Progress of Boroondara Reconciliation Strategy 2022–26

Following the adoption of the Strategy in March 2022, acknowledgements were included in staff email blocks and on Council’s website.

Guidelines have been uploaded on Council’s staff intranet for written acknowledgements in key strategic documents, as well as other print and digital collateral.

• A new inclusive language and practice resource to support staff was launched in 2023-24 to respectfully engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Internal guidelines developed in 2023-24 are available to staff about the meaning and purpose of giving an Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and/or including a Welcome to Country at meetings and events.
• Internal briefings and presentations continue to be conducted across Council to raise awareness of the Strategy and the meaning of reconciliation amongst staff.

A Boroondara Sport and Recreation Inclusion Guide was developed in consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the Aboriginal Programs team at Sports and Recreation Victoria. The guide was made available on our website in September 2024 and continues to be promoted to local sports clubs. For more information and to download the Guide, visit our Resources for sports clubs page.

The Boroondara Library Service, in consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, has created a First Nations Collection showcasing titles created by First Nations authors. The collection was launched in October 2024.

• The Naming Policy, which was adopted on 27 February 2023, includes supporting naming in Traditional Owner language and the need to consult with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC). To download the Naming Policy, visit our Policies, plans and strategies page.
• The Boroondara Naming Framework has been developed to support implementation of the Naming Policy 2023. It outlines clear standard operating procedures to guide Council naming processes, including the use of Traditional Owner language and consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation where appropriate. The framework is intended to be a living document and will continue to evolve as Council applies it in practice, learns from implementation and responds to feedback.

• In response to community feedback, we installed 3 new flag poles at Hawthorn Arts Centre in December 2024 to permanently fly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.The Australian flag sits in the highest honour on top of the Hawthorn Arts Centre.
• Three new flagpoles were installed adjacent to the St James Park War Memorial, Hawthorn in 2025-26 as part of the St James Park Masterplan, following a request from the Hawthorn RSL for flagpoles to support commemorative ceremonies. The flagpoles will fly the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on specific commemorative dates, including Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
• We will continue to explore other opportunities for flying the Aboriginal flag in permanent locations in Boroondara.

Council's Placemaking Framework has been updated to specifically reference working with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as a key stakeholder in placemaking projects and include acknowledging and understanding Boroondara's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories in the placemaking process.

• Aboriginal Cultural Introductory Training was delivered by local Aboriginal consultant, AJ Williams from Girraway Ganyi Consultancy to Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre organisation members on 12 May 2022.
• School holiday sustainability program ‘Indigenous Perspectives’ was delivered on 13 April and 21 September 2022 to help children aged 9 - 13 years understand, acknowledge and learn the ancient knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and beliefs.
• Koorie Engagement Support Officer from Department of Education, as well as local leader and Wiradjuri man, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, presented to the Early and Middle Years Partnership Forum on 6 September 2023.  
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultural awareness raising workshop was delivered on 14 May 2024 for seniors clubs.
• Aboriginal Cultural Awareness hybrid workshop was delivered by Yorta Yorta woman and Aboriginal Consultant, Karen Milward on 6 August 2024.
• The Program Manager from Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency presented at the Early and Middle Years Partnership Forum on 20 August 2024.
• Ricki Spencer, First Nations Advisory Committee Chair at Volunteering Victoria, presented to the Volunteer Leaders Network meeting on 3 September 2024.
• Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services delivered an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Guidelines workshop for volunteer leaders and volunteers in Boroondara on 2 June 2025.
• Council hosted its annual Boroondara Equation event on 18 June 2025, featuring a keynote presentation from Troy Crellin, CEO of the Killara Foundation. The event brought together local businesses and community organisations to explore opportunities for collaboration and learn about initiatives supporting employment and training pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
• A Wurundjeri-led guided walk at the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew was delivered for community members on 25 September 2025.
• A guided Wurundjeri Trail walk in Kew for volunteer leaders and volunteers was delivered by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation on 26 March 2026. 
• As part of the Australian Heritage Festival 2026, Council hosted a sold-out guided walk along the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew on 24 April 2026, led by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. 
• A ‘Building Aboriginal Cultural Competency’ workshop for Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre managers was delivered on 11 June 2026.

Staff from across Council worked together to deliver key community events.

