroy their essential spirit? Is modern education a form of insidious and invasive indoctrination that unknowingly results in the genocide of spirituality and the destruction of First Nations peoples’ wellbeing? Is western education another form of destruction and dispossession, again by superficially-presented, but disingenuous, well-intentioned means? Do First Nations youth instinctively understand this? And is this the primary reason for widespread disengagement and disillusionment? Is this disengagement, fundamentally speaking, a desperate means of preserving First Nations youth’s profound connection to Country and ancestors? What are the genuine future pathways for First Nations youth that do not require an abandonment of Country? Do the existing pathways require, by their fundamental design, that First Nations youth disrespect Elders past, present and future? Is the current and historical approach to education by Non-Indigenous people fundamentally incompatible with the expectations and requirements of First Nations youth? What can be done to find, or to develop, a common ground where First Nations youth and Elders can feel genuinely engaged and properly respected? How can First Nations people maintain intellectual sovereignty when modern education effectively requires ceding it? How can the imperial mindset of exploitation, destruction, enslavement and marginalisation finally embrace a welcoming culture of belonging, connectedness, spirituality and coexistence?

Sincerely, Rick Hlasny

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My key takeaway: The concept of Country from a First Nations’ perspective is demonstrably distinct from the traditional Western concepts of land and property rights. It comprises so much more than just the physical. It denotes a spiritual, cultural and intergenerational connection to place and community. In my opinion, the concept of Country is still not very well understood by many Australians, myself included.

I will continue to educate myself on the meaning and importance of Country from a First Nations perspective. I will listen closely to the voices of First Nations people and attempt to develop a broad and nuanced understanding of their connection to Country. I will put aside my inherent biases and lack of current understanding and attempt to see the notion from a non-Western-prescribed perspective as much as possible.

As an educator, an Acknowledgment to Country means acknowledging the perspectives, customs and connections of First Nations people to the land on which they live. It means respecting that connection and being aware of the way both myself and my actions may impede upon it.

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I have learnt that acknowledgement of country should not be a 'token effort' but only has meaning if it is thought through properly, if the setting and tone is considered and time is taken to consult community. As an educator it is not just my job to promote the inclusion of acknowledgement of country but to also educate my students on its significance in the process of healing and togetherness.

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My key takeaway was the depth of meaning behind both the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. I had not known the fundamental links between the Welcome to Country and the First Nations’ relational worldview. This lack of knowledge around the First Nations’ ways of being, knowing and doing emphasises my own grounding in the Western worldview, indicating an area of growth that needs to be addressed.

In order to address this, I will do further research into First Nations cultures & history. Immediately, I will research the land which I am living on, including the important animals & environments that might be sacred to the Traditional Owners or Custodians. I will try to incorporate this knowledge into both my own worldview, and teaching, moving forward.

As an educator, the Acknowledgement of Country is a way to recognise and work towards reconciliation, both for myself and my students. It will start an important conversation around Country, which is key to understanding and exploring within an educational setting.

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The concept that First Nations people call Country is very different to the Western view of property ownership. Country is much more than just size, location and price, Country is everything in the area in time and space. This is a fascinating concept that is hard to grasp from a Western mindset. I think the key is to listen.
Acknowledgment of Country and Welcome to Country are powerful methods for individuals or groups to show awareness and respect for Aboriginal culture and the traditional custodians of this land. However it is necessary that these are requested and performed from a place of sincerity and respect, not as a token gesture.

I am very excited about learning more about First Nations culture and their deep, powerful connection to Country. As I learn I want to talk about it with my friends and family because I think it is a conversation we all need to have. I will also have to learn more about the Gumbaynggir people!

As an educator I think the Acknowledgment of Country is a great way to remind the students and myself that we are always on Aboriginal land and this reminder can encourage conversation, learning and listening.

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To learn how a people who have endured so prosperously for so long prior to settlement celebrate community and prioritise wholistic education of open-mindedness. Being honest, not understanding the meaning of the Acknowledgement of Country blinded me in ignorance for the role it plays in healing and normalising the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If we can create a culture that fosters education of the history and relational worldview we can create a society that benefits all people.

