QTU Cultural Protocols updated
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 2, 28 March 2024, page 16.
The QTU’s Welcome to Country, Acknowledgement of County, and Sorry Business Protocols (more commonly referred to as the Cultural Protocols document) was initially developed in consultation with the Union’s Gandu Jarjum Committee and endorsed by the 2023 QTU Biennial Conference.
At the November 2023 meeting of Gandu Jarjum, the committee reviewed the document and identified several revisions that required consideration to ensure that the document remains accessible to members and fit for purpose.
Primary recommendations for change included:
- ensuring consistency in the terminology used in line with current QTU policy
- clarity in relation to when Acknowledgements of Country should occur
- updating the suggested wording for the Acknowledgement of Country.
The most noticeable change to occur as a result of Gandu Jarjum’s considerations relates to the frequency of Acknowledgements of Country. Moving forward, at gatherings convened under the name of the QTU, the protocols require an Acknowledgement of Country to be performed as the first order of business on all agendas. However, subsequent speakers are not required to deliver a formal Acknowledgement of Country themselves, although they can acknowledge the Acknowledgement. After the Acknowledgement or Welcome, the Cultural Protocols document outlines the etiquette for speakers, which differ depending on whether they identify as First Nations or non-First Nations people.
First Nations people
It is accepted that it is culturally appropriate for a First Nations person to deliver their own Acknowledgement, consistent with ancient practices for when passing through “foreign lands”.
Non-First Nations people
If you witnessed the Welcome to Country or the Acknowledgement of Country, you should recognise and thank the person for their Welcome/Acknowledgement. For example: “I would like to thank Jane for her Acknowledgement, and I also pay my respects.” However, you should not deliver a full acknowledgement.
At gatherings of State Council and Biennial Conference, the practice of recognising the country (or names of the traditional custodians) when you speak for the first time remains the same. This is a sign of respect and connects members to the lands, waterways, and skies in which they live, work and play. Here are some examples.
If only the traditional name of Country is known: “My name is Micheal, I work on Country traditionally known as Gurrumbilburra.”
If only the Traditional Custodians’ names are known: “My name is Micheal and I work on Country under the custodianship of the Wulgurukaba people.”
If the traditional name of Country and Custodians is known: “My name is Micheal and I work on Country traditionally known as Gurrumbilburra, lands under the custodianship of the Wulgurukaba people.”
It is important to remind members at your local sub-branch, branch, area council, Executive and standing committee meetings that the Cultural Protocols establish that an Acknowledgement of/Welcome to Country is delivered as the first item of business on the agenda, and this will suffice for this gathering. Gandu Jarjum members recognise that the composition of membership at these gatherings has a low turnover/limited number of proxies. Members of these discrete groups should introduce themselves and recognise the Country/Traditional Custodians where they work at the first meeting of their elected term.
The recommendations were subsequently endorsed by State Council. After necessary administrative changes and reviews, the latest version of the Cultural Protocols document is now live on the QTU website (https://www.qtu.asn.au/cultural-protocols).