Welcome to Country
Part of Cultural Diversity Week
- What
- WORKSHOP
- When
- General information
- Courtyard
- Tickets
Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Elder, Uncle Andrew Gardiner, performs a Welcome to Country ceremony, officially kicking off the Immigration Museum’s Cultural Diversity Week festival.
Bio
Uncle Andrew Gardiner is an Elder descendant of the Wurundjeri clans of the Woi-wurrung people and a Muslim since 1995. He identifies as an Aboriginal Muslim Australian. Uncle Andrew’s working life has been in the service of Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal community-controlled health and self-determination.
Uncle Andrew has worked across a range of organisations such as Aboriginal Hostels Limited (1982- 1989), Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Society Limited (1989-1990), Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (1990-1997), Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd (2006 – 2009, General Manager and 2009 – 2021, Chief Executive Officer), and currently the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Corporation (March 2021 - current, Traditional Owner Treaty Engagement).
Uncle Andrew has held numerous Board and Committee positions including, but not limited to, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation (Board member, 2006 – current), Bubup Wilam Child and Family Services (Board member, 2021 - current), Collingwood Yards (Board member CAP June 2022 - current) and recently the Birrarung Council in 2023 and 2024 representing the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
In 2019, Uncle Andrew was elected to the First Peoples Assembly Victoria (FPAV) as the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung reserved seat holder. In 2021, he was also appointed as Co-Chair of the Interim Elders Voice on the Assembly, to engage with Elders across the state to inform and support their involvement in Treaty and help establish a Permanent Elders Voice who will provide cultural oversight to the work of the Assembly. In 2023, Uncle Andrew was re-elected to the FPAV as the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung reserved seat holder to continue the work on Statewide Treaty.
This event is presented in collaboration with City of Melbourne
Accessibility
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
