For information about formally Recognised Traditional Owners visit First Peoples - State Relations' interactive map and search the Local Government Area name (e.g. LGA: Ballarat) or a street address. You can also refer to First Peoples - State Relations' Welcomes and Acknowledgements Protocol.
Wyndham City Council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Peoples of Australia. We acknowledge the Bunurong and Wadawurrung Peoples as Traditional Owners of the lands on which Wyndham City operates. The Wadawurrung and Bunurong Peoples have and always will belong to the Werribee Yalook (river), creeks, stars, hills and red clay of this Country. We pay respect to their Ancestors and Elders who always have, and always will, care for Country and community today and for future generations
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
336-340 Nepean Hwy
Frankston 3199
Ph: 03 9770 1273
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
3/110 Creswick Road, Ballarat VIC 3350 – Ph: (03) 4318 6333
86 Mercer Street, Geelong VIC 3320 – Ph: (03) 5222 5889
75-79 Watton Street
Werribee 3030
Ph: 03 9742 8300
See the Wyndham Child & Family Directory for more information.
Wayapa Wuurrk Aboriginal Wellness Foundation cultural mentoring programs
P: 0488 767 761 or 0411 712 948
19 Communal Road
Wyndhamvale 3024
P: 8734 0288
E: WunggurrwilDhurrung@wyndham.vic.gov.au
Wunggurrwil Dhurrung Centre is a meeting place located in Wyndham Vale. It promotes a shared vision to recognise and celebrate Aboriginal perspective and history. The centre provides a culturally safe place, where people of all ages and experiences are welcome to gather, connect, learn and share. With a name steeped in meaning, Wunggurrwil Dhurrung means “strong heart” in Wadawurrung.
The first of its kind, this centre brings together The Koling wada-ngal Aboriginal Corporation (Aboriginal Community Centre), Balim Balim kindergarten operated by One Tree Community Services, and a Neighbourhood Community Centre, Wyndham City Council.
This is a meeting place for the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in western metropolitan Melbourne. It's your place to share stories, pay respect to Country and build community. It’s a place for community groups, organisations and businesses to connect with you about their services, programs, jobs and events.
Case Studies
Cultural Site Cleansing
Wyndham City's first cultural site cleansing ceremony prior to a capital works project was hosted on 26 October 2022 on land that will become the home of a new community centre in Truganina. The ceremony recognised and paid respect to traditional Bunurong practices and was an opportunity to honour the importance of connection to land, culture and community. Bunurong Elder Uncle Mik Edwards and his son Eric Edwards led Cr Peter Maynard, Cr Susan McIntyre, Cr Robert Szatkowski, Director of City Life Liana Thompson, staff and community in this important milestone event for Wyndham.
Staff from the Community Planning team are working closely with traditional owners on community infrastructure engagement opportunities to build knowledge and improve processes, while supporting and building strong connections between local First Nations people, community and local government so that together we can move into the future. The engagement with traditional owners supports the delivery of Wyndham City’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025 and builds on our vision to strengthen our connection with traditional owners. Construction of the new community centre commenced towards the end of 2022 ready for opening early 2024 and will include kindergarten, maternal and child health, library lounge and spaces for community events and activities.
Early Education and Care Services
All Wyndham City Council Kindergartens participate in the Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning program. In 2017, Wyndham Kindergartens were winners of a Victorian Early Years Award for “Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program and Practice at Scale, Wyndham City Council and partners.” Each year, all kindergarten children participate in A Walk on Country program that celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture at the You Yangs and Point Cook Coastal National Parks. Unique to Wyndham, this program relies on relationships and participation with local First Nations community members, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corporation. This well-loved and anticipated annual program engages children and their families to learn about and value First Nations peoples, their cultures and beliefs, through play and culturally specific activities.
Wyndham City is home to a large and diverse First Nations population. In recent years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all over Australia have moved to Wyndham. This marks a steady increase from just over 700 residents identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the 2006 census to almost 1200 in 2011, 1735 in 2016 and 2511 in 2021 representing 0.9% of the Wyndham City total population.
The following observations from Wyndham City 2011-2021 census data suggest priorities to explore and clarify with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
· 53% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Wyndham are under 24 years old.
· 5% of Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander people in Wyndham hold tertiary qualifications.
· In 2016, around 25% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander household incomes were classified as low.
· Around a quarter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in Wyndham earn less than $972 per week.
As more census data becomes available, it will be possible to learn more about the dynamic and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of Wyndham. The current data provides a profile of the strengths and resources of Wyndham Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, as well as the nature of some of the barriers that exist and disadvantaged experienced. Sustained engagement with the range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are, and are not, represented in these statistics will play a central role in the cycles of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of work towards reconciliation in Wyndham City.
Wyndham City Council is a recipient of the inaugural Maggolee Awards 2023. Read more
The Wyndham City Council reported the following good practices in their response to the 2012 Victorian Local Government Aboriginal Engagement and Reconciliation Survey and subsequent updates.
Wyndham City Council
45 Princes Highway (PO Box 197) WERRIBEE 3030
Tel: 1300 023 411
ABORIGINAL LIAISON CONTACT
Rik Wilson
Coordinator First Nations
Ph: 8734 0247
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria, and recognise First Peoples continuing connection to lands, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present who carry the memories, traditions, cultures and aspirations of First Peoples, and who forge the path ahead for emerging leaders.
We dedicate ourselves to working respectfully with and guided by First Peoples, and to listen and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in all areas of work
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