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Key takeaways/learnings - the beauty of learning about the relational worldview and the different components of ways of knowing. The importance of understanding the ontology and epistemiology of the relational worldview and how to understand different perspectives.  I also found it interesting how the self is not sitting at the centre and learning more about how selfhood is  viewed.

# data[].attributes.subject
Key takeaways/learnings - the beauty of learning about the relational worldview and the different components of ways of knowing. The importance of understanding the ontology and epistemiology of the relational worldview and how to understand different perspectives.  I also found it interesting how the self is not sitting at the centre and learning more about how selfhood is  viewed.

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As a result of my learning, I will continue to education myself and develop my own acknowledgement of country.

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

I gained an insight into the first Nations relational worldview and grew to really appreciate the different perspective they provide. It made me more aware of by own bias in worldview and a wonderful way to start breaking down that bias. To go from having a human centred view to relating it to other entities like animals, plants, land and spirit that exist.

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

Moving forward, I would like to educate myself further and seek different sources of knowledge. To practice deep-listening.

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

As an educators, it is about respecting and acknowledging the Country we are on and learning from. To honour a practices that that has been alive and part of one of the oldest living cultures in the world. It is also about understanding and communicating what is means.

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This session and the videos have opened my eyes to how much I did not know and how much more I needed to learn. Someone mentioned above about everyone needing to learn the significance of a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of country, and the fact that they are two different things. I need to learn a lot more, not only for myself, but to be able to educate students so that they too are aware of the significance of both these practices. I still have a lot more to learn, and I am grateful for sessions and videos like this that allow me to begin to learn and become more aware.

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I have learnt why it is so important to create my own Welcome to Country, that reflects my understanding and respect and reinforces each time I say it what it means to me.

Taking time to pause, reflect, listen and hold space for myself and others is a daily practice that I hope to cultivate and continue over the next 6 weeks and beyond.

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I have learnt why it is so important to create my own Welcome to Country, that reflects my understanding and respect and reinforces each time I say it what it means to me. 

Taking time to pause, reflect, listen and hold space for myself and others is a daily practice that I hope to cultivate and continue over the next 6 weeks and beyond.

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Previously, I had no understanding of the purpose and importance of Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country, which I find concerning.
These ceremonies are more than merely paying respects to Elders, they are a formal welcome to the land upon which we live, and which sustains us. It is an opportunity to practice mindfulness, to be grounded in physical space and time. It is an opportunity to take a moment of gratitude for Ancestors who cared for Country.
In future, I will spend these ceremonies in deep thought and appreciation.

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1. I have learnt how important acknowledgement of country is, and the deep spiritual connection it holds with the connection to the land. I am so surprised by the lack of knowledge and awareness society has for such a powerful message.I will be taking further research in this culture, and want to gain a deeper understanding of the act of acknowledgement and what it means to these people. I want to be able to fully appreciate it and share it with friends, family, colleagues and students. It has created awareness that everyone has different views, backgrounds, beliefs and understandings,  not just from this country, but around the world.It is an act of respect to the elders and the community, to respect their land and culture. By demonstrating this in the classroom, to first nation people, we are passing this down to the next generation and shaping our future. 

# data[].attributes.subject
1. I have learnt how important acknowledgement of country is, and the deep spiritual connection it holds with the connection to the land. I am so surprised by the lack of knowledge and awareness society has for such a powerful message.I will be taking further research in this culture, and want to gain a deeper understanding of the act of acknowledgement and what it means to these people. I want to be able to fully appreciate it and share it with friends, family, colleagues and students. It has created awareness that everyone has different views, backgrounds, beliefs and understandings,  not just from this country, but around the world.It is an act of respect to the elders and the community, to respect their land and culture. By demonstrating this in the classroom, to first nation people, we are passing this down to the next generation and shaping our future. 

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* The idea that not all knowledge can be known is something I think a lot of people would struggle with. Knowledge and understanding can bring power and the ability to control but if there is some information that we as humans cannot be pre-advised about, it removes the power struggle and puts people on even footing
* The lack of education by First Nations people to those of us who are not indigenous leaves us unable to really appreciate and understand our country's history
*I strongly believe this knowledge should be incorporated into primary and secondary education and taught be people who live these experiences and traditions first hand

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My main takeaway is that this needs to be explained to everyone as to why we have the Acknowledgement and Welcome. I was never told and only knew of it as something that my school or company did before a large event, but I never really understood why.

