William Cooper Institute at Monash University

Created by students for students 💙

The Safer Community Unit, in collaboration with We help you succeed, the William Cooper Institute and the Department of Fine Art Monash Fine Art, presents an exhibition of artworks that reflect on resilience, healing and recovery.

Each piece offers a thoughtful and culturally rich interpretation of strength, reverence, stillness and regeneration. Before taking up permanent residency in the therapeutic lounges, the collection will be exhibited at the Matheson Library.

Congratulations to all participating students, and thank you to SCU for collaborating on this incredibly meaningful project.

Visit the exhibition and take a moment to reflect on safety and wellbeing in our community – as envisioned by our community.

📅 Monday 27 July - Friday 21 August 2026
📍Level 1, Matheson Library, Clayton campus

1: Placement at Dawn by Nyah Hendry
2: Born of Blue by Kira-Lee Goodes
3: Tirrina (woven basket) by Kate Deane
Interconnecting by Ashley Beck (absent)

VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS 🏆 Monash Sport make it a double as they go BACK-TO-BACK as Indigenous Nationals Volleyball Champions!

| William Cooper Institute at Monash University

Today we came together to reflect, remember, and acknowledge. Thank you to all staff and students who attended the flag lowering ceremonies on campus - your presence showed respect, solidarity, and a shared commitment to truth-telling.

National Sorry Day is a time to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and to remember the Stolen Generations - thousands of children who were forcibly taken from their families in an attempt to erase culture, identity, and connection to Country. The impacts of these policies are still felt today across families, Communities, and generations.

Today, and every day, we pause to acknowledge this pain and stand in solidarity with mob.

As National Reconciliation Week begins, this year’s theme – “All In” – calls on every Australian to support reconciliation through both intention and action. It’s a powerful reminder that reconciliation is not passive; it requires all of us to engage, to listen deeply and to contribute to meaningful change.

StolenGenerations

Flag lowering ceremonies on National Sorry Day

To acknowledge National Sorry Day, the strength of Stolen Generations survivors, and to enable our community to reflect on how we can share in the healing process, we invite all students and staff to attend flag lowering ceremonies across our Australian campuses. 🖤

Led by Indigenous leaders and senior leaders at Monash, the ceremonies will be held at 9am, Tuesday 26 May at the following flagpole locations:

📍Clayton: Scenic Boulevard roundabout

📍Caulfield: 900 Dandenong Road at the end of Queens Avenue

📍Parkville: In front of Sissons Building

📍Peninsula: The bottom entrance of campus (near McMahons Road, behind the George Jenkins Theatre)

This is our why. Congratulations to the powerful Masters of Indigenous Business Leadership graduates. Yesterday was a reminder of why we’re here - for the leaders we celebrate, the futures they’re shaping, and the communities they carry forward 💪🏽✨🎓

This past Saturday, the William Cooper Institute was proud to support the ‘Get your Reconciliation On Fun Run’ at Frankston Foreshore.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, it was a powerful day for mob and allies to yarn, move, and stand strong together.

A massive shout-out to the leaders driving this space: First Peoples’ Health & Wellbeing, Nairm Marr Djambana, and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

Reconciliation is an active journey, and Saturday was a beautiful step forward.

Today marks National Close the Gap Day - an important moment to reflect on our shared responsibilities, our commitments, and the work still ahead.

After 20 years, only 4 of 19 national targets are on track. Indigenous leadership, strength and
resistence have grounded this continent for more than 65,000 years, and true progress must be defined by Indigenous priorities, knowledges and leadership.

This year’s theme “Community Voices: The Pathway to Justice, Equality and Healing” highlights the importance of Indigenous‑led solutions.

Thanks to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) we were extremely grateful to hear from Sheree Lowe, Executive Director of on the power of cultural strength, genuine partnership and self‑determination.

Change is possible – but only when Indigenous voices lead it. Read more via the link https://www.monash.edu/about/who/indigenous/news-and-events/21-march-national-close-the-gap-day

Yesterday, the William Cooper Institute at Monash Clayton came alive for our 2026 Orientation Day!

For our First Nations students, stepping onto a university campus can be a huge transition. That's why our Orientation is designed to show our incoming students that they already have a home, a community, and a culturally safe network awaiting them.

We kicked off the day grounded in culture with a beautiful Welcome to Country, taking time to connect by burning our names into wood and yarning over coolamons.

But it wasn't long before the competitive spirit took over. From an epic campus-wide Amazing Race to basketball shootouts and ring toss, the energy was deadly!

Most importantly, our students spent the afternoon at our information booths guided by Uncle Ricky and team, having vital chats with our staff about academic support, upcoming events, and how the William Cooper Institute will back them from day one through to graduation.

To all the future students wondering if university is for you: there is a place for you here. You don't just enrol in a degree at Monash, you become part of our family.

Welcome to the 2026 cohort, we can't wait to see what you achieve!

Today marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

The Apology in 2008, acknowledged the profound harm caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the ongoing impacts felt by families and Communities.

This was a critical moment of national truth‑telling. We believe moving forward requires accountability - we must ensure that Indigenous cultures, peoples and knowledges meaningfully shape the future of this Nation and our young people are empowered, safe and heard.

This anniversary is a moment for reflection and a call to listen to lived experience, to learn from the truths that have been shared, and to act with purpose.

Today, we pause to reflect on the strength, resilience and resistance of the Stolen Generations.

As always, we remind students and staff to please reach out if you feel you require wellbeing support 🖤💛❤️