I must take time to understand the land I inhabit in order to be better educated in the culture I'm unfamiliar with.
I want to be able to destabilise my view of the world and how i understand it, so i am able to process perspectives and ideas that I am not familiar with in order to be a better educator to those who I do not share common history with. If I can grow my understanding of my diverse world-views, I can better understand how to guide the next generation of leaders, especially First Nations people, in a way that benefits all my students equally, not just those who I share common culture with.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations are always seeking to learn from all the elements of country around them. The respect they hold for their land, peoples and customs is represented in the Acknowledgement of Country and as an educator it inspires me to embrace the diversity of knowledge and learning amongst the community I am in, inside and outside the classroom. I cannot ask any of my future students to abandon who they are and their cultural values to conform to how I know the world just because I am their educator. I think the Acknowledgement of country serves as an important start point to promote serious discussion surrounding the importance of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people, and educates those non-first nations people, myself included,  how we can best help change the current system to benefit all of our students, not just the ones who we share cultural understanding with. Education begins with respect of the person/student, which first requires you to respect their culture.

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My key takeaways from this session are:

That First nations' culture is much more embedded in Australian culture than we realise, that for many years they have been excluded and the acknowledgement of Country is just a small gesture that can begin the healing process, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders need a place at the table and a stronger voice in the country of which they have been traditional custodians.

What actions I will take:

Ensuring that there is acknowledgement of traditional custodians at all events, whether virtual or face-to-face, beyond the acknowledgement itself when discussing Australia and its history and culture. To do my best to amplify first nation voices when there is the opportunity to do so.

What acknowledgement of Country means to me as an educator:

A gesture of respect to elders and first nation people of their care for the land, to respect their voices and culture. A needed gesture in a country for which there is no treaty with indigenous people. This idea of respect needs to be passed down to students to create a more inclusive future.

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

The last message really stood out to me, "we are not exotic, we are equal participants in humanity". This reinforces the beginning of the session on ontologies, and relational worldviews. Different worldviews are not more grounded in reality than another - I found this to be an extremely powerful message.

- What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

I will focus a lot on understanding the ways of being and doing. I think this will be extremely helpful in the classroom to remember that the students might not have the same world view as I do, and that they have different ways of being and doing that might feel alien to me, but feel comfortable and natural to them.

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

The process of looking at all of the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country resources, culminating in this session was quite powerful and thought-provoking. I have made Acknowledgments of Country before and occasionally felt awkward and unsure, this provided me the opportunity to reflect on why that is; I am continually amazement that non-Indigenous people are still welcomed to Country at all after invasion and oppression of the Indigenous peoples of Australia, and I feel unworthy of being welcomed. I feel empowered to make future Acknowledgements of Country more personal and focus on my gratitude for my welcome, and how I promise to conduct myself on the land I am acknowledging.

Jackie van den Bos

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My understanding of the Acknowledgement of Country is that it recognises that the land I'm on at any moment has its own history and people with tradition and culture that has historically, at the very least, not been respected.

Personally, I'd like to learn more about the traditional owners of the land I'm on as I move throughout the country. More than that I'm interested in learning more about their philosophy of life and ways of knowing because this interests me on a personal level.

As an educator I feel as if I should have a greater understanding of the ways of learning and culture of all students. I also believe that developing confidence in students requires showing some level of respect. Currently I have limited knowledge in regards to First Nations People, their history, culture and beliefs. Therefore I feel it is a responsibility of mine to learn more in this regard so I can better cater for any First Nation student I may have.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session? -

Thanks very much Mishel and Jeaneatte. I feel especially privileged to have been able to listen to you both share your knowledge, personal experience and spirituality. My key takeaways of this session was learning the depths of what an Acknowledgement of Country consists of and the responsibility of a non-Indigenous person like myself to deeply research and reflect what giving an Acknowledgement means.