National Reconciliation Week

• The Boroondara Reconciliation Strategy was launched at the Balwyn Community Centre on 2 June 2022. The event included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony delivered by a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, presentation from Aboriginal consultant Karen Milward and performances from Djirri Djirri Wurundjeri Women’s Dance Group and Yeng Gali Choir from Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place.
• Brooke Wandin, Wurundjeri woman and Woi-wurrung language researcher gave a presentation on her language journey in reconstructing the Traditional Owner language, Woi-wurrung, at the Kew Library on 29 May 2023.
• Professor John Evans, Vice Chancellor of Indigenous Engagement at Moondani Toombadool Centre, Swinburne University presented on the work of the Centre on 20 June 2023 at the Camberwell Library.
• ‘Lipwurrunga’ community exhibition was held at the Town Hall Gallery from 30 April to 14 June 2025. Through vibrant oil paintings, traditional wood carvings and didgeridoos, this exhibition connects ancient knowledge and practices with contemporary creativity and expression.
• Reconciliation Week Yarning Circle with Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place was held at Camberwell Library on 27 May 2025.  
• Sound Healing event with Les Lipwurrunga, renowned Aboriginal artist, spiritual healer, and master didgeridoo maker and player was held at Hawthorn Arts Centre on 31 May 2025.
• A collaborative performance held at Town Hall Gallery on 28 May 2025 featured Aboriginal artist and spiritual leader, Lipwurrunga (Les Huddleston) and the acclaimed Inventi Ensemble, Melbourne’s leading innovative music ensemble.
• The Deans of Soul performed at Hawthorn Arts Centre as part of the Morning Music program on 19 May 2026. 
• An online author talk with Tyson Yunkaporta and Megan Kelleher about Snake Talk: How the World’s Ancient Serpent Stories Can Guide Us was held on 26 May 2026.

National Sorry Day

• Performance by Mutti Mutti performer and Stolen Generations survivor, Kutcha Edwards was held on 26 May 2024 at the Balwyn Community Centre. The event included a presentation from Vanessa Scales from Connecting Home and Stolen Generations survivor.
• Documentary ‘Servant or Slave’ was screened at Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn on 26 May 2025, together with a Q&A session with a Stolen Generations survivor and descendant and the CEO of Connecting Home. 
• A National Sorry Day community event was held at Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris on 24 May 2026. The event included a screening of Genocide in the Wildflower State, a Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Elder Annette Xiberras and a presentation from a Stolen Generations community member. 

NAIDOC Week

• A Native Cooking Workshop for young people aged 10-25 years was held on 29 June 2022 at the Boroondara Youth Hub. The workshop was delivered in collaboration with Mullum Creations, a social enterprise promoting Indigenous culture by Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place.
• A ‘Connecting to Country’ in-person guided walk with Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) woman, Alana Marsh took place at Maranoa Gardens in Balwyn on 2 July 2023.
• A Boomerang Painting workshop was held with young people on 2 July 2024 by Boroondara Youth, in collaboration with Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and Blue Tongue Management.
• A NAIDOC Week collaborative community painting workshop with contemporary Aboriginal artist N’Dene Riley was held at Hawthorn Library on 6 July 2026.
• Council partnered on a First Peoples-led event at Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place for local First Peoples community members and their families on 6 July.

We continue to promote local opportunities to staff and the community through the Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter, Boroondara Bulletin, our City of Boroondara website and social media channels, internal staff communications channels and stakeholder networks.

• Awarded Triennial Operational Grant funding to Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris for 2023-26 and 2026-29. 
• Awarded a 2023-24 Annual Community Strengthening Grant to Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris. 
• Awarded a 2025-26 Annual Community Strengthening Grant to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
• The Community Grants Program continues to work with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to support access to Council grant opportunities

Council continued to explore opportunities to support the professional development of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through ongoing partnership and collaboration with Swinburne University's Moondani Toombadool Centre.

Key activities included:

• Ongoing engagement with Moondani Toombadool Centre to strengthen relationships and identify opportunities to support emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
• Delivery of the Keep the Fire Burning exhibition in partnership with Moondani Toombadool Centre and Swinburne Student Life, providing exhibition, mentoring and artwork sales opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student artists.
• Programming and delivery support for Moondani Toombadool Centre's NAIDOC celebrations, fostering connections with young First Nations artists and creatives.
• Regular collaboration with First Nations cultural practitioners and organisations to better understand opportunities, needs and barriers for emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists seeking to develop careers in the arts, culture and music sectors.

This ongoing partnership has strengthened Council's understanding of opportunities to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives and will inform consideration of future funding and professional development initiatives.

• Chris Hume, Bunurong and Yorta Yorta man, the Men’s Cultural Worker at Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, provided a recipe for Council’s Men’s Health Week recipe cards in June 2022 and 2023.
• Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) woman Alana Marsh featured in Council’s online International Women’s Day Council communications campaign in March 2022.
• The Burke Road underpass mural was designed in consultation with WWCHAC and in collaboration with artist, Tom Civil. The mural, which was completed in November 2023, pays tribute to the underwater ecosystem of Gardiners Creek, showcasing species like short-finned eels, yabbies, tadpoles, and aquatic plants.
• We collaborated with Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and EACH Ngarrang Gulinj-al Boordup - Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing service to hold a Community Golf Day event at the Freeway Golf Course in Balwyn North on 10 May 2024 for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event provided opportunities for participants to connect with one another, enjoy golf and engage with local Aboriginal-led health and community services.
• Hays Paddock playground in Kew East was redeveloped incorporating Aboriginal sculpture, language and stories created by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Aunty Kim Wandin and Chris Joy from Murrup Bilk Public Art, with fabrication by Sculpture Co. Timber panel carvings were also created by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung artist Lewis Wandin-Bursill. Council delivered this in consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. The newly developed playground was launched to the community on 17 August 2024.
• We collaborated with Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) woman Alana Marsh to develop a guided mindfulness walk titled ‘Connecting to Country’ with audio recordings at Maranoa Botanic Gardens in Balwyn. The recordings were launched in September 2024 and were available to the community for 2 years.
• Djirrungana Kulture – High Culture launched the 2026 Summer in the Park program at Maranoa Botanic Gardens on 29 January 2026. The event celebrated Indigenous culture, music and storytelling and was curated by First Nations Cultural Curator, Jason Tamiru.
• The Winton Road Reserve playground in Ashburton was upgraded in consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. The renewed playground incorporates tree education signage and a learning circle inspired by Aboriginal yarning circles, creating opportunities for children and families to learn about and engage with First Peoples cultures.

