Wadawurrung dancers performing around a ceremonial fire at night

Ceremony

Welcome to Country & Traditional Ceremonies

A Welcome to Country is a traditional custom observed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Its purpose is to Welcome people onto the Country where an event or gathering is taking place — traditionally an opportunity to teach newcomers of any rules or expectations of the Traditional Owners.

Community gathered in a circle for the Yaluk Wiyn Burt Welcome and Water Ceremony on Wadawurrung Country — Yaluk Wiyn Burt — Welcome and Water Ceremony. Photo credit: Sarah Eccles.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners in ceremonial dress delivering a Welcome to Country before a women's AFL match at Geelong Football Club — Wadawurrung Welcome to Country at women's AFL, Geelong Football Club. Photo credit: Sarah Eccles.

Traditional Ceremony

A Welcome to Country can be held with or without an accompanying Smoking Ceremony, Traditional Dance and/or Didgeridoo performance. A Smoking Ceremony is conducted to clear the air and welcome people to our Country, and also to offer healing and connection to Country and land.

While the Didgeridoo is not a traditional instrument on Wadawurrung Country, we recognise its importance to many First Nations people. We offer Didgeridoo performances as an accompanying service to our Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Traditional Ceremony Booking Form

HubSpot form will replace this booking link

HubSpot form

Traditional Ceremony booking

Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Traditional Dance and Didgeridoo requests.

Organisation
Contact name
Email
Phone
Event date and time
Venue / location
Expected attendance
Ceremony elements requested

Placeholder for presentation — the live HubSpot embed drops in here and routes submissions into the WTOAC CRM pipeline.