Council and reconciliation

Our vision for reconciliation

Moreland City Council’s vision for reconciliation is where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised as the traditional custodians of the land, whose dispossession is addressed through respectful partnerships between Indigenous and non Indigenous people. Council is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, particularly the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of the land we now call Merri-bek. 

What Council does to recognise First Nations Australians

• Flies the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and the Australian flag at Council buildings.
• Installed the Wurundjeri acknowledgement plaques on all council buildings 
• Invites Wurundjeri Elders (traditional land owners) to do Welcome to Country to open significant civic events.
• Helps community organisations include Welcome to Country and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait activities and performers in their community events.
• Develops appreciation of First Nations art through various exhibitions at the Counihan Gallery In Brunswick.
• Gives access to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island music, books and films through our libraries.
• Organises cultural awareness and appreciation sessions.
• Appoints and supports Aboriginal trainees in the Council workforce, and helps groups and organisations engage with Aboriginal groups and organisations.
• Consults the Wurundjeri Council on the use of traditional Aboriginal names in renaming roads, places and significant sites.
• Updates local information on the Maggollee website which includes information on policy and programs, protocols and cultural awareness, key contacts, relevant local data, news and events.

Moreland Reconciliation Working Group

The Moreland Reconciliation Working Group develops and implements priorities for Council relating to Reconciliation, which is consistent with the priorities of the Human Rights Policy. The Working Group works to strengthen Reconciliation through whole-of-Council and whole-of-community involvement in the implementation of the Human Rights Policy. The Working Group objectives are:

• Provide advice to Council through the Merri-bek Human Rights Advisory Committee on access, equity and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Oversee and assist with the implementation of Council’s projects and strategies for Reconciliation, including action plans and statements.
• Identify modes to advocate and promote understanding on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
• Promote understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through collaborative effort.
• Make the most of all opportunities to further Reconciliation within Council, the community, business and with other spheres of government through furthering budget bid proposal ideas from the community.

2018 Wurundjeri Traditional Games Day

Moreland celebrated the Wurundjeri Week 2018 at ATC Cook Reserve Glenroy, adjacent to the Ballerrt Mooroop College site. This was a day of traditional Aboriginal games and fun for all the family!

Games leaders Uncle Bill Nicholson and Mandy Nicholson will guide you through traditional team challenges, such as throwing a wit wit, boomerang or (blunt) spear and playing marngrook (traditional football).

Photos by James Henry from the 2017 Wurundjeri Games:

Watch the 'Exploring reconciliation' video

For Reconciliation Week 2013, Merri-bek City Council and local Indigenous filmmaker Kimba Thompson worked with primary school students to make a short documentary about what reconciliation meant to them.

This video has captions you can turn on and off using the video controls.