Engaging with Traditional Owners is now embedded in the Placemaking Framework and standard practice. Engagement on new placemaking initiatives will be included at the relevant points in project design and development.

Major exhibitions

• ‘Tell me a Story’ was held between 1 October and 17 December 2022. The exhibition featured artworks by Tradition Owners including Aunty Kim Wandin and Lewis Wandin-Bursill, both Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung representatives. Curator-led exhibition tours were also delivered for community members, the internal Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee​ and community groups including the Inner East Local Aboriginal Network. Guest speakers included Aunty Kim Wandin and curator Chris Joy.
• ‘Light Sensitive’ featuring Jazz Money, artist of Wiradjuri and Irish heritage was exhibited from 26 April to Saturday 15 July 2023.
• ‘20 Years of the Town Hall Gallery’ held between 1 November 2023 to 20 January 2024 featured art works from Lin Onus, as well as a boomerang created and signed by Bill Onus. The boomerang donation was facilitated by Arts and Culture in 2023.
• 'Seasonal Shifts' featuring First Nations artists Brian Robinson and James Tylor was displayed at Town Hall Gallery from 5 February to 26 April 2025.
• OBJECTIVE featuring contemporary artist and Girramay, Yidindji, Kuku Yalanji man, Tony Albert, was exhibited at Town Hall Gallery and closed on 24 January 2026.

Performers

• Emma Donovan and The Putbacks performed at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on 12 July 2023.
• Mutti Mutti songman, Kutcha Edwards performed at Council’s National Sorry Day event on 26 May 2024 at Balwyn Community Centre.
• Deans of Soul performed at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on 8 November 2024.
• Pirritu, Ngiyampaa man and First Nations singer-songwriter performed at Maranoa Botanic Gardens as part of the Summer in the Parks Series on 22 February 2025
• Troy Cassar-Daley, Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung musician, performed at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on 6 March 2025. This event was a special preview of the 2025 Port Fairy Folk Festival.  
• Pirritu, Ngiyampaa man and First Nations singer-songwriter in collaboration with Loz Irwin-Ray performed at Kew Court House on 21 May 2025.
• Collaborative performance at Town Hall Gallery was held on 28 May 2025 featuring Aboriginal artist and spiritual leader, Lipwurrunga (Les Huddleston) and the acclaimed Inventi Ensemble, Melbourne’s leading innovative music ensemble.
• Sound Healing event at Hawthorn Arts Centre Library Lounge was held on 31 May 2025, with Les Lipwurrunga, renowned Aboriginal artist, spiritual healer, and master didgeridoo maker and player.
• Yarns and Songs: Kutcha Edwards in Conversation with Roger Knox was held on 2 August 2025.
• Two Visions of the Sonata: Liszt and Kouvaras was presented at Hawthorn Arts Centre on 18 July 2026. The NAIDOC Week concert featured pianist Coady Green with a contemporary work by Linda Kouvaras and narration by Tiriki Onus, inspired by Indigenous stories of place.