It was really wonderful hearing what Indigenous students wanted out of a 'teachers' Acknowledgement of Country. Talking about cyclical timing I will definitely endeavour as a teacher to constantly questions my own personal perceptions of time are and how I can demonstrate to my Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike the importance of expanding your ways of understanding to posit and integrate Indigenous ways of learning during in the present and at the fore.

Eloise MS

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I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to listen to this conversation and participate. My reflections are rooted in:

Freefalling: I must humbly take steps to be in harmony with the essence of Country, spirit and soul and listen carefully to the meanings and possibilities contained within Country.

Shedding Ego: What does it mean in the context of today's society to shed the self as no longer being the centre of the paradigm and alternatively incorporate it into a continuum of entities that give respect and in turn, must be respected.

Propelling Learnings: I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Country and Knowledge, how can I take this experience and think of an authentic and purposeful way to apply learnings into classroom, school and personal contexts.

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- thinking about acknowledgment of Country as drawing attention to connections and relationships
- encouragement to express felt connections and gratitude for why we meet on Country
- Acknowledgment as a teaching tool, getting students to think about their existence as part of a large web of relationships, their place in cyclical time, the ways of thinking that connect traditional owners with their Country. Thinking about and sharing the whys of acknowledgment can teach students the value of the practice and introduce a different way of knowing/thinking.

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- Key takeaways are the importance of connection and relationships to and within country. Also, the diversity of ontology and how this contributes to connection to country.

- This presentation was engaging to watch and listen to. To me it emphasised the importance of presence in every place you are. I will endeavour to engage with traditional ways of doing and being in my everyday life as well as in the classroom.

- As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country means showing my respect for First Nations people. By demonstrating this in the classroom, this respect can be passed on to my students, the next generation. I also believe that this is key knowledge to understanding the learning of any First Nations students I may have in the future

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My key takeaways are that Country is about place, things, people and the connections that flow (cyclically) between generations. Acknowledging Country is a call and response that allows relationships to develop from a place of respect.

I hope to be able to utilize this culture to encourage thinking about all the connections in the world and the importance of stewardship and respect in all our interactions with people and places.

As an educator, I hope that by acknowledging Country we move further towards recognizing indigenous culture and that it becomes something that encourages pride, stewardship and respect for indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Will Mulvaney.

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A few months ago, whilst doing some work, I decided to take a break. Without thinking, I just found my right hand reaching to the area of my chest where I could feel my heartbeat. This gorgeous, solitary moment got me thinking for a second; made me close my eyes, and for the first time in my life, made me thank my heart for pumping blood around my body every day of my life so far. Whilst watching this presentation, I got that same feeling about Country. Like the heart, Country asks nothing of us; only that we take enough care of it during our brief time on this earth. It is becoming abundantly clear to me that acknowledging country is not a momentary "once-off" occurrence. Rather, it is a philosophy to live by; it is a way of reconciling your connection (and acknowledging others' connections) with the land, not simply in words but in actions too.

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The takeaways for me have been a far deeper and more profound understanding behind Welcome to Country, how powerful it can be as a method to foster healing between First Nations People and Non indigenous Australians and how we can use it to lead by example in furthering the cause for reconciliation and to use it in our own lives to reflect more personally on ways of being and doing that we can implement ourselves day to day.

After my learning i am going to ensure i continue to learn more completely about the country i now stand on, Wathaurung Country and the history of the people that have come before me here. I will also learn as much as possible about the Country i am going to next year Peerapper and Tommeginne  Country. On a more personal level i was very taken by the First Nations philosophys presented and would love to learn more.

As an Educator for me a Welcome to Country means i can expose students to the thought processes and ideas behind reconciliation in a very straight forward way that will help them begin the journey themselves and foster conversations that will lead to personal growth. I also believe as an educator it is our responsibility to do justice to the Welcome to Country and ensure i am far better educated than i am currently on First Nations culture.

