Council provides support, sponsorship and funding for community projects and events on 26 January and Councillors participate in and officiate at a range of events.

The Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative will hold a Survival Day on 26 January 2023 at 62 Morgan Street in North Geelong, with the City providing support for free coffee and a community breakfast. The event will begin with a Welcome to Country at 9am and a conclude at 10am.

The City is also supporting the Lara Australia Day Breakfast at the Lara Sporting Club, Australia Day at Portarlington, the Rippleside Family Fun Day, and the Festival of Sails.

The City will host two citizenship ceremonies on 26 January to welcome approximately 300 new citizens to the region.

• Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia.
• It became a national public holiday celebrated by all states and territories in 1994.
• The first Day of Mourning was held by First Nations People on 26 January 1938, marking the 150th anniversary of the British arrival at Sydney Cove.

This is a local issue as much as it is a national one. For some people in our community, January 26 is national day to celebrate, for others it represents a day of mourning and sorrow.

We want to ask the local community for their views and give a voice to those who are affected by Council decisions.

We know that many people have diverse and passionate views about 26 January commemorations, but we don’t have no real evidence or data to advise and guide a Council position.

We don’t want to shy away from difficult conversations. This is about listening, showing mutual respect, and gathering information.

The Kilangitj Aboriginal Advisory Committee provides advice to Council on First Nations matters and requested that Council consider engaging with First Nations People and the broader community about 26 January.

Greater Geelong is one of many Councils across Australia that has sought to feedback from their local community on this issue.

The results from the engagement will be shared with Councillors and a recommendation will be tabled at an open Council meeting for Councillors to consider future directions for 26 January commemorations.

A number of other councils have embarked on this journey and some of have made changes to acknowledge First Nations People on 26 January, including:

• Ballarat holds a survival day dawn ceremony on 26 January
• Borough of Queenscliffe has renamed their Australia Day awards which are now awarded during volunteers’ week
• Surf Coast Shire no longer participates in celebratory events on 26 January and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags fly at half-mast
• Yarra promotes and hold a small-scale event on 26 January that acknowledges the loss of culture, language and identity felt by the Aboriginal community
• Darebin does not celebrate 26 January and has renamed its Australia Day awards the Darebin Community Award
• Moreland supports the #change the date campaign.

The costs for this community conversation are minimal and has been accounted for within existing budgets.

Council has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of its community, as well as deliver a range of essential services.

Many people in Geelong’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community have told us that January 26 celebrations have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. As a Council, we have a legislative responsibility to listen to the views of everyone in our community, show respect, and gather information.