Other

• Taungurung artist, Cassie Leatham’s item from the Town Hall Gallery collection was on display in the foyer of the Hawthorn Arts Centre from January - April 2022.
• My Arts, My Culture - feature article and video of local Wiradjuri man, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, has been on display on our website from March 2022.
• Community exhibition ‘Through Our Eyes’ at Hawthorn Arts Centre, which featured Wurundjeri artist Mya Wilson from the QArt Studio, was held in December 2022.  
• The Young Curators Development Program is an annual education and mentoring series led by curators from the Town Hall Gallery for aspiring arts workers in Boroondara between 16 and 25 years old. For the first learning module in 2023, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre was invited to speak on the ethics and protocols of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural materials in collections on 6 April 2023.
• A film screening of ‘Ablaze' about Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta leader William ‘Bill’ Onus was shown at Hawthorn Arts Centre was held on 8 November 2023.
• ‘NAIDOC 2024 - Keep the Fire Burning’ was shown at Hawthorn Arts Centre. Presented in partnership with Moondani Toombadool Centre and Swinburne Student Life, the community exhibition showcased works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student artists from Swinburne University of Technology and supported artist mentoring and artwork sales.
• ‘Lipwurrunga’ community exhibition at the Town Hall Gallery was held from 30 April to 14 June 2025. Through vibrant oil paintings, traditional wood carvings and didgeridoos, this exhibition connects ancient knowledge and practices with contemporary creativity and expression.
• ‘NAIDOC 2025’ by Moondani Toombadool Centre was exhibited at Hawthorn Arts Centre. Presented in partnership with Moondani Toombadool Centre, the exhibition showcased works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student artists from Swinburne University of Technology responding to the 2025 NAIDOC theme, 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy'.
• Slow Read, presented by Melbourne Writers Festival and City of Boroondara, was exhibited at Town Hall Gallery from 6 May to 25 July 2026.
• Hidden Worlds on Wurundjeri Land was exhibited at Town Hall Gallery from 3 July to 8 August 2026. The exhibition explored the 7 Wurundjeri seasons through artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Taungurung artist Cassie Leatham’s Healing Mat was displayed at Hawthorn Arts Centre.
• Stacie Piper from Djirri Djirri Wurundjeri Women’s Dance Group delivered a Welcome to Country at the Town Hall Gallery 2026 Program Launch.
• Aboriginal artists Kent Morris and Jenna Lee were featured in Town Hall Gallery’s Pattern Recognition exhibition, with Kent Morris also delivering a public exhibition tour.
• First Nations performers were programmed at Kew Court House, including Radical Son and Richard E Champion.

• Woi-wurrung word blocks made by Wurundjeri artist Lewis Wandin-Bursill were displayed at Kew Library throughout October to November 2023.
• Monthly Wurundjeri Storytimes for children aged 0 to 5 and 5 to 8 have been delivered in-person and online since 9 December 2020 in collaboration with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
• An online summary was created of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and picture books.
• Community presentations from the following Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and speakers were held at Boroondara’s Libraries:
  • Djirri Djirri Wurundjeri Women’s Dance Group held 2 interactive dance workshops for children aged 3 to 8 years at Camberwell Library for NAIDOC Week on 29 June 2022.
  • Brooke Wandin, Wurundjeri woman and Woi-wurrung language researcher gave a presentation on her language journey in reconstructing the Traditional Owner language, Woi-wurrung at the Kew Library on 29 May 2023.
  • Professor John Evans, Vice Chancellor of Indigenous Engagement at Moondani Toombadool Centre, Swinburne University presented on the work of the Centre on 20 June 2023 in Camberwell Library.
  • A film screening of ‘The Last Daughter’ was shown at Ashburton Library on 10 July 2023.
  • Debra Dank, Gudanji/Wakaja woman gave an online author talk on 9 September 2023 about her book We Come with This Place, which is a tribute to her family and the Gudanji Country in the Northern Territory.
  • Uncle Glenn Loughrey, Wiradjuri man and founder of the Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place, gave a NAIDOC week presentation on ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ at the Kew Library on 9 July 2024.
  • A Reconciliation Week Yarning Circle with Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place was held at Camberwell Library on 27 May 2025. 
  • As part of Melbourne Writers Festival, Bruce Pascoe and Ray Norris presented ‘Big Sky’ at Boroondara Libraries on 7 May 2026. The event explored Aboriginal knowledge systems, astronomy and the connections between First Nations stories, science and Country. 

• A NAIDOC Week ‘Connecting to Country’ in-person guided walk with Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) woman, Alana Marsh at Maranoa Gardens was delivered in Balwyn on 2 July 2023.
• Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) woman Alana Marsh developed a guided mindfulness walk titled ‘Connecting to Country’ with audio recordings at Maranoa Botanic Gardens in Balwyn. The recordings were launched in September 2024 and were available to the community for 2 years.

• Council continues to integrate indigenous plants across the municipality every year during the planting season (May to August). In 2026, Council will plant approximately 52,000 tubestock plants into biodiversity areas. 
• Environmental Sustainability and Open Spaces Council staff undertook training in March and April 2023 to better understand the balance of plants that will grow successfully in Boroondara, so that native plants can be integrated appropriately.

In late 2023, we joined the regional First Nations Arts Trail project led by Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place (MMIGP). This collaborative initiative with neighbouring councils mapped First Nations outdoor art, galleries​ and cultural experiences across Melbourne’s east. 

• In June 2022, Boroondara Youth Hub installed ‘welcome’ signage in 11 languages, including Woi-wurrung language.
• In April 2024, we consulted Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders on City of Boroondara’s internal signage standards and style guides. In response to the feedback, the updated internal guide now includes new signs that have been designed to recognise Traditional Owners across the municipality including on signage in all Council buildings and facilities such as municipal signage, building entry signage, welcome statement, parks and gardens signage and interpretive signage. 
• The roll out of the new signage was completed in early 2026 across more than 140 council sites, creating a warm, inclusive environment for everyone who visits our facilities. All main Council-owned and operated buildings now feature entry signs with multilingual greetings, a display of the Australian flag, Aboriginal flag, Torres Strait Islander flag and Progress Pride flag, and an acknowledgement of Traditional Owners. Visitors will also find a Wominjeka (welcome) plaque inside the buildings. In addition, all Council owned buildings that are operated by tenants have a Wominjeka (welcome) plaque installed on an external wall.
• Completed in 2025, new Ashburton wayfinding signage incorporated First Peoples artwork and storytelling following consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. Installed outside Ashburton Library, the signage acknowledges Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung cultural heritage and connection to place through artwork, storytelling and interpretation.