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Key takeaways / learnings from the session: Being aware of your physical surroundings makes you more grounded and in touch with yourself and the earth. You are a part of a greater narrative. Actions: Stop. Breathe. Be grateful. Look at the sky. Look at the land. Think of the people who walked before you. Acknowledgement of Country as an educator - An Acknowledgement of Country is a form of gratitude, an expression of desire to remember the souls of those before us. As a teacher, I want to show appreciation for all who have gone before me and given me what I often take for granted!

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Key takeaways / learnings from the session: Being aware of your physical surroundings makes you more grounded and in touch with yourself and the earth. You are a part of a greater narrative. Actions: Stop. Breathe. Be grateful. Look at the sky. Look at the land. Think of the people who walked before you. Acknowledgement of Country as an educator - An Acknowledgement of Country is a form of gratitude, an expression of desire to remember the souls of those before us. As a teacher, I want to show appreciation for all who have gone before me and given me what I often take for granted!

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Key takeaways: I feel humbled and privileged to be invited into such a welcoming space to continue my learning and understanding of the Country of which I live on. I feel challenged to take time to pause and reflect and create an openness in my heart to listen deeply. 

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Key takeaways: I feel humbled and privileged to be invited into such a welcoming space to continue my learning and understanding of the Country of which I live on. I feel challenged to take time to pause and reflect and create an openness in my heart to listen deeply. 

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I feel driven to take action by actively learning more about the Country I occupy and as an educator I would like to work towards fostering spaces that inspire deep listening and allow students to understand and formulate their own Acknowledgement of Country.

- Adalia

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My key takeaways / learnings from the session are: 1. The relational worldview, and the way this approach (and the way it varies across cultures!) underpins ways of knowing, being and doing in Aboriginal cultures. 2. The importance of acknowledging living culture

As a result of my learnings, I will continue my journey to understand more about Aboriginal cultures, and work to incorporate the knowledges shared into my teaching practice, and into my life.

As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country brings me to the past, the present, and the future; it situates my activities in a web of interrelatedness and connectedness to Country and all the entities that are connected to Country; it reminds me of the knowledges that have existed for thousands of generations in the space, and on the land that I now exist on; it recognises the honour it is to share space with these knowledges; it evokes gratitude for the opportunity to share knowledge on Country,  amongst the rivers, plants, and animals that have been cared for for thousands of generations.

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Key takeaways: we can never speak on behalf of another culture , and we need to respect their customs even if completely foreign to our own. There is so much to understand if we take a moment to be curious.

I hope to learn more about aboriginal culture through first nations people, and to ask how we can share this information with the general public (who unfortunately don't get taught about this).

I also am so appreciative to be on this land and cannot imagine the suffering that first nations people have experienced, it's unfair and i hope we can address this more frequently.

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This presentation resonated with me on an emotional/spiritual level. I feel like if we incorporated more First Nations epistemology/ontology into mainstream Australian politics/culture, we would live in a healthier and more connected nation. In particular, more  recognition of our relatedness to the entities we live amongst - like trees, waterways, animals - would make for a more loving and whole society.

Action:

I will spend more time learning about the traditional custodians of the land I live/work on, and take more time to listen deeply to and appreciate Country.

As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country is a means of showing respect for the traditional custodians of the land, and for Country itself. It is a humbling process for myself and other learners and encourages non-Aboriginal Australians to put in the work for Reconciliation.

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?                              I don’t think I ever fully understood the depth and importance of Acknowledgement of Country and what it truly means. It is more than a simple statement of words, or formality for events. It is an intimate encounter with the community, culture and connections to the land. It is so special and so fundamental to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.                                     - What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?                                   I want to not only continue to educate myself on the importance of such Acknowledgement of Country, but will endeavor to translate this knowledge to others.                                      - What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?                              As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country provides a strong foundation for students to learn about the history and culture of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. It is a chance for those with Aboriginal heritage to share this with their peers, and for those who are not to understand the significance and importance behind such a sacred act. Through education and understanding we can take steps toward reconciliation. 

