DGD13-031
Standard Operating Procedure
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols for
Events
Purpose
The ACT Government’s ‘Indigenous Protocols’ recognises the Ngunnawal people as the
traditional custodians of the ACT and surrounding region and provides the policy for a
‘Welcome to Country, and Acknowledgement of Country’.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Policy and related Standard
Operating Procedures provide ACT Health staff with the appropriate Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander protocols to be used when preparing and organising for ‘A Welcome to
Country and/or Acknowledgement of Country and/or an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony’.
Scope
This Standard Operating Procedure applies to:
• All ‘Welcome to Country and/or ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ and/or Aboriginal
Smoking Ceremony’ arrangements undertaken by ACT Health; and
• Includes all meetings, events and forums with external stakeholders; public speeches
prepared for major launches of ACT Health policies and programs; conferences held
or sponsored by ACT Health; international events held in Australia of which ACT
Health is an organiser or sponsor; and award/s or other significant ceremonies such
as the opening of ACT Health facilities.
Out of Scope
Arrangement of all other cultural healing and cleansing practices that require sensitive
consultation with individual families, patients or clients to determine the appropriate
cultural practice, are not covered in this Policy and Standard Operating Procedure. Staff
should discuss with family members whether there are any cultural protocols they want to
arrange.
Procedure
Contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit for assistance in following the
processes outlined below.
1.
Welcome to Country
Arranging for a Welcome to Country to be made at an official event where members of the
public, representatives of other Governments and/or media are present requires:
• Contacting a Ngunnawal Elder or traditional custodian to provide details of the event
(time and location), confirm their availability to provide the Welcome to Country
Doc Number
DGD13-031
Issued
April 2013
Review Date
April 2016
Area Responsible
Policy and Gov
Relations
Page
1 of 4
DGD13-031
which is a traditional custom of welcoming people onto the land, and is made at the
commencement of proceedings;
• Negotiating remuneration with the Ngunnawal Elder or traditional custodian; and
preparing a 3-4 minute speech highlighting the significance of the event;
• Ensuring that the official speech made by ACT Health representative provides a direct
response to the Welcome to Country and acknowledges that the event is taking place
on the land of the Ngunnawal people; and
• Organising travel to and from the event for the Ngunnawal Elder or traditional
custodian and ensuring remuneration is paid on receipt of an appropriate invoice.
1.1
Remuneration
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples providing cultural services such as the Welcome
to Country should be appropriately remunerated for their cultural knowledge. As a general
indicator, $350 for a Welcome to Country is appropriate.
2.
Acknowledgement of Country
Arranging for an Acknowledgement of Country requires:
• Ensuring that an Acknowledgement of Country is included in public speeches
prepared for representatives of ACT Health that acknowledges the traditional
custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal people;
• Ensuring that an Acknowledgement of Country and response to a Welcome to
Country by an Ngunnawal Elder and/or traditional custodian is provided by
representatives of ACT Health; and
• An Acknowledgement of Country by the most senior ACT Health delegate at the
commencement of meetings, events and forums with external stakeholders when a
Welcome to Country has not taken place.
An example of an acknowledgement that can be used:
• I/We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on,
the Ngunnawal people. I/We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing
culture and connections to the land. I/We would also like to acknowledge and
welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who may be attending
today’s event.
3.
Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony
Arranging for an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony requires:
• Understanding that it is a traditional spiritual healing practice that cleanses and
refreshes the land (and what is on the land) in particular areas where ‘grief and loss’
are significant. The Ceremony also asks ancestors to help release ‘lost spirits’, heal
the area and the people involved;
• Noting that preparing for the ceremony takes time and involves collecting ochre and
leaves from the land and that, following the ceremony, the ashes and leaves are
buried on the land where the cleansing has taken place. Therefore it is important
that early notification is given to those performing the ceremony;
• Contacting an Aboriginal group that is recognised by the United Ngunnawal Elders
Council (UNEC) to conduct the ceremony. Wiradjuri Echoes Consulting Pty Ltd
located in the ACT has conducted smoking ceremonies for ACT Health;
• Considering the timing for the ceremony which includes three main parts: a Welcome
to Country (3-4 minutes), the smoking ceremony, and the celebration through
corroboree (20-30 minutes); and
Doc Number
DGD13-031
Issued
April 2013
Review Date
April 2016
Area Responsible
Policy and Gov
Relations
Page
2 of 4
DGD13-031
• Noting that an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony is often conducted outside buildings,
but can also be conducted within a building which will require arranging for the
management of security/fire control.
3.1
Remuneration
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples providing cultural services and/or cultural
knowledge such as an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony should be appropriately remunerated.
As a general indicator, approximately $1,000 for an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony is
appropriate.
4.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit, Policy and Government Relations
Branch can be contacted for any further advice and assistance related to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander policy, consultation and engagement and contacting key community
stakeholders.
Evaluation
Outcome Measures
• ACT Health demonstrates awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Cultural Protocols that relate to a Welcome to Country,
Acknowledgement of Country and Smoking Ceremony.
Method
• All speeches prepared for ACT Health representatives are monitored to ensure
protocols for a Welcome to Country and Response or Acknowledgement of Country
are included and appropriate;
• All arrangements for a Smoking Ceremony ensures the use of appropriate protocols;
and
• Evaluation of the Policy and related Standard Operating Procedures will be
undertaken by Communications and Marketing Unit and provided to the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health Coordination Group.
Related Legislation, Policies and Standards
Policies
• ACT Government Indigenous Protocols – Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate
• ACT Government ACT Health Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2015
• ACT Government ACT Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols
for Events
Standards
ACT Government Indigenous Protocols – Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate.
References
• ACT Government ACT Health Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2015
http://health.act.gov.au/health-services/aboriginal-torres-straitislander/information/reconciliation-action-plan
Doc Number
E.g. DGD11-001
Issued
April 2013
Review Date
April 2016
Area Responsible
Communications
and Marketing
Page
3 of 4
DGD13-031
Disclaimer: This document has been developed by ACT Health , specifically for its own use. Use of this document
and any reliance on the information contained therein by any third party is at his or her own risk and ACT Health
assumes no responsibility whatsoever.
Doc Number
E.g. DGD11-001
Issued
April 2013
Review Date
April 2016
Area Responsible
Communications
and Marketing
Page
4 of 4