CIT Yurauna Centre: Canberra

Mabo Day

Education is 🔑 so let’s learn

The Mabo Case

The Mabo Case was a significant legal case in Australia that recognised the land rights of the Meriam people, traditional owners of the Murray Islands (which include the islands of Mer, Dauer and Waier) in the Torres Strait.

The Mabo Case was successful in overturning the myth that at the time of colonisation Australia was ‘terra nullius’ or land belonging to no one.

The High Court recognised the fact that Indigenous peoples had lived in Australia for thousands of years and enjoyed rights to their land according to their own laws and customs. Twelve months later the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) was passed

The five Meriam people who mounted the case were Eddie Koiki Mabo, Reverend David Passi, Sam Passi, James Rice and one Meriam women, Celuia Mapo Sale. Eddie Koiki Mabo was the first named plaintiff and the case became known as the Mabo Case.

On 3 June 1992, six of the seven High Court judges upheld the claim and ruled that the lands of this continent were not terra nullius or ‘land belonging to no-one’ when European settlement occurred, and that the Meriam people were 'entitled as against the whole world to possession, occupation, use and enjoyment of (most of) the lands of the Murray Islands'.

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National Reconciliation Week is a time to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme ‘All In’, reminds us that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility through listening, respecting First Nations cultures and taking positive action.

The events will feature a welcome to country and talk from a Ngunnawal Elder, a cultural performance from Brindabella Dreaming, free First Nations inspired BBQ and more.

Join us at our CIT Bruce or CIT Woden campus to celebrate and be part of this meaningful week.

CIT Woden

📅 Thursday 28 May, 2026
⏰ 12:30pm
📍 Building B, Ground floor, Presentation space

CIT Bruce

📅 Tuesday 2 June, 2026
⏰ 12:30pm
📍 CIT Yurauna

Find out more about our National Reconciliation Week events https://cit.edu.au/citevents/national-reconciliation-week

CITCBR

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Where We Belong: Connecting Indigenous identity and wellbeing in the city is a 3-year (2025-2028) community-designed research project led and governed by Indigenous Peoples, and based at the Australian National University (ANU).

In the past, research which focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander belonging has emphasised the ways in which we belong to the land, and how our physical and spiritual connection to our ancestral Country/ies creates and reinforces our place in the world. However, there has not been much focus on what this means and looks like in cities, where many different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural groups from all over Australia live together. This project aims to gather together our stories about how finding and growing our sense of belonging – to family, community, culture, and Country – can influence our overall wellbeing.

The project’s main focus is with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the ACT region (Canberra/Queanbeyan). The project team will also undertake a 3-month international collaboration with a First Nations, Métis, and Inuit community partner in Toronto (Tkarōn:to), Canada, and that portion of the project will be designed with those partners in 2026.

We are currently recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, aged 16 years and up, who live in Canberra and Queanbeyan to have a yarn about their experiences of identity, belonging, community, and wellbeing in the city. Interviews will take place at the ANU, last between 30-90 minutes, and you will receive an $80 gift card in thanks for your participation. If you are interested in being interviewed, please email [email protected] and the Study Director, Dr Sarah Bourke, will be in touch to organise a pre-interview yarn.

Happiest Mother’s Day to all the mums, aunties, nannas and the strong women who love, guide, protect and show up for all our kids every single day.

To the women who step in like mothers, who love without limits, who cheer the loudest, comfort the hardest and carry families with strength and grace today is for you too.

Thank you for the love you give so effortlessly and the generations you help shape. You are deeply appreciated, valued and loved beyond words. 💐

Introduction to Construction program run by Pathways Hub (Infrastructure Canberra – iCBR) and supported by Uniting Care Kippax and at The Umbrella Collective.

The next program is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who live in the capital region, are at least 17 years of age, and not enrolled at school (including Year 11 or 12).

This short series of complementary CIT statement of attainments is free for eligible applicants, they do need to register their interest please by calling 0406 833 335.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

To the men and women who fought before they were even considered to be Australian citizenship you will never be forgotten. I will always make sure our children know the history.

Thank you to all the men and women who fought for our country so we could live our lives we do today.