The federal media watchdog has spent $7,150 of taxpayer funds on a two-hour online workshop designed to help staff deliver more ‘meaningful’ Acknowledgements of Country.
The session for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, hosted by the organisation Acknowledge This, took place on November 27, 2024.
The event was promoted as an ‘engaging, interactive and fun’ way to deepen employees’ understanding of Indigenous culture and improve how they deliver Acknowledgement of Country in their workplace.
Acknowledgments of Country are often delivered at the beginning of a meeting, speech or event, and are increasingly popular in corporate Australia.
They can be delivered by anyone, unlike a Welcome to Country, which must be delivered by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, although the two are often confused.
According to promotional material, the workshop aimed to move beyond scripted statements.
It encouraged participants to make their acknowledgements ‘personal and authentic’ while exploring ‘the purpose behind Acknowledgement of Country.’
Acknowledge This! says it has delivered similar training to more than 30,000 participants across both public and private sectors.
ACMA has spent $7,150 on an online workshop to improve acknowledgements of country (file)
According to ACMA’s 2024 annual report, only 7 of the 610 employees are Indigenous (file)
The organisation offers online courses, with tickets marked ‘Government department or Organisation level (my employer is paying)’ priced at $150 per person, plus a $7.39 handling fee.
‘This workshop will help us deepen our understanding of Indigenous culture, while refining how we create and deliver meaningful Acknowledgement of Country,’ an internal message to staff said.
The email added that the session would ‘challenge us to reflect on our relationship with the land and its First Nations peoples.’
The training was described as ‘engaging, interactive, and fun,’ promising a mix of learning and discussion alongside lighter moments.
‘There’s a great balance between learning, discussion, and moments that will have you laughing along with the group,’ the message said.
ACMA said the workshop aligns with its Reconciliation Action Plan, launched in 2023, which seeks to strengthen ties with First Nations communities.
The plan includes commitments to cultural awareness and respectful engagement.
According to ACMA’s 2024 annual report, only 7 of its 610 employees are Indigenous, or just over one per cent.
Internal communications stressed the importance of showing sincerity while delivering Acknowledgements of Country, warning that poorly executed statements risk becoming hollow gestures.
‘A sincere Acknowledgement creates a bridge between past, present and future,’ staff were told, while a tokenistic approach could undermine its purpose.
Daily Mail has contacted ACMA for comment.