Translating respect into action

NAIDOC Week provides an important moment to reflect on how we work together as a community and, critically, how we translate respect into action.

In Geelong, we are seeing a compelling example of that in practice.

The recently opened Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre represents more than a significant piece of infrastructure. It reflects what can be achieved when sustained advocacy aligns with genuine partnership, particularly with Wadawurrung Traditional Custodians, whose connection to this place stretches back thousands of generations.

At its core, this project demonstrates a simple but powerful principle: strong outcomes are built on strong collaboration.

For the Committee for Djilang, the journey to a convention centre has been a long one. It has required persistence, alignment across all levels of government, and a clear articulation of why this investment matters. Not just for our economy, but for our identity as a city.

Securing the Geelong City Deal, and with it a convention and event centre, was the result of years of disciplined advocacy from across our region. It stands as a reminder of what is possible when we are united in ambition and focused on outcomes that matter.

Nyaal Banyul is now bringing that vision to life, but doing so in a way that sets a new benchmark for engagement with Traditional Owners.

Too often, engagement has been treated as a task. Input is sought, but influence is limited. Cultural elements are acknowledged but not embedded.

What we are seeing at Nyaal Banyul is fundamentally different.

From the outset, Wadawurrung Traditional Custodians have been partners in shaping the project’s identity, design and narrative. That partnership begins with the name itself, Nyaal Banyul, meaning “open your eyes to the hills.” It is both descriptive and instructive, inviting us to see place, and our relationship to it, more clearly.

That influence extends well beyond naming.

Wadawurrung knowledge has informed the storytelling and identity of the precinct, including branding and design. It has shaped both the built form and landscape, ensuring the development reflects Country rather than sitting apart from it.

Importantly, this is not where engagement ends.

Wadawurrung Traditional Custodians will continue to play an active role in the centre’s operations, through cultural awareness training, recorded Welcome to Country and curated experiences that enable visitors and event organisers to engage more meaningfully.

That ongoing involvement matters. It shifts cultural engagement from a one-off moment to a continuous practice. One that evolves alongside the venue.

It also reinforces a deeper truth about this place.

For thousands of generations, Wadawurrung People have gathered on the Western Cliffs of Djilang to share, celebrate, trade and make decisions. These gatherings were grounded in a deep understanding of Country and played a vital role in the transfer of knowledge and culture.

In many respects, a convention and event centre serves a similar purpose today. It is a place where people come together to exchange ideas, build relationships and create opportunity.

What makes Nyaal Banyul distinctive is its recognition that this is not a new function, but a continuation of an enduring story.

There is something powerful in that.

It challenges us to think differently about growth. Not as something that replaces what came before, but as something that builds upon it. It reinforces that economic development and cultural integrity can, and should, be mutually reinforcing.

This is why projects like Nyaal Banyul are so important.

They show that when we engage early, listen carefully and share ownership, we deliver outcomes that are both economically significant and culturally meaningful. Outcomes that strengthen our identity while positioning Geelong for future growth.

Our role at the Committee for Djilang is to advocate for the projects, policies and partnerships that will shape our city’s future. That requires a long-term view, a willingness to bring people together and a focus on outcomes that benefit the whole community.

Nyaal Banyul reflects that approach in action. It is the product of sustained advocacy. It is the result of strong collaboration. And it demonstrates how genuine partnership with Traditional Owners can enrich outcomes for everyone.

During NAIDOC Week, we are reminded that recognition is only the starting point.

The real work lies in how we embed respect into the decisions we make, the projects we deliver and the relationships we build.

If Nyaal Banyul shows us anything, it is this: when we truly open our eyes, we create something far more valuable than infrastructure.

We create places that connect us.