Acknowledgement of Country

Acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the Land in South Bunbury, Western Australia.

Bunbury Day Hospital acknowledges the Wardandi Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of this land. For more than 45,000 years, they have cared for Goomburrup (Bunbury) and the wider Noongar Boodja, maintaining a deep spiritual and cultural connection to Country.

The Noongar Nation is one of the largest and oldest continuous cultural groups in Australia, with deep ties to Country that shape their traditions, languages, and way of life. The Wardandi Noongar people, whose name means “people of the sea,” have long gathered across these coastal lands, using the abundant waterways for food, ceremonial and community connectedness.

For Noongar people, the land is not just a place but a living entity—one that holds the spirits of their ancestors that must be cared for with the utmost respect. Sustainability and conservation are central to Noongar culture, as is the understanding that we pass through Country without changing it, just as the gentle coastal breezes move through the South West’s pristine bays.

Guided by a six-season calendar, Noongar people move in harmony with the rhythms of nature, recognising the changes in plants, animals, and weather patterns that signal when to gather food supplies, hold ceremonies, or move across the land. Through storytelling, song, and dance, they have passed down their knowledge for generations, ensuring the strength and continuation of Noongar culture.

We also acknowledge the many other Aboriginal communities from surrounding language groups, including the Pinjarup, Wiilman, Wadandi, Pibelman, Kaneang, Menang, and Koreng peoples, have lived across the South West for thousands of years and continue to maintain their cultural traditions and connection to Country.

Bunbury Day Hospital pays our deepest respects to Elders past and present, and honours the strength, knowledge, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are committed to listening, learning, and working together in the spirit of reconciliation, respect, and shared history.

We acknowledge that this land always was, and always will be, Noongar Boodja.

Disclaimer: We are committed to consulting with local Aboriginal communities to ensure the ongoing accuracy and respectfulness of this information. For any updates or feedback, please contact our General Manager.