In June 2025, Council conducted an organisation-wide survey to assess staff understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The outcomes will help to identify learning needs and improve workplace culture and practices, which is referred to as cultural safety.

Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations operating in Boroondara participate in the Early and Middle Years Partnership Forum. 

Other activities included:

• Boroondara Youth Hub hosted a Native Cooking Workshop with Mullum Creations during NAIDOC Week in 2022. 
• Boroondara Youth delivered a Boomerang Painting workshop for young people in collaboration with Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and Blue Tongue Management on 2 July 2024.  
• In 2026, ‘From Where We Are’, an exhibition by a young Wurundjeri artist, was showcased in the Gallery of Young Art, highlighting local First Peoples perspectives and culture.

This action will be progressed in 2026.

• Girraway Ganyi Consultancy delivered cultural education to the Children, Young People and Families Department on 27 April 2022.
• Aboriginal consultant and Yorta Yorta woman Karen Milward delivered a cultural safety workshop to Council’s Leadership Roundtable, which includes all Council leaders, on 22 June 2022.
• Alana Marsh, Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) delivered a cultural immersion session on 10 November 2022 at St Oswald’s in Glen Iris to help staff understand how to meaningfully acknowledge the earth and traditional custodians of the land in everyday life.
• Uncle Glenn Loughrey, Wiradjuri man, a led a guided gallery tour for Council staff of the exhibition ‘Visions of Hope’ at Murnong Gallery in Glen Iris on 2 February 2023.
• Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, Uncle Bill Nicholson Jnr, delivered cultural awareness training to councillors and Council staff members of the internal  Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee on 3 May 2023.
• Uncle Bill Nicholson Jnr delivered a NAIDOC Week cultural awareness event for all staff on 28 June 2023.
• Aboriginal consultant and Yorta Yorta woman Karen Milward delivered an online cultural safety workshop to Council staff on 4 July 2024.
• Koorie Heritage Trust delivered Aboriginal Cultural Competency Training to Council staff on 24 September 2024.
• Aboriginal consultant and Yorta Yorta woman Karen Milward delivered a cultural safety workshop to all councillors, Executive Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team on 14 April 2025.
• Independent journalist and Australia's first Treaty Correspondent, Uncle Charles Pakana, delivered an online presentation to Council staff on 16 June 2025 about the Victorian Treaty process during National Reconciliation Week.
• Educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation delivered a guided cultural walk along the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew for Council staff in October 2025. The experience included opportunities to connect with Country and learn about Wurundjeri culture, history and traditions.
• Representatives from Gellung Warl and the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, including Rueben Berg, General Member for the Metro region, delivered an online presentation to Council staff on 11 June 2026 about the Victorian Treaty process, including the role of the First Nations Assembly of Victoria and the Statewide Treaty.

A statement of commitment to reconciliation will be considered as part of the review and development of Council's next Reconciliation Strategy in 2026-27.

Organisations working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people were invited to be members and present at the quarterly Early and Middle Years Partnerships Forum. Organisations invited and that presented include Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA), Victorian Government Department of Education Koorie Engagement Support Officers, and Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place.

• A sold-out Cultural Walk at Wurundjeri Trail in Kew was held on 22 August 2024. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Uncle Dave Wandin led the event, providing an in-depth Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony, and opportunities to connect with Country on the trail.
• Two Cultural Walks at Wurundjeri Trail led by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung representatives were delivered in July 2025 for NAIDOC Week.
• A guided Wurundjeri Trail walk in Kew for volunteer leaders and volunteers was delivered by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation on 26 March 2026. 
• As part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival 2026, Council hosted a sold-out guided walk along the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew on 24 April 2026, led by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. 
• Educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation delivered a guided cultural walk along the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew for Council staff in October 2025. The experience included opportunities to connect with Country and learn about Wurundjeri culture, history and traditions.

• The Boroondara Community Plan 2025-35 was endorsed on 27 October 2025 following extensive community engagement, including consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders. The plan includes reconciliation as a key aim and incorporates Woi-wurrung language across the titles of its 4 strategic themes.
• In 2026, work commenced on the Wurundjeri Sculpture and Garden Project within the Camberwell Civic precinct, supported by a successful Pick My Park grant. Developed in partnership with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC), the project aims to create a culturally significant, welcoming and sustainable space that celebrates the living culture, stories and connection to Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. Council will continue to consult closely with WWCHAC as the project progresses.

We meet regularly with Elders from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation through their Cultural Consultation sessions to consult with them on relevant Council projects and keep them informed about the progress of the Boroondara Reconciliation Strategy 2022-26. These consultations support ongoing relationship building and provide opportunities for Council officers to seek advice and feedback directly from Elders. 