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?                              I don’t think I ever fully understood the depth and importance of Acknowledgement of Country and what it truly means. It is more than a simple statement of words, or formality for events. It is an intimate encounter with the community, culture and connections to the land. It is so special and so fundamental to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.                                     - What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?                                   I want to not only continue to educate myself on the importance of such Acknowledgement of Country, but will endeavor to translate this knowledge to others.                                      - What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?                              As an educator, Acknowledgement of Country provides a strong foundation for students to learn about the history and culture of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. It is a chance for those with Aboriginal heritage to share this with their peers, and for those who are not to understand the significance and importance behind such a sacred act. Through education and understanding we can take steps toward reconciliation. 

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?
That the idea of self and country is much broader and more diverse than I initially believed. How taking the time to acknowledge the different ways Australia's First Nation's view country, truth and the self in a respectful way is key to reconciliation.

- What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
I would like to take the time to learn more about the views of self and country specific to the Whadjuk Noongar land that I live on. And to learn the preferred acknowledgement of country for this region.

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?
It means taking steps to display and teach respect for Australia's First Nation people, and creating an environment where First Nation students feel acknowledged, respected and comfortable.

-Elizabeth Angi

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-What are your key takeaways/learnings from the session?
The importance of remembering the interconnectedness of everything and everyone. The idea that we are a small part and not the center.
-What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
Become more active about learning about not only the Country I live in but also Country I travel to or through.
-What does Acknowledgement of Country mean to you as an educator?
A way to show respect to First Nations people and Country, while also creating a safe environment for different knowledges and ways of learning.

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1. What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

That for Aboriginal peoples, an acknowledgement of Country is bigger than an acknowledgement of sovereignty and a gesture of respect. It is a grounding spiritual act, and the sacredness of Country must be remembered when speaking with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

2. What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

I will aim to become more open-minded and less challenged by views that don't align with my own. I will open myself up to the deep value to be found in listening non-judgementally to those who hold different world-view to my own.

3. What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

As an educator, an acknowledgment of Country means tackling the marginalization of Aboriginal culture and ways of being. It means acknowledging Australian history. It means honoring the gifts we take for granted and the privileges we have.

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- What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

The Acknowledgement of Country should always come from a place of deep respect for the traditional owners of the land, that positions us to recognise and appreciate First Nations governance structures and processes.

- What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?

I will make a more conscious effort to educate myself and understand First Nations forms of knowledge, in consonance with Western forms of knowledge, to diversify and expand my worldview.

- What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

It means making a conscious effort to continue to expand my own knowledges regarding the traditional custodians of the land, in order to pass that knowledge on to future generations of Australians. It means recognising the First Nations perspective when teaching Australian history and culture, and ensuring students learn to broaden their understanding of what it means to be Australian.

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I found myself thinking a lot about my own experiences growing up in Tasmania. In particular, my time, often alone, in nature. I have always felt deeply connected to nature, but in recent years have come to understand and feel deeply the connectedness of all things. In this way, the discussion on ontology and epistemology and where knowledge sits and comes from resonated deeply as I realise that I have slowly taken on a more spiritual approach to life, myself and others. It was nice to find that connection point with ways of thinking that are less traditionally western.

I hope to take some of this with me into the classroom. I think it will be important for me to show some of this understanding as an educator and feel that pointof connection personally with my students, and allow them to feel that too, and to show that I am not so different in that respect.

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Experience and Country is going to be different to everyone, and there's no way to talk about Country that captures the knowledge of all First Nations people. It's not as simple as, "we believe this" or "this is what the world means to us", but rather it's a collective experience that is different from all - there's not a right or wrong

From now on, I want to be able to engage with more First Nations people, and learn about their Country and their experiences. I want to learn about the knowledge they have, and their experiences with their Country and homes

I believe an acknowledgement of country is about showing that we want to reconcile. It's not a fix to the problem, but it's a statement that we understand that First Nations people were robbed and hurt, and that we want to make things better by them

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My key takeaway is that I am profoundly grateful for the welcome to Country, and am humbled by the realisation that I have not  truly understood what it means until now.