I hadn't realised just how much an Acknowledgement of Country or a Welcome to Country means to the First Nations people - or that they were different practices. I now can understand the beauty and respect that it brings when spoken, and how it is truly meaningful to all of us.

I'd really like to learn more about the beliefs and knowledge that the First Nations people hold for their Country and Community, and both incorporate those into my own life as well as my teaching.

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I learned a lot in this session. I greatly enjoyed the insight into relational ontology that was put forth. I have also, by learning new things in this session, become more aware of how shallow my knowledge concerning this area is. I would like to take more curiosity and respect with me into the coming years.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

- I was not aware that Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country were different things
-I learnt that Country is more than the physical space that we occupy. It is also the emotional and spiritual connectedness to the land and involves viewing everything as living and contributing to this connnectedness. The way that First Nations people view Country is very humbling and I think really made me stop and think about how connected I am to the land I live on.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
- I wish to implement and Acknowledgement of Country practice within my teaching and make sure this is a personal one I can share about what honouring the traditional custodians of this land means to me.

What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?
- It is really about taking a step back and understanding that the First Nations people are the reason we are here today. They haved cared for this Country and all that encompasses for many many years prior to Europeans arriving. Acknowledging this act is essential as it is why we are here and able to learn.

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I am so grateful to Janette and her sister for sharing these insights. I struggle to find appropriate words when making acknowledgements of country. I think the terminology of ontology and epistemology is really useful. I also think it is useful to explicitly discuss the inclusion of peoples' connections to one another, to land,  to landscapes and the non-human world, as implications may be weak or missed, so I will endeavour to include this when I next make an acknowledgement.
I know that acknowledgements are really valuable and it is important that we all remind ourselves and one another of our history and the continuing, resilient, rich and diverse cultures. I do feel that they are often formulaic.  I feel they should be uniquely worded each time, rather than be scripted as part of a bureaucratic measure.
I was aware of the differences between welcomes and acknowledgements, but after listening to this I feel more comfortable about requesting Elders to perform welcomes, where as before I felt I uncomfortable asking.

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Knowledge is not owned by people, it is owned by the land in which we live on and is passed down through it. We need to respect the land, allow it to tell us stories and allow it to convey its emotions to us, we need to allow ourselves to be moved.

I feel a sense of pride talking about the places I love, and want to allow others that same enjoyment. I also wouldn't feel 'right' on land until I was welcomed to it, or until I acknowledged the land I was visiting. I will seek either of both of these from now on.

My role as an educator in this realm is not only as a teacher to students of this information, but as a teacher to my friends and my family that have not been exposed to this language or understanding.

My role is also as a listener and a student to those around me, to hear their views and to hear their love of the land.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session? -
How deeply embedded Country and acknowledgement of Country are in Indegionous cultures and how relavant the concepts are to all people.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning? -
Be more concious about including acknowledgment to Country in my teaching and in my personal reflections and connections to place

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

Acknowledgement of Country means connection to place, people and history and encourages reflection and deliberate thought about ourselves, our community and our place.

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My key takeaway is that Country and an acknowledgement of Country are more than just references to place. They encompass deeper meanings of relationships, responsibilities and respect. I will always seek to learn more about the Country I find myself on and what places and animals are significant to that Country. Acknowledgement of Country to me as an educator means being inclusive of all worldviews and creating a place of respect, listening and learning.

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One of my key takeaways was that I know very little about the country that I call home. I am excited to learn more. One of the things I found most interesting was that we need to stay aware of those around us, and their history

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Key Takeaway:

It is important to be aware and mindful of the rich history of First Nations peoples. That we live in their Country and have to show and share responsibility in taking good care of the Country.

Actions:

Share my understanding with my family members and friends and do my part in raising awareness to as many as I can.

As an educator:

I will endeavour to incorporate acknowledgement of country wherever possible in my teaching. I would also try to make students aware of this.

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What are your key takeaways / learnings from the session?

My key takeaways have been a concrete understanding of the purpose of the Welcome/Acknowledgement, and why it is important. The inclusion of criticisms of the process were eye opening, and reminded me that colonial-Indigenous relations throughout Australian history have been fraught with one sided diatribe, and it is important to consider multiple perspectives. The most salient thing that stood out to me might be the importance of remaining genuine in the Acknowledgement, not simply paying lip service.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning? - What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?

I will include Acknowledgements in my teaching practice as a way to begin school terms, and engage it as a learning tool and device of reconciliation. As an educator, it is one of the many ways to foster inclusivity and reconciliation into my practice. I will also pursue further research of the topic, which could be particularly important as a history teacher - displaying an informed understanding of the history and repercussions.

