Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following pages may contain images, voices and names of deceased people.
At Griffith, we have a strong commitment to reconciliation
At Griffith we are led by our values in creating a brighter future for all where everyone should be given the opportunity to make a positive difference to themselves and others. We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have maintained unique relationships to the land, sea, waterways, and the air above and around us over tens of thousands of years as the oldest continuous surviving culture in the world and we acknowledge Aboriginal Australians as Traditional Owners within our campuses. Griffith University strives to be a place where all peoples of all cultures feel valued and respected, and where Indigenous Australian people, cultures, knowledges, experiences, and perspectives, form an integral part of our learning, teaching, research, and community engagement. We acknowledge that reconciliation is a shared process where every student and staff member have a role to play in effecting positive change in building a better, more inclusive Australia
Reconciliation Statement
In May 2022, Griffith launched its Reconciliation Statement — a public declaration of our commitment to promoting an environment valuing the cultures, knowledges and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, knowledges, experiences, and perspectives, form an integral part of our learning, teaching, research, and our engagement. As an institution, we commit to acknowledge and respect that contribution. The Griffith Reconciliation Statement commits to real outcomes and positive change.
Our Commitment
We hold ourselves accountable to the belief that reconciliation is everybody’s business.
Reconciliation is key to the way we live the Griffith Values in our work, and it can be expressed through the Griffith Strategic Plan Principles of excellence, ethics, and engagement.
Excellence
Grow cultural competency among staff and students and empower people to make meaningful lifelong contributions to their communities.
Ethics
Celebrate being an inclusive and diverse community where all people feel valued and respected. Embed Reconciliation in our planning, processes and practices, and demonstrate outcomes through action.
Engagement
Commit to processes that prioritise Indigenous voices in shaping outcomes, and recognise the importance of respecting Indigenous knowledges, cultures, and talent.
Together
In the spirit of reconciliation, Griffith University presents Sid Domic's Together.
Sid conceived the artwork while working for Griffith, to symbolise the cultural connectedness across our campuses.
As a proud Kalkadoon man, Sid passionately uses his art to express stories of his cultural heritage using stories to educate and spark conversation.
Sid explains his focus in this piece on the five memory centres, latent with knowledge and experience, which supports all Indigenous students on their journey.
Layered within the background are red dots and circles representing Griffith and its many First Peoples projects. The contrasting white circles are the places where support for Indigenous people can be found.
Cutting across the work are white lines to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands the five campuses span. By creating a cobweb of gold dots, Sid wants to remind us of the successes in uplifting First Peoples and for it to stay with us as a priority.
Together these shapes render all the champions of change within Griffith, showing how they raise others and enhance the work being done to close the gap.
National Reconciliation Week
22 May—3 June | Each year, the University hosts various activities and events across all Griffith campuses.
NAIDOC Week
In the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday) the University holds flag raising ceremonies across our campuses.
Annual dates of cultural significance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 February | Anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous People |
| 21 March | National Close the Gap day |
| 26 May | National Sorry Day |
| 27 May – 3 June | National Reconciliation Week |
| 27 May | Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum |
| 3 June | Mabo Day |
| 1 July | The Coming of Light Festival |
| 7 - 14 July | NAIDOC Week 2024 |
| 4 August | National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day |
| 9 August | The United Nations International Day of World’s Indigenous People |
Griffith activities
Each year, Griffith organises a series of events that bring together its staff and student community in acknowledging National Reconciliation Week and to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements.
The University also conducts flag raising ceremonies across our campuses to mark NAIDOC Week every year.
Contact us
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous), Griffith University, Logan, University Drive, Meadowbrook QLD, 4131