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  4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander verification

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander verification

It is extremely important to verify words and names which relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and languages. It is considered disrespectful to incorrectly name or spell these terms, especially the names of people and Country. There are hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, but you will find commonly used words and names in this article.

You can always use a search engine to find words, remembering to use a reliable source like a community support centre, government or university website. AIATSIS is a good example of a reliable source of information.

If an Indigenous language is spoken and you know the name of the language, you should include it in the descriptive label, for example (SPEAKS NOONGAR). If the name of the language is not known, you should use (SPEAKS AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE). If you aren’t familiar with Indigenous languages, it can be hard to identify when one is spoken in a file.

Keep an ear out for relevant words, such as those in the table below. These words must always be capitalised in contexts that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and languages.

Common Words:
Aboriginal
Torres Strait Islander
Indigenous
Elders
Ancestors
Cultures
Traditional Owners
Traditional Custodians
First Nations
Country
Welcome to Country
Acknowledgement of Country

Common words

WordMeaningSounds like
Boodjar
Booja
Land, ground, earthBoo-ja
Derbal YerriganNyungar name for Swan River Der-bal Yer-ee-gan
DhawuraCountryDha-wa-ra
DjarlgarraNyungar name for Canning RiverJal-garra
WadjelaWhite peopleWohj-jell-ah
Womindjika
Womindjeka
Wominjeka
Womin-dji-ka
“Welcome”Wom-in-jeeka

Common names

NameSounds likeWhereAlternative spelling(s)
Anaiwan peopleAn-ay-wanArmidale
New England
New South Wales
Anewan
Anaywan
Awabakal peopleUh-wuh-bah-kulNewcastle
Lake Macquarie
Hunter Region
New South Wales
Bidjigal peopleBidge-ee-gulNew South WalesBedegal
Bediagal
Biddegal
Boon Wurrung peopleBoon-wah-rungPort Phillip
Naarm
Kulin nation
Melbourne, Victoria
Boonwurrung
Bundjalung peopleBun-ja-lungYugumbeh
Cavanbah
North-eastern New South Wales
South-eastern Queensland
Bunjalung
Badjalang
Bandjalang
Bunurong peopleBoor-rongNaarm
Kulin nation
Melbourne, Victoria
Mornington Peninsula
Darkinjung peopleDark-in-yung
OR
Dark-in-joong
Tuggerah Lakes
Lake Macquarie
Central Coast, New South Wales
Darkinyung
Darug peopleDuh-rugSydney, New South WalesDharug
Dharawal peopleDah-rah-woolSydney
South Coast
New South Wales
Tharawal
Dhungutti peopleDun-gutt-eeNorthern Tablelands
Mid North Coast
New South Wales
Dhunghutti
Dhanggati
Dunghutti
Djangadi
Dainggati
Tunggutti
Dja Dja WurrungJar-jar-wor-rongDja Dja Wurrung Country
Bendigo, Victoria
Eora nationYor-rahWollongong
Sydney
New South Wales
Gadigal peopleGad-ee-galGadigal Country
Sydney, New South Wales
Cadigal
Gamilaraay peopleGuh-mill-ah-royNorthern New South Wales
Southern Queensland
Kamilaroi
Gomeroi
Gubbi Gubbi peopleGuh-bee guh-beeSouth east Queensland
Gumbaynggirr peopleGoom-bayn-geerMid North Coast, New South Wales
Gunditjmara people Goon-it-ji-mah-rahGunditjmara Country
Warrnambool
Victoria
Gunditjamara
Kaurna peopleGar-nahKaurna Country
Adelaide Plains, South Australia
Coorna
Guarna
Koori peopleKoo-reeNorth to South coastal areas, New South Wales
Northeastern Victoria
Koorie
Goori
Goorie
Kulin nationCool-lanNaarm
Melbourne
South Central Victoria
Noongar nationNoong-ahPerth
Southwestern Western Australia
Nyungar
Nyoongar
Ngunnawal peopleNun-ah-wallCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Peek Whurrung peoplePeek-wuh-rungMaar Country
Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Victoria
Pinjarup peoplePin-jah-roobNoongar Country
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Southwest Western Australia
Pindjarup
Pindjareb
Pinjareb
Bindjareb
Binjareb
Pitjantjatjara peoplePi-dung-juh-ruhUluru
Central Australia
Far north South Australia
APY Lands
Turrbal peopleTur-a-bulMeanjin
Brisbane, Queensland
Wadawurrung peopleWad-ah-wuh-rung
Wad-ah-rung
Djillong Country
Geelong, Victoria
Wathaurung
Wathaurong
Whadjuk peopleWad-jookNoongar Country
Perth, Western Australia
Wadjuk
Wiradjuri peopleWor-ad-joo-reeCentral West, New South Wales
Wongutha peopleWung-guth-ahKalgoorlie
Nullarbor Plain
Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia
Wangkatha
Wurundjeri peopleWor-un-joo-reeWoiwurrung Country
Naarm
Kulin nation
Melbourne, Victoria
Yorta Yorta peopleYor-da-yor-daYorta Yorta Country
Northeastern Victoria near the Murray and Goulburn Rivers
Jotijota
Yugambeh peopleYoog-gum-behTweed Heads
Gold Coast
Logan City
Southeast Queensland
Northern New South Wales
Yugumbir
Yuggera peopleYug-ah-raMoreton Bay
Toowoomba
Meanjin
Brisbane, Queensland
Yaggera
Yugara
Yagarr
Jagera
Jagara
Yuin nationYoo-inSouth Coast
Wollongong,
New South Wales

If you have tried to verify a word and cannot find what you are looking for in a verified source, you can use (UNKNOWN).

If you come across an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander name or word that you would like added to this page, contact Online Support via email!

Updated on May 16, 2023

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