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Acknowledgement Of Country - After watching the video please post your reflection:

- 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)

After listening to this session I feel an incredible sense of calm, respect and gratitude. The takeaways which resonated with me most were the key ideas of balance and cyclicity which can be easy to overlook in daily life. I feel that this session grounded me and reminded me of the very real need to stop, listen and reflect on this balance within my own life..
The actions I will now take as an educator are firstly to research the lands and traditional owners of the area I will be heading for my placement. Secondly, I will seek to incorporate an acknowledgement of country into the beginning of my lessons to remind my students of the privilege which is to meet on this land.

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What are your key takeaways/learnings from the session?
-	A Welcome to Country holds very strict laws in regard to where it is held and who performs the ceremony.
-	During an Acknowledgement of Country, we are acknowledging the cyclical nature of time as understood for First Nations people, that is when we acknowledge the past, present and emerging Ancestors all in the same existence, whether they can be seen or not.
What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
I would like to listen closely to those who are more knowledgeable on the subjects of reconciliation and take an active role in learning more each day about the traditional owners of the lands where I currently reside and where I will be relocating, in an effort to spread awareness to those I will be educating while also on the journey myself.
What does an Acknowledgement of Country mean to you as an educator?
As an educator an Acknowledgement of Country both pays respect to the traditional owners of the land while also drawing attention to the various cultures and diverse people who live on the land today, while particularly educating, informing and appreciating the knowledge and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and taking steps towards reconciliation. 

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My key takeaways / learnings from the session?
The key take away is that the culture i have been bought up in have been very narrow in terms of the ontology and i know very little outside it.

What actions will you now take as a result of your learning?
I will open my mind up to a different way of living and thinking to help me have a greater understaing go the culture.

What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?
it is a welcome and a show of respect. A nice was to gain an understanding of respect of the land, culture and people who are on this land.

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- My key take away was around how different relational ontology and ways of being is from many standard schools within this continent.

- As a result I would like to explore more learning around ways of assisting students bring their whole selves into the classroom, and not feel that they have to change in order to be part of the class.

- To me as an educator, Acknowledgment of Country is extremely important. I'm quite conscious that I will be in a position of 'power' in the classroom on the Country of many of the students I will be teaching. I hope that through Acknowledgement of Country I am able to leave space for students to feel comfortable within their own agency in the classroom regardless of how they feel about the class content.

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Key Takeaways
Acknowledgement of Country enables one to rethink the very notion of 'exclusive' Humanism as traditionally understood within Western systems of belief and worldviews. Balance, locatedness and cyclicity are the three key trajectories along which one can not only understand but also 'personalize' and 'interiorize' the deep significance embedded in Acknowledgement of Country

Actions:
Crucially, endeavour to deepen my understanding of ATSI worldviews in a way that might help me formulate my own (personal and professional) Acknowledgments of Country

As an educator:
I will be teaching in an educational environment in which nearly all of my students will be ATSI students. It is crucial that I learn and endeavour not only to embrace but also to be embraced by Country in such a way as to render the curriculum interculturally and contextually meaningful.

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I have learned a lot about the perspective of First Nation People. I have also learned about the deep meanings associated with Acknowledgement of Country and its differences from the Welcome to Country.

I wish to better understand Aboriginal culture and ensure that students are encouraged to engage with Country.

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Key Takeaway:
- That I need to be mindful that there are different world views and that I need to incorporate ATSI world views in my teaching methodologies

Actions:
- To better understand how I can best incorporate ATSI world views into my lessons so that ATSI students feel engaged with the subject matter

As an educator:
- Ensure ATSI students feel that their customs and connection to land are acknowledged and respected

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Key takeaways: Acknowledgement of Country encompasses more than sovereignty and incorporates the ideas of cyclical time, locatedness and balance. A truly respectful Acknowledgement of Country needs to be personalised, place-based and carry that respect through into the meeting/event taking place.  Actions: Seek out more information about the Country I currently live on as well as that of my placement location, and make an effort to learn language words as well as the significance of place names. Build my personal connection and understanding of Country, continue to challenge my subconscious biases and keep both my mind and heart open to deep listening, learning and unlearning.
As an educator: Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for me to make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students feel heard and valued in my classroom, as well as providing a positive example to all students about the importance of reconciliation and paying respect to Country.
Georgia Larkin

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An acknowledgement of country is a grounding and very moving act for a person to perform. I was not fully aware of the full meaning of this before this video. As an educator I would like to share more of our history as a nation and our connection to Country as this was not taught to me in school. I am going to educate myself on the Country I currently live on and where I am shortly moving to and learn about the specific history of these places. I am hoping to reach out to the traditional owners of Country where I will be teaching and work to incorporate their history and resources into my teaching. 

