Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: what newcomers to Australia should know

Why this matters for newcomers

If you work, study or attend events in Australia, you will regularly encounter Acknowledgements of Country and discussions about Australia’s First Nations peoples. Understanding the context — and using respectful language — is a basic part of cultural integration in Australia.

Who are Australia’s First Nations peoples

Australia has two distinct groups of Indigenous peoples:

• Aboriginal peoples: The original inhabitants of the Australian mainland and Tasmania, with a continuous culture spanning more than 65,000 years.
• Torres Strait Islander peoples: The original inhabitants of the islands between Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea.

Together they are commonly referred to as First Nations peoples, First Australians, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The word “Aborigines” can carry negative connotations in some contexts — “Aboriginal peoples” or “First Nations peoples” is the respectful modern usage.

Acknowledgement of Country

An Acknowledgement of Country is a formal statement recognising that the land being used belongs to the Traditional Custodians of that area. You will hear it at the start of meetings, university lectures, sporting events and graduation ceremonies. A common version:

“I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.”

Welcome to Country is different — it is a formal ceremony performed by an authorised Elder from the specific Country, and is used for more significant events.

January 26 — Australia Day and its significance

January 26 marks the day the British fleet arrived at Port Jackson (Sydney) in 1788. Many Aboriginal people refer to it as Invasion Day and hold commemorative events rather than celebrations. This is an ongoing, unresolved debate in Australian society — you will encounter both perspectives. Listening rather than judging is the most appropriate approach for newcomers.

Stolen Generations and Sorry Day

From the late 19th century to the 1970s, Australian governments forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families to be raised in institutions or with non-Indigenous families — a policy intended to assimilate them into European culture. This is known as the Stolen Generations. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to Stolen Generations survivors in Parliament in 2008.

National Sorry Day is observed on 26 May each year.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week (held each July) celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many workplaces, schools and government agencies hold events during this week — it is a good opportunity to learn and participate.

Practical steps for newcomers

• Learn whose Country you are on. Sydney is on Gadigal Country; Melbourne is on Wurundjeri Country. The AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia (aiatsis.gov.au) lets you look up any location.
• Listen and ask questions respectfully. This is a complex topic with deep emotional significance for many Australians — the most respectful thing is to learn, not to comment.
• Avoid expressing strong political opinions until you have a deeper understanding of the history — especially in workplace settings.