What does Acknowledgement of Country mean to you?
- It evokes a profound sense of humility, a recognition of the timeless role of First Nations people in nurturing and protecting Country for their time and all that would follow. As I listen faithfully to the Acknowledgement, I am struck by a growing reverance for the culture and peoples whose knowledges, histories, and connectedness are woven throughout the long past of this continent. As an educator, I feel a sense of obligation to the land and its people, the need to learn more about the cultures, histories, connections and journeys that unfold within Country, and a fundamental duty to work toward reconciliation.

My very personal Acknowledgement of Country
- I am honoured to be on the ancestral lands of the Wurundjeri people. I acknowledge the First Australians as the traditional custodians of the continent, whose cultures are among the oldest living cultures in human history. I pay respect to the Elders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities across this continent, and extend my respect and recognition to their descendants who are present.

- Arne

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session? -

The sacredness of Country. Everything is living. Everything has breath. Everything is connected, and nothing is isolated, fully independent or autonomous. Without water there are no trees. Without custodians, the land remains violently wild and rugged. Ancient systems and knowledge  in First Nations peoples help preserve Country, and in doing so, Australia.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning? -

I will make a concerted effort to be deliberate in my engagement with First Nations peoples and their cultural artefacts that persist into the present. To have a grasp on essential narratives and understandings of the world.

What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

In the business of passing on knowledge, I follow in the footsteps of the Elders of Country- sharing what I know with those who have yet to know, and for them to do the same. It not only shows respect and honour to Country and First Nations peoples, but while doing so it also connects me with the heartbeat of Australia.

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This was a really rich session. For me the key takeaways have been the history and purpose of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. Having only experienced these  ceremonies at the beginning of events generally imported onto this continent I didn’t realise that these practices extend back through thousands of generations. I think it is an enormous testament to the resilience and resoluteness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to share these sacred practices, particularly with organisations and government bodies that have often had incredibly shameful histories and relationships with First Nations peoples.

Rather than just being attentive through a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country I will definitely participate more actively insofar as slowing down and grounding my feet and body in order to focus on and appreciate the Country I am on. Additionally, I will endeavour to embed knowledge and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in my day to day experience (e.g. being aware of and using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander location names, listening and learning from First Nations communities, seeking out Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business wherever possible)

As an educator, the significance and importance of an Acknowledgement of Country is something that I hope and will strive to be able to communicate. I think that facilitating this respect in students’ formative years and education is an important factor in reconciliation.

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Key Takeaways:

-       This lesson helped me contextualise the importance of Acknowledgement of Country. Having only recently arrive to Australia five years ago, I think much of the reasoning and nuance for this ceremony went over my head. It also struck me the importance of intent when acknowledging Country. I felt a noticeable difference in how the words were spoken in the lesson and the preceding videos to what I’ve experienced during big workplace meetings.

The first part of the lecture highlighted the different ways that we see and understand the world. While the focus may have been on the differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, this also holds true for my future classrooms. My students may not see the world in the same way I do. Who they are and how they act is not separate to what is happening around them outside of the classroom. How I approach them and get them to be successful will depend on my ability to communicate with them. This in turn will depend how I’m able to localise my response to meet their needs.

What actions will I do now as a result of my learning?

-       I want to take this holistic approach with me into the classroom and integrate it into my teaching practice. I want it to inform my approach to creating lessons, solving problems, and relating to my students.

-       After this lesson, I also want to make sure that I learn more about the community of my school. Who are it’s traditional custodians/ owners? What is the history of the community? This is something that I haven’t much of an opportunity to learn about living in Melbourne and it’s something that I want to rectify going forward.

What does and Acknowledgement of Country mean to me as an educator?

-       For me this means acknowledging the interconnectedness between the land, its history, its people, and all of the living creatures that live within it.
-Tino

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The importance and significance of Acknowledgement of Country in the continuing process of reconciliation.  Furthermore, the role myself, and other non indigenous peoples have in respecting and engaging with Aboriginal culture.