Since early 2022, the following projects have been presented to the Cultural Consultation team:

• Gardiners Creek (Kooyongkoot) Masterplan
• Burke Junction Placemaking Project
• Burke Road Underpass Mural
• Sports Club Inclusion Guide
• Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre - meet and greet
• Libraries update
• Above the Canopy Art Installation at Hawthorn Arts Centre
• Council’s Tree Canopy Strategy
• Management of large dead River Red Gum at Hope Court, Kew
• Naming Policy 2023, including Traditional Owner naming
• Update on progress of Boroondara Reconciliation Strategy 2022-26
• Naming process consultation
• St James Park Masterplan
• Urban Biodiversity Strategy
• Ashburton Wayfinding Signage
• Koonung Creek Reserve
• Canterbury Community Precinct Heritage Centre Naming
• Boroondara Signage Guidelines
• First Nations Library Catalogue Project
• Myrtle Macleay Park Masterplan
• Draft Boroondara Heritage Strategy
• Pronunciation of Boroondara
• Boroondara Community Plan (BCP) Renewal 
• Winton Road Reserve Playground renewal
• Hays Paddock Playground Signage
• Proposed MAV Pilot Treaty Project
• Draft Camberwell Civic precinct Master Plan
• Draft Circular Economy Strategy
• 26 January Citizenship Ceremony 
• Hawthorn Community House Renewal 
• Meet and greet with new Mayor, Cr Wes Gault 
• Boroondara Reconciliation Network consultation on Treaty Community Conversations follow-up and Annual Grant application 
• Kew Recreation History Wall design 
• Integrated Transport Strategy 
• LXRP naming consultation and pilot implementation of the Naming Framework 
• Kew Recreation History Wall final design consultation
• Development of Integrated Water Management Plan
• New Boroondara Open Space Strategy and Implementation Plan

The following key strategic documents were developed in consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. They identify opportunities for sharing and applying traditional knowledge to Natural Resource Management in Boroondara.

St James Park Master Plan

St James Park Master Plan, which was adopted 9 September 2024, includes historical information about the Traditional Owners and new recommendations to:

• investigate using local Aboriginal languages on new signage, in consultation with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
• investigate the representation of the pre-settlement history of the park through interpretive signage and installations, in consultation with representatives of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and working with Aboriginal artists.

To read our Master Plan visit our St James Park Master Plan Your Say page.

 Boroondara Tree Canopy Strategy

The Boroondara Tree Canopy Strategy 2024–2034 and Action Plan 2024-26, adopted by 9 September 2024, includes the following actions:

• engage with Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung to self-determine their involvement in Boroondara’s management of large, old, or culturally significant trees
• develop staff knowledge and awareness of the significance of land and trees to Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people.

To read our Tree Canopy Strategy and Action Plan visit our Tree Canopy Strategy page.

Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Masterplan

Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Masterplan 2022-2032, which was adopted on 10 October 2022, includes historical information about the Traditional Owners as well as a new site-specific initiative ‘Recognition and celebration of Aboriginal histories, cultures and knowledges’. It incorporates:

• new interpretative signage to be implemented to provide insights into the Aboriginal histories and cultures of the area and/or indigenous flora and fauna
• integrating indigenous plants into garden bed planting
• new interpretive public art
• new spaces to gather such as circular seating spaces made from natural materials.

To read our Master Plan visit our Gardiners Creek (Kooyongkoot) Master Plan Your Say page.

Urban Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Urban Biodiversity Strategy 2024-2034 and Action Plan 2025-26, adopted on 9 September 2024, includes strategic actions to:

• engage with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation (such as the Narrup team) and other Aboriginal groups in revegetation projects
• engage with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation to provide education and engagement opportunities to the community with an Indigenous focus
• participate in knowledge sharing with other councils and expert bodies, for example, through participation in groups such as the Yarra Collaboration Committee and Gardiners Creek (KooyongKoot) Regional Collaboration, and collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Corporation.

To read our Urban Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, visit our Protecting our biodiversity page.

Boroondara Heritage Strategy 

The Boroondara Heritage Strategy 2025-41, adopted on 1 December 2025, includes actions to recognise, protect and celebrate Aboriginal tangible and intangible cultural heritage, histories and connections to Country across Boroondara. The strategy was informed through consultation with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

To read our Heritage Strategy, visit our Heritage Strategy and Action Plan page.

• The October 2023 meeting of the Inner East Local Aboriginal Network held at Hawthorn Arts Centre included a curator-led tour of the Tell me a Story exhibition with Aunty Kim Wandin and art curator Chris Joy as guest speakers.
• We have an ex-officio role on the Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place monthly Management Committee meetings. Council’s involvement ensures we remain informed and engaged with the activities and needs of the Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and are fostering a collaborative relationship.
• Staff across Council continue to develop relationships with key stakeholder organisations including Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, Moondani Toombadool Centre, Oonah Health and Community Services, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Boroondara Reconciliation Network.
• We held a session in March 2023 to bring local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders together to update them on the progress of the Strategy and thank them for their support.
• We attended the EMR NAIDOC Ball in Boroondara organised by Oonah Aboriginal Health in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The event was an opportunity to strengthen relationships with our colleagues and local stakeholders contributing to reconciliation locally. It was also an opportunity to celebrate local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples receiving NAIDOC awards.
• We attended the Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place trivia night fundraiser on 15 March 2025 to show Council support.

