Batchelor Institute logo
Acknowledgement of country

Batchelor Institute would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereign people of the lands on which our campuses are located. As we share our knowledge, teaching and learning and engage in research practices within this Institution and/or conduct business with a variety of external agencies and organisations, we must always pay respect to the sovereign status of our hosts. May their Ancestors always be remembered and honoured, their Elders listened to and respected, all members treated with dignity and fairness — in the present and well into the future.

We also acknowledge and pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever with our hosts, custodianship of country and the binding relationship they have with the land. Batchelor Institute extends this acknowledgment and expression of respect to all sovereign custodians — past, present and emerging. By expressing Acknowledgement of Country we encourage all to extend and practice respect to all First Nations people wherever their lands are located.

Please read this important information
It is a condition of use of the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education website that users ensure that any disclosure of the information contained in the website is consistent with the views and sensitivities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This includes:
Language
Users are warned that there may be words and descriptions which may be culturally sensitive and which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Terms and annotations, which reflect the author’s attitude or that of the period in which the item was written, may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances.
Deceased persons
Users of the website should be aware that, in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, seeing images of deceased persons in photographs, film and books or hearing them in recordings may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.
Access conditions
Materials included in this website may be subject to access conditions imposed by Indigenous communities and/or depositors. Users are advised that access to some materials may be subject to these terms and conditions which the Institute is required to maintain
Application details
Position No.

.pdf, .doc, .docx maxiumum file size 8mb

Thank you for your application

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Inter-Library loan form
4 characters left

Item

Single article/chapter

Single article/chapter

I hereby request you to make and supply me with a copy of the article or extract listed on this application, which I require for the purpose of research or study. I have not previously been supplied with a copy of the said article or extract by a librarian. I have undertaken that is a copy is supplied to me, I will not use it except for the purposes of research or study.

Thank you for your application

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Send your enquiry and a Batchelor team member will get back to you shortly
Thank you for contacting us

Our Batchelor Institute team will get back to you shortly.

Search
Don’s Art Ignites Pride with New Staff Shirts at Batchelor Institute
4 minute read

Elder’s Vision: Crafting Cultural Pride for NAIDOC Week 2025

Don (Donny) McGinness, a revered Elder on Campus at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (RTO 0383), sat with his paints and brushes, bringing to life a design for new staff shirts inspired by the ancient story of Loondaroo and Pilitj-Pilitj. Launched on Wednesday, 9 July 2025, during NAIDOC Week 2025 on Kungarakan and Warai Country, the artwork embodied the theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” For Don, this project was a bridge between Indigenous storytelling and community pride, celebrating cultural legacy through art.


Aboriginal Art Design: Crocodiles and Pilitj-Pilitj

Don shared his inspiration with quiet pride: “The story of Loondaroo, the Saltwater Crocodile, and Pilitj-Pilitj, the Rainbow Lorikeet, guided my design. It teaches respect for Country, a lesson for the next generation. My artwork shows two mirror images of crocodiles in crosshatch style Aboriginal art swimming in a river the vibrant colours of the rainbow lorikeet’s wings. The crocodiles represent Loondaroo’s strength, while the rainbow lorikeet—Pilitj-Pilitj—symbolise the transformation of those who ignored our Elders, aligning with NAIDOC’s call for strength, vision, and legacy.”

2025 Batchelor Institute Staff Shirts

Collaborative Creation: Blending Tradition and Education

Don’s design process was deeply collaborative, rooted in his role as Elder on Campus. He drew on the story of two young men who, ignoring their Elders’ advice to honour Loondaroo before crossing his river, were consumed by the crocodile. When Loondaroo was speared, two vibrant rainbow lorikeets (Pilitj-Pilitj) emerged, symbolising their transformation. Don consulted staff and students to ensure the shirts reflected Batchelor’s “Both Ways” philosophy, blending Indigenous knowledge with modern education. The crosshatch crocodiles and bird-wing-shaped river honour this story, urging respect for Country and Elders, a message resonant with NAIDOC Week 2025.

Elder’s Role: Guiding Cultural Integrity

As Elder on Campus, Don ensured cultural protocols shaped the project. “These shirts carry our stories forward,” he said. “They remind staff to teach the next generation to respect Country, as Loondaroo’s story teaches.” The design included the Batchelor Institute logo reinforcing the institute’s identity as Australia’s leading provider of Indigenous tertiary education. Don’s work aligned with the NAIDOC theme, emphasising the legacy of cultural wisdom for future generations.

Don’s Art: A Symbol of Cultural Pride

Don’s artwork, inspired by the Loondaroo story, was crafted over weeks to balance tradition and modern style. The sustainable shirts, worn by staff across Batchelor Institute, symbolised unity and pride in the mission of “Liberation through education our way.”