# data[].attributes.subject
An acknowledgement of country is a grounding and very moving act for a person to perform. I was not fully aware of the full meaning of this before this video. As an educator I would like to share more of our history as a nation and our connection to Country as this was not taught to me in school. I am going to educate myself on the Country I currently live on and where I am shortly moving to and learn about the specific history of these places. I am hoping to reach out to the traditional owners of Country where I will be teaching and work to incorporate their history and resources into my teaching. 

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Takeaways...
The mainstream view of indigenous culture is exceptionally narrow and restricting. White Australia espouses progressive ideals yet has barely made an effort to understand first nations cultures

Actions...
Learn more about the Nuenonne and Parearerme people and the unique values and understandings of these cultures. Be proactive in challenging societies views on indigenous cultures

As an Educator...
AoC is the most important lesson for all, it is a small step towards recognising the reality of the country we live in, and I hope to engage students in their history through Acknowledging Country

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Acknowledgement of country is more than just about  appreciating ancient indigenous cultures. It's about acknowledge a deep relationship between humanity and the land.  I really appreciated Jade Kennedy's perspective, as   a gesture of respect to the land and to it's occupants.  When we give a welcome to country we are promoting the understanding that Australia has an ancient spiritual history that relates to land and sea, rather than city and town. We are acknowledging that we are part of this history and that we share a respect for this history and Aboriginal culture.    

# data[].attributes.subject
Acknowledgement of country is more than just about  appreciating ancient indigenous cultures. It's about acknowledge a deep relationship between humanity and the land.  I really appreciated Jade Kennedy's perspective, as   a gesture of respect to the land and to it's occupants.  When we give a welcome to country we are promoting the understanding that Australia has an ancient spiritual history that relates to land and sea, rather than city and town. We are acknowledging that we are part of this history and that we share a respect for this history and Aboriginal culture.    

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Key Takeaways...
There is still so much to learn, understand, question and be educated on. We need to slow down, take a step back and appreciate the power and knowledge of this Country. It's all about connectedness - to the land, each other, culture, language, stories and creating oneness. I feel so lucky, privileged, to be here on this land and want to connecet and be educated about Country on a deeper level.

Actions...
The time is now. We need to create space, to pay our respects and to learn from each other. The first step is to ensure we always Welcome Country and Acknowledge Country, not only for others but for ourselves.

As an Educator...
I will learn, be educated and understand more from our Traditional Custodians. I will Acknowledge Country and use it as an opportunity to connect and remind myself of what it means to be here. Acknowledging the importance of culture and to continually pay my respects to my students, their families, their Elders past and present.

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1. Understanding the differences between how First Nations people perceive Country and Culture in comparison to western norms.

2. Understanding the depth of Country and all of her elements

3. The intricacy and complexities of Culture, and how Community is a pillar of Culture

4. Learning the importance of a Welcome to Country and the beauty of an Acknowledgement of Country

5. Developing my own Acknowledgement of Country in a meaningful way

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The key takeaway for me was that an Acknowledgement of Country is an expression of Aboriginal sovereignty and an opportunity to clarify that sovereignty was never ceded. Although I have heard this in certain Acknowledgements, I did not realise it was so central to the act.

I hope to use the knowledge gained to increase my cultural engagement when I acknowledge Country. It has also helped me understand the significance of being focussed 'in the moment' during an acknowledgement of country.

As an educator, an Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity to educate young people on the history and culture of Aboriginal Australians. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to be heartfelt in a show of respect for First Nations.

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Fundamentally, we should have respect for the views of others, their perspectives of time, the land, our ancestors and the knowledge we all share.
We should never assume that our own points of view are correct, but be open and respectful to the perspectives of others.
First Nations people have a unique, ancient view of the world that we can all learn from.
Going forward I'll ensure to be mindful and respectful, and try to educate others on these views.

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Thank you for this session and sharing your knowledge. I have learnt that as an educator, I need to be well informed and understand the principles and beliefs of the First Nation peoples. By doing so, I can show not only respect to any First Nation peoples that I teach, but also educate others around me to show the same level of respect and understanding. In a practical sense, I have also learnt the key protocols for delivering an Acknowledgement of Country. This is a very important skill to develop moving forward in my career. Thank you again!

