Djadjawurrung

We pay our respects to elders past and present, and are committed to honouring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and promoting reconciliation.

I'm speaking today from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung in central Victoria.

The VCCC would also like to acknowledge the individual and collective expertise of people with experience of ill health and recovery.

We honour the courage of those who share the unique experience of a lived experience, and we appreciate their contribution as equal and active partners in health system transformation.

It's lovely for you to be joining us.

I'm joining from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and I hear that you're on the south coast of New South Wales.

Is that right?

Sure am.

But it's certainly an issue, I think, in regional areas as well.

I live in Central Vic, so I live on Dja Dja Wurrung country, and I see the fantastic work that they are doing around land management, around cultural restoration, around community-owned businesses.

And they build, I think, the culture of our region.

You know, it's really important that their voices are heard There's nothing scary about diversity.

Yeah, and I have to say that the people living here have experienced the same, sadly.

Hopefully we can move out of that.

Speaking of Dja Dja Wurrung, I'm wondering about your connection to them in relation to fire prevention.

What kind of experience you've had on that level since you are such an experienced firefighter? And maybe we should follow on with talking about this coming summer experience and how we can actually be well prepared for this extra heat.

We've brought a packet of Tim Tams, so pull up a chair, settle in, and join us for a chat.

I'm Darcy and I'm here on the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung, who I acknowledge and offer my respect.

I'm in a little place called Epsom and I'm speaking to Dave.

G'day, Dave.

Yeah, yeah.

And I am also up here on Wurundjeri Country, kind of on the border we are with, you know, a bit of Dja Dja Wurrung up here in the Macedon Ranges.

But yeah, it is cold, although we've agreed that I'm a bit colder than you.

Yeah, it's always a little cold up there.

Our guest this week on the podcast is Miss Kinina.

A proud Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung, Kalkadoon, and Yirandhali woman, Miss Kinina has become one of the most compelling voices in Australian music in a remarkably short time.

Her 2024 debut single, Black Brittany, hit number one on Triple J.

It earned three ARIA nominations, making her the first independent Aboriginal woman nominated for her debut single, and it was named by Rolling Stone as one of the best Australian and New Zealand songs of the 21st century.

Thank you, Helya.

And I traditionally operate from the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and also pay my respects to their elders.

Fantastic.

Thank you.