Respect for Indigenous cultures in Australia
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waterways across Australia where we conduct our business.
The RMIT community is committed to the work of acknowledging the histories and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Through Responsible Practice, we continually work toward addressing biases and prejudices at play in our own and other’s behaviours.
We aim to interrogate and dismantle the systems that are embedded structurally within the University, and across society more broadly, that contribute to barriers and negative impacts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We have five Strategic Indigenous Commitments, which align with RMIT’s strategy to 2031: Knowledge with Action.
Over the past three years, RMIT has shifted its strategic focus from reconciliation to Responsible Practice. This transition reflects the university’s maturity in this space and the journey we have been on over our previous reconciliation plans.
We are translating our learnings and passion into authentic behaviours, relationships, and activities.
We have developed enabling strategies, including an Indigenous Student Success Strategy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Plan, and Indigenous Research Plan. These plans are included in the relevant sections below.
Responsible Practice has also been embedded in University-wide plans including:
We aim to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners to reach their full potential during their educational journey, in a way that promotes strength in culture, identity and belonging.
Our Indigenous Student Success Strategy has five strategic objectives:
For more information: RMIT's Indigenous Student Success Strategy 2024-2025 (PDF 4 MB).
RMIT’s impact-driven approach to research and innovation recognises and integrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's perspectives, world views and lifeways as important knowledge systems for driving impact across society.
RMIT is respectful of Indigenous Intellectual and Cultural Property (ICIP) rights as affirmed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
We are committed to pursuing excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research and creating positive research impact with integrity that is:
For more information: Indigenous Research Plan 2023–2025 (9.4 MB).
In 2023, we launched an Indigenous Research Network (IRN).
The network is transdisciplinary, bringing together academics, Higher Degree by Research students, community, industry, and practitioners around the theme of excellence in Indigenous research.
Our curriculum incorporates learnings from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's knowledges and practices.
For more information: Education Plan to 2025: Learning through Life and Work (PDF 752 KB).
For more information: Principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching (PDF 500 KB).
RMIT’s purposeful approach to partnership involves working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure genuine, respectful and impactful engagement.
Our Office of Indigenous Education, Research and Engagement is working collaboratively to create a Community Indigenous Engagement Framework. This will be available from 2026.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Plan has seven key success indicators:
Each of the indicators are interrelated and require focus at both a University-wide, and college/portfolio/entity level.
For more information: RMIT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Plan 2024-2026 (PDF 4.1 MB).
RMIT provided information to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the first formal truth-telling process led by First Peoples to investigate historic and ongoing systemic injustices perpetrated against them. The information RMIT provided was to assist the Commission’s Inquiry into the Tertiary Education Sector. To learn more, you can read RMIT’s response to Yoorrook Justice Commission (PDF 11 MB) or visit the Yoorrook Justice Commission website.
Our Indigenous Education Centre is called the Ngarara Willim Centre. The Centre’s name means ‘gathering place’ in the Victorian Aboriginal language of Wurundjeri. The Centre is a gathering place for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. It is also a place for the university community to gain a better appreciation for Indigenous culture, business and knowledge. Find out more about the services and experiences Ngarara Willim Centre has to offer or find us on campus.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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