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Country
This session helped me to gain understanding on Country from a First Nations perspective and to challenge my western world view. I particularly liked the concept of waiting/silence being an important process in decision making. 
I will aim to use Acknowledgement of Country wherever possible and ensure that I learn about the local custodians where I grew up, and where I live and work now. For me it is about showing respect to these custodians and their culture, and thanking them for their stewardship of the land. It is also about acknowledging that our western view of owning land is outdated and dangerous and that we should view Country as a living entity to be treasured and protected for future generations.

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This session was a beautiful reminder of how complex relationship to Country can be, and how crucial it is to have an open mind towards alternative world views. It was also a chance to really understand the value and meaning behind 'Welcome to Country' and 'Acknowledgement of Country'. I will now take more time to connect to the land I learn, teach and play on and remind myself to show gratitude towards the traditional custodians. As an educator I have a stronger awareness of how an Acknowledgement of Country can be a powerful and meaningful way to display my respect for the Country I teach on and the traditional custodians and share this respect with my students.

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Through this lecture, I learnt about the beauty of First Nations culture - ways of knowing, being and doing. I learnt about the wisdom that governs practices which spans tens of thousands of years. I also learnt about the value of an Acknowledgement of Country, and how it is a way to respect Country and all entities present. It is the most respectful thing to do to humbly acknowledge First Nations peoples as the ones who hold the most knowledge about Country.

Actions - I look forward to saying an Acknowledgement of Country, as well as seeking meaningful ways to support First Nations peoples in the ongoing shift to equality.

As an educator, I am privileged to be able to support First Nations children by demonstrating a deep respect of their culture, encouraging their agency and respecting their connection to Country.

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Acknowledgement of country is not a simple statement that's said at the beginning of ceremonies. It has a more deep and complex meaning.
2) What actions would I take?
I feel like I need to seek out further information about this subject to better educate myself.
3)  What does an Acknowledgment of Country mean to you as an educator?
It's a method of acknowledging and respecting traditional land owners/First Nations people. It respects traditional land owners physical and spiritual connection with the land. The spiritual connection to people from past, present and future is often down-played, and this is something that I can incorporate as an educator going forward.

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I feel  moved and privileged to have the opportunity to further explore and learn about the history and protocol surrounding Acknowledgement of Country. The responsibility to learn about, foster respect for, and acknowledge and appreciate the history of First Nation Peoples in Australia is something each person who walks this land is tasked with and the opportunity to further my understanding of this through the lens of an educator is something I will not take for granted.

I want to move forward from this presentation and deepen my comprehension, broaden my knowledge of history and learn more about the traditional custodians of the land I was raised on and will soon teach upon. I feel it is my responsibility as a member of this country to determine ways to better incorporate Acknowledgement of Country into my life as an educator and as an Australian.

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Acknowledgement of country is a way of forming connection between everyone who is listening
What actions will I take?
Be more prepared to listen and learn about the language used and meaning behind the words and practices of Welcome, Acknowledgement and Reconciliation.
What does Acknowledgement of Country mean to me as an educator?
I feel it is an opportunity to connect everyone in the classroom, and begin with mutual respect and focus

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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? 

# data[].attributes.subject
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? 

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I feel I have a better idea of how to develop the knowledge and understanding that would allow me to be an inclusive teacher and role model. My main take away from this content is the reported feedback from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students that they wish to hear what Country and Acknowledgment of Country means to the speaker. It has shown me how I can listen to the land, the trees and the animals and pay attention to my connection with them. I will strive to develop my comprehension of this connection so that were I to deliver or arrange an Acknowledgement of Country I may do it with respect, honouring the land, its history, First Nations people and their Elders, and my students.

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Key takeaways:

The discussion of relational worldviews particularly engaged me and caused me to question how we organise, articulate and share our knowledge. I found the concept of localised ontology especially though-provoking in terms of the freedom and possibilities that infinite epistemologies offer.

The concept of garraba and wutja helped me to understand how knowledge can be experienced and how relationships with Elders are performed.

Actions:

We have so many resources available to us as educators. From taking steps to acknowledge country, to making use of resources to understand the map of Indigenous Australia, there are many ways that we can help to embed this understanding into different learning environments.

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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.

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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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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. 

# data[].attributes.subject
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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-	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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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- 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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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 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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- 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?                              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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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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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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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: 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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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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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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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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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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- 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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- 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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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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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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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?

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 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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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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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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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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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: 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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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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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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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:
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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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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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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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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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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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.