Actions
Going forward,  I will educate myself on the Country that I am located and the appropriate AoC protocols for that particular group of people.
I will also be more active in my participation with Welcome to Country and AoC - to really absorb and understand what is being said.
I want to learn more about the different cultural practices, knowledge and perspectives of the Traditional owners in the area in which I live and teach and to try and engage with this, in a meaningful way for both myself and my students.

Acknowledgement of Country
As an educator I believe it is my responsibility to demonstrate a deep respect for our Traditional owners and try to instill the significance of this respect in my students. An AoC is a way of starting a lesson or day on a foundation of understanding and deep listening that hopefully continues throughout the day, encouraging students to feel engaged and connected to the classroom, their peers and the Country in which we stand.

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-	What are your key takeaways/learning from the session?
This was a really special and enriching time, highlighting the value of listening. The value and depth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and their depth and connection to Country. In one of the earlier videos Jade Kennedy said; ‘what we are actually asking is for you to make us some space. Proper space. For us to sit and talk and build a relationship, an intimate, interconnected relationship built on respect, responsibility and reciprocity.  
-	What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
Continue to further educate myself in the richness of culture. Seeking not only in a theoretic and knowledge sense, but in relationship with the traditional custodians of Country.
-	What does an Acknowledgement of Country mean to you as an educator?
Relatedness; that with knowledge comes responsibility. The responsibility to hold the intimacy and sacredness that comes with an Acknowledgement of Country and traditional custodians. To advocate, honor and respect and carry this through all interactions, not only in the classroom but in all facets of life. 

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A huge take-away for me (Phoebe W) was to consider the First Nations relational worldview and that there are ways of seeing and being that are different and possibly more beautiful than my own. I feel like the western, individualist worldview can silo us and separate us from the deep, complex, intimate relationships (community) that we're all designed to actively be part of in some way. Perhaps this siloing/distancing from Country and community that is so dominant in western cultures is a factor that has led to rising poor mental health outcomes. I think all people have so much to learn about First Nations ways of seeing and being. 

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A huge take-away for me (Phoebe W) was to consider the First Nations relational worldview and that there are ways of seeing and being that are different and possibly more beautiful than my own. I feel like the western, individualist worldview can silo us and separate us from the deep, complex, intimate relationships (community) that we're all designed to actively be part of in some way. Perhaps this siloing/distancing from Country and community that is so dominant in western cultures is a factor that has led to rising poor mental health outcomes. I think all people have so much to learn about First Nations ways of seeing and being. 

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Actions: Ensure I include an acknowledgment of country in classes and events. Try to understand more deeply the way that I relate to, and am part of, Country. Encourage others to see things from a relational worldview and how they are also connected to all things around them. Acknowledge and hold space for connecting to Country for my students.

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I feel incredibly moved by this presentation, and I also am grateful to have more knowledge on a subject that I thought I understood. I am sitting here now reflecting on the fact that I understood even less than I thought, but feeling grateful and humbled to have been taught by two incredibly First Nations women.

I want to incorporate Acknowledgement of country into my everyday life. I will think about this when I travel through Victoria, and I would like to place an Acknowledgement of Country in my house.

As an educator, it makes me feel more connected and privileged to teach on Country.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session? - What actions will you now take as a result of your learning? - What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator

Relational ontology really hit home for me - I think we all need to learn to feel a little more connected to all the other entities we share this world in. I also realised how tokenistic Acknowledgements of Country can get - the acknowledgements that I hear sometimes just seem to be a bump in the road to starting a meeting or an event, when it's really much more than that.

As a result of my learning, I will take more time out of my life to sit and feel the connections between myself and the other entities I am connected to. I will endeavour to acknowledge Country respectfully, wholeheartedly and humbly, as an uninvited guest on this land.

As an educator, an Acknowledgement of Country represents an acknowledgement of the First Nations knowledges that are alive today, and paying our respects to the ones lost, due to colonialism and violence.