When to Acknowledge Country
It is important to Acknowledge Country at the beginning of any meeting, presentation, or formal occasion. This might include, but is not limited to:
- Teachers or students presenting an Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of a lecture, tutorial, and studio.
- Teachers or students presenting an Acknowledgement of Country at the beginning of a ceremony or event.
- Students Acknowledging Country in writing at the beginning of an assignment.
- Students Acknowledging Country at the beginning of an in-class or online presentation.
Formatting → key components
“Language, grammar, spelling, italics, capitalisation, and semantics are important when acknowledging” (Arts Gen, n.d.). The Australian Government Style Manual (2024) provides information on formatting as well as various other formalities and protocols.
There are some key components that should be included in an Acknowledgement of Country. Yoko Akama at RMIT explains “there are songs that have the same words and rhythms but when sung at a funeral or a party or a graduation, they have a different resonance” (2024).