• We hosted a sold-out Cultural Walk at Wurundjeri Trail in Kew on 22 August 2024. Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Uncle Dave Wandin led the event, providing an in-depth Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony, and opportunities to connect with Country on the trail.
• Two Cultural Walks at Wurundjeri Trail led by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung representatives were delivered in July 2025 for NAIDOC Week.
• A guided Wurundjeri Trail walk in Kew for volunteer leaders and volunteers was delivered by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation on 26 March 2026.
• As part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival 2026, Council hosted a sold-out guided walk along the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew on 24 April 2026, led by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
• Development of digital content about the Wurundjeri Trail is in progress.

• In collaboration with the Boroondara Interfaith Network, the ‘Journey towards Reconciliation’ event at the Wominjeka Garden at Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris on 10 October 2022 featured local presenter and Wiradjuri man, Uncle Glenn Loughrey.
• The Boroondara Interfaith Network event ‘Pathways to Peace’ on Sunday 16 March 2025 at the Hawthorn Arts Centre included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
• Council facilitated a connection between the Boroondara Interfaith Network and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to support the delivery of a Treaty information session at St John's Anglican Church, Camberwell, in September 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Peace. The session will provide opportunities for community members to learn about the Victorian Treaty process, Aboriginal self-determination and engage in respectful discussion.

The following issues of the Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter have been sent to subscribers:

• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 1 (sent 29 June 2023)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 2 (sent 12 December 2023)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 3 (sent 2 July 2024)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 4 (sent 14 November 2024)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 5 (sent June 2025)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 6 (sent November 2025)
• Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter - Issue 7 (sent May 2026)

To subscribe to the Boroondara Reconciliation e-newsletter, sign up to our mailing list.

• On 28 June 2022, we hosted a NAIDOC Week staff event beneath the flagpoles at Camberwell Civic Precinct to affirm our commitment to reconciliation and to celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This event featured a Welcome to Country from Uncle Colin Hunter and a presentation from Yorta Yorta woman, Karen Milward.
• On 10 November 2022, Alana Marsh, Meriam (Torres Strait Islander) delivered a cultural immersion session at St Oswald’s in Glen Iris to help staff understand how to better acknowledge the earth and traditional custodians of the land in everyday life.
• On 2 February 2023, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, Wiradjuri man, led staff in a guided tour of Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place Gallery’s exhibition ‘Vision of Hope’, which focused on hope, future and heritage.
• On 4 July 2024, Aboriginal consultant and Yorta Yorta woman Karen Milward delivered an online cultural safety workshop to Council staff.

• Council continues to support staff and community organisations to build relationships with local First Peoples organisations and the broader reconciliation sector, and strengthen their capacity to engage respectfully and appropriately with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities across Melbourne's Inner East.
• In June 2025, we shared the Inner East Aboriginal Knowledge resource pack to Council staff and mainstream community services within Boroondara. This resource guide was created and endorsed by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations servicing Boroondara, Monash, Whitehorse and Manningham, with the support from the Community Partnerships Team at Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Inner East Area. The purpose of this resource is to build the capacity, capability and cultural safety of mainstream organisations.

In 2025, Council’s Child Safety training for Council staff was updated to better support the safety and wellbeing of children in our community. This update was informed by valuable feedback from one of our First Peoples staff members, helping us to improve our understanding of cultural safety and create a safer environment for Aboriginal children.

• We adopted an updated Procurement Policy 2021-25 and Procurement Guidelines on 24 April 2024. The updated policy places greater emphasis on social and environmental sustainability including promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enterprises. To read our Procurement Policy, visit our Procurement framework page.
• We collaborated with the Eastern Region Group members from all 7 councils in the Eastern Metropolitan Region to deliver a First Nations Procurement workshop on 13 November 2024.

In 2023, we created an internal Inclusive Language Guide to ensure staff use respectful, strengths-based and inclusive language, and language that acknowledges the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

• In June/July 2025 we conducted a staff assessment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural understanding, in order to identify learning needs and improve workplace culture and practices. 
• In May 2026 we launched a campaign to collect workforce demographic information to better understand representation across our organisation. This insight supports our workforce planning and helps us design targeted training, programs, and resources that foster inclusivity and meet the diverse needs of our people.

We continue to fulfil our cultural heritage management obligations under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018.

