Acknowledgement of Country
Acknowledgement of Country
Open Channel works primarily from two places: Darwin, Northern Territory, on the Country of the Larrakia people; and Albury-Wodonga, on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, on the Country of the Wiradjuri people and the Yorta Yorta people.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners and Custodians of these lands, waters and skies in which we live and work. We pay respect to Elders past, present and becoming, and we extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations across Australia.
We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. We acknowledge the enduring connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture, community and knowledge, and the strength and continuity of the oldest living cultures in the world.
At Open Channel, this acknowledgement is not symbolic. It shapes how we work.
We are committed to working with Aboriginal people, communities and organisations in ways that are respectful, practical and accountable. That means we aim to:
- listen before advising, writing or positioning
- respect cultural authority, community knowledge and local context
- avoid deficit framing, simplification and extractive engagement
- support self-determination and community-led priorities
- communicate with care, accuracy and respect
- build relationships in ways that recognise trust must be earned
- consider access, equity and regional realities, including in remote and rural communities
We know there is no single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander experience, and we do not treat communities as interchangeable. We approach this work with humility and a responsibility to keep learning.
Where our work reaches beyond the places we are based, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of all lands and waters across Australia, and pay our respects to their Elders and communities.
Return to site