The ongoing backlash against Acknowledgement of, and Welcome to Country ceremonies — most recently in early childhood education, and again in parliament — reflects a deeper unease within Australian society about how we reckon with truth, history and identity.
Yesterday's commentary criticising Possums' Corner Child Care Centre for including daily Acknowledgements is not just a difference of opinion about pedagogy. It's part of a broader, troubling trend where efforts to foster respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are framed as political indoctrination, "virtue signalling", or somehow harmful to children.
These ceremonies are not political slogans. They are acts of recognition and respect; simple, powerful acknowledgements that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the first and ongoing custodians of this land. In early childhood education, where foundational values are shaped, incorporating Acknowledgement of Country helps young children understand connection to place, care for land and respect for others. These are not just "cultural activities"; they are vital to building inclusive, compassionate citizens.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which guides curriculum nationally, calls for educators to "promote greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing". This is not a radical directive; it is recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are central to Australian identity and education.
Those who claim these practices are "not age-appropriate" overlook children's capacity for empathy and belonging. Children as young as three are not confused by these practices; they are often the ones who embrace them most naturally. To them, it is storytelling, music, care and community. What is damaging is when adults project discomfort, ignorance, or resentment onto children's learning.
It is especially harmful when prominent media figures and politicians use their platforms to delegitimise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols. One Nation senators turning their backs during an Acknowledgment to Country in Parliament is not a harmless gesture; it is a calculated act of disrespect. It fuels division, emboldens racism and sends a message that the cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this continent are optional, inconvenient, or unworthy of recognition.
These actions undermine not only reconciliation but the very fabric of a united, respectful Australia. When political leaders and media personalities dismiss or ridicule cultural acknowledgements, they erode the progress made through decades of dialogue, truth-telling and education.
Yes, Australia is a country for all of us. But a truly inclusive nation cannot exist without recognising those who came first. Acknowledging Country does not diminish anyone's belonging; it strengthens it. It teaches all Australians that our shared future is built not by ignoring the past, but by facing it with honesty and respect.
To those who are uncomfortable with these acknowledgements, perhaps the discomfort is the lesson. True reconciliation requires a willingness to sit with discomfort, to listen deeply and to imagine a future where respect is not political; it's just who we are.
Renae Isaacs-Guthridge is a Noongar and Yamatji Yorga with connections across Countries, including Wardandi Boodja.