• On 24 February 2025, Council resolved to participate in the MAV Strengthening Councils' Treaty Awareness and Information Pilot Project until 30 June 2025. The pilot aimed to build awareness and understanding of Victoria's Treaty process within local government and support informed and respectful conversations with local communities by providing factual information about the Treaty process. 
• As part of the pilot project, an Aboriginal-led education session was delivered to councillors, the Executive Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team on 27 February 2025 to build awareness and understanding of the Victorian Treaty process and local government's potential role within it.
• In mid-2026, Council facilitated connections between local neighbourhood houses and Gellung Warl to support the delivery of 2 community-led Treaty information sessions at Balwyn Community Centre and Ashburton Community Centre. The sessions provided opportunities for community members to learn about and discuss Victoria's Treaty process, with approximately 70 attendees at the Balwyn session and 50 attendees at the Ashburton session.

• We continue to facilitate our internal Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee on a quarterly basis to oversee the implementation of the Boroondara Reconciliation Strategy 2022-26. Each meeting is attended by Council members, Council managers and special guests, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders.
• On 27 November 2023, members of the Internal Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee met at Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris for the Committee's first in-person meeting. The meeting provided an opportunity for councillor members, Council officers and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to strengthen relationships, learn more about the work of Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and continue working together to support reconciliation in Boroondara.
• On 19 August 2024, members of the Internal Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee visited the Moondani Toombadool Centre at Swinburne University in Hawthorn as part of the Committee's 13th meeting. Councillor members, Council officers and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Aunty Julieanne Axford attended the meeting, which included a tour of the Centre's Aboriginal murals, Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands and Indigenous Learning Circle.
• On 20 May 2026, members of the Internal Boroondara Reconciliation Advisory Committee met at the offices of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation in Abbotsford. The meeting included a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony along the Birrarung and provided valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships, deepen cultural understanding and continue working together in support of reconciliation.

Six meetings of the Boroondara Reconciliation Stakeholder Network have been held since November 2023, with strong interest and support from the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector. These bi-annual network meetings provide an opportunity for sharing information about reconciliation programs, learning about stakeholders’ priorities​ and identifying opportunities for collaboration. 

• On 12 May 2022, Aboriginal Cultural Introductory Training was delivered for Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre (BVRC) organisation members by local Aboriginal consultant, AJ Williams from Girraway Ganyi Consultancy.
• In August 2022, the BVRC launched a video series titled 'Strengthening Diversity in Volunteering' and collaborated with the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place to produce a 5-minute video offering practical advice and insights on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteers. The series features Vanessa Scales, a Barkindji woman and Coordinator at Mullum Pantry. The initiative aimed to help organisations make volunteering more inclusive and accessible for people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and new migrants. Find the video series on YouTube.
• On 13 June 2023, the BVRC hosted a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Awareness workshop for staff and volunteers from local community organisations and groups, delivered by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill Nicholson Jr.
• On 15 February 2024, the BVRC hosted a First Nations Cultural Awareness Workshop at the Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place for local volunteers and volunteer managers. The session included a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony delivered by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder Uncle Colin Hunter and cultural awareness content delivered by Uncle Glenn Loughrey.
• On 3 September 2024, Ricki Spencer, First Nations Advisory Committee Chair at Volunteering Victoria presented to the Volunteer Leaders Network meeting on how volunteer-involving organisations can respectfully engage with First Nations communities and create more inclusive volunteering opportunities.
• In celebration of International Volunteer Day on 5 December 2024, the BVRC delivered a 10 day interactive display to inspire the community to get involved in volunteering by sharing stories of impactful volunteers and volunteer programs in Boroondara. This exhibition included content on First Peoples volunteering history and profiles on Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place and volunteers in Glen Iris.
• The Boroondara Volunteer Expo 2025 on 19 March 2025 featured a presentation and discussion with Eddie Betts about his personal journey of supporting the community through sport and volunteering, particularly through his work empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
• On 2 June 2025, the BVRC held an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Guidelines workshop for local volunteers and volunteer managers, delivered by Nikki Madgwick from Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.
• On 18 June 2025, the BVRC hosted a Cultural Immersion session at the Wurundjeri Trail in Kew for local volunteers and volunteer managers. The Tour was delivered by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and featured a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
• A guided Wurundjeri Trail walk in Kew for volunteer leaders and volunteers was delivered by educators from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation on 26 March 2026. The event provided opportunities to connect with Country and learn about Wurundjeri culture, history and traditions.
• A Building Aboriginal Cultural Competency workshop for Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre managers was delivered on 11 June 2026.

• The Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre (BVRC) advertised volunteer positions for Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place on the BVRC Volunteer Portal in 2024, and 13 volunteers applied for these roles.   
• In the 2025 Boroondara Volunteer Awards, Murnong First People's Gathering Place was awarded a special commendation in the Volunteer Program Innovation Award category for providing a culturally safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to connect, create and support one another, and also educating the broader community about First Nations cultures.
• Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place in Glen Iris had a stall at the Boroondara Volunteer Expo in 2025 and 2026, showcasing their volunteering opportunities to interested community members.

In 2023-24 Council partnered with AFL Sportsready to host a First Nations trainee within the Boroondara Youth Hub in Hawthorn. Work has commenced on this action and will be progressed in 2026.