Future Indigenous visitors of South West TAFE will be welcomed into a culturally safe place from July.
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The education facility will soon be unveiling a new entrance etched in bluestone at its Timor Street address.
Stones used in the walkway were being etched by Indigenous boys from the Warrnambool Clontarf Academy on Thursday.
The entrance will be officially unveiled at a public event during NAIDOC week.
South West TAFE Koori liaison officer Locky Eccles said the stones would make sure the TAFE is a culturally safe place for Indigenous people to enter.
“They will carry the message ‘welcome to knowledge within’ in both Peek Wurrung and English languages,” he said.
The stones will form a two-metre walkway into South West TAFE and will also acknowledge that the building is on Gunditjmara – Maar country.
“Many buildings such as the public hospitals have similar messages and we wanted to make sure our people feel safe and welcomed at TAFE,” Mr Eccles said. “When they step off the footpath they will be welcomed to TAFE.”
Director of Warrnambool Clontarf Academy Mick Riddle said it was a “privilege for the boys to work closely with Elder Uncle Rob Lowe on the project.”
“It’s a brilliant, permanent way to keep their cultural heritage alive in the area.”
Three new flagpoles will be unveiled during the ceremony which will include a smoking ceremony, art activities, live music and traditional Indigenous food gathering.