headspace Tweed Heads -Acknowledgement PlaquePrint Page

All headspaces across the country received the plaques in their local Aboriginal language as an acknowledgement of the land the office sits on and it’s elders, past and present. The stunning plaque and its accompanying artwork, was painted by Riki Salam.

On Monday night of Reconciliation Week, headspace Tweed Heads held an intimate ceremony to celebrate the arrival of our local Acknowledgement of Country Plaque (sent to us by headspace National).

Aunty Dale Williams, who gave us the wording for our plaque, performed a Welcome to Country, and we were joined by some much loved members of our local community, the headspace Tweed Heads Youth Advisory Group, and headspace staff.

We are humbled to be working together with such a beautiful community in providing a safe cultural space for all our young people to be supported. We acknowledge the importance of strong culture and connection to country for healthy minds.

Our acknowledgement of country reads: "headspace Tweed Heads is proud to acknowledge the traditional custodians, the Nganduwal and Goodginburra people of the Minjungbul speaking clans of the Bundjalung nation. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and future."

YAG member Adrian Ellis also gave a beautiful speech, and Claudia Cason read the artwork story. Thank you to everyone for coming along and showing your support for headspace Tweed Heads and this special event that is very close to our hearts.
Facebook, headspace Tweed Heads, 1 June 2017.  

During 2016–17, headspace commissioned we are 27 creative an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design agency and Positive Social Solutions, to develop a bespoke artwork that captures the essence of headspace and its service offerings that are specific to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and communities. In consultation with the headspace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory committee members and headspace centre staff, the artwork • Mind • Body • Spirit • Culture • Country was created and launched during Reconciliation Week in May 2017. The artwork also provides the backdrop to the headspace Acknowledgement of Country plaques. Each headspace centre developed wording for their plaque, specific and relevant to their local community. This was a targeted engagement initiative to encourage collaborative work with local Elders and community members to acknowledge the Traditional Owners, First Nation Peoples and country where the centre is located. This initiative was driven by the organisation recognising the importance of fostering ongoing respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and to open dialogue around the mental health and wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in communities.
headspace, Year in Review, 2016-2017.