Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge that Murdoch University is situated on the lands of the Whadjuk and Binjareb Noongar people. We pay our respects to their enduring and dynamic culture and the leadership of Noongar elders past and present. The boodjar (country) on which Murdoch University is located has, for thousands of years, been a place of learning. We at Murdoch University are proud to continue this long tradition.
Find out more about our commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
Statement regarding the Voice to Parliament
The Senior Leadership team pledge their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and unanimously agree to support a 'Yes' vote for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. We believe that this is turning point in Australian history and an opportunity to redefine ourselves as a nation. In this important moment in time, we encourage our Murdoch community and the broader community to become as informed as possible on the upcoming Referendum and approach the national conversation with respect and care for one another.
The Senior Leadership Team’s position acknowledges the diversity of opinion in the wider community on the Voice. However, the decision to make a clear statement of support by the University’s leadership reflects Murdoch’s commitment to become the “university of First Choice for First Nations peoples, and an exemplar in embracing and promoting and benefiting from Indigenous knowledges and cultural inclusivity”, as articulated in the University’s Strategy Ngala Kwop Biddi: Building a brighter future, together. Thus, it is vital that Murdoch is active within the conversation about the Voice.
This website page provides credible resources and information to assist with the broader education campaign leading up to the Referendum.
Later this year, Australians will be invited to make a very important decision by voting in the Referendum that will shape the future of our country. In this Referendum, the Senior Leadership Team endorse the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a future where Indigenous peoples have a voice on the decisions that will affect them.
Helpful resources
The following resources have been fact-checked and provide credible information to assist you in making your decision in the Referendum.
- Uluru Statement from the Heart
- Uluru Statement from the Heart - Video
- Uluru Statement: A quick guide
- Complete this educational module by Uluru Statement from the Heart
- Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023
- Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 – Speech
- The Referendum question and the Constitutional Amendment
- Voice to Parliament Reconciliation Australia
- How do Referendums work? Australian Electoral Commission
- Constitutional reform Australian Human Rights Commission
- How will The Voice work?
- The Voice: Design principles
- Do we need a Voice to Parliament? ABC News
- Parliament of Australia
Wellbeing resources
If you’re finding the conversations and debate around the Voice to Parliament challenging, the below resources may assist you during this period.
History of the Murdoch University Campus
The land on which Murdoch University is situated has been a place of teaching and learning for thousands of years and so we look to the Traditional Custodians of the land – Noongar and Whadjuk Elders – to share their stories with us. Learn more about the history of the Murdoch University Perth Campus from Dr Richard Walley, Noongar Elder.Ngala Kwop Biddi: Building a Brighter Future Together
Murdoch University’s 2023-2030 strategy, named Ngala Kwop Biddi, shows our commitment to the First Nations peoples of Australia. Learn about the University’s plan to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Read 'Ngala Kwop Biddi: Building a Brighter Future Together' Strategy 2023-2030.
