Edith Cowan University is proud to celebrate National NAIDOC Week and invites you to the first event in our NAIDOC Speaker Series—a powerful and inspiring conversation with two of Australia’s most respected leaders in culture and the arts:

Dr Richard Walley OAM
Noongar leader, performer, and cultural ambassador dedicated to promoting Aboriginal culture through the arts, education, and advocacy. As Lead Cultural Adviser for ECU City campus, Dr Walley had a pivotal role in shaping the design and development of the new University precinct, ensuring it respectfully celebrates Noongar culture and heritage.

Clothilde Bullen OAM
An acclaimed Wardandi and Badimaya curator, writer, and advocate, honoured in 2025 with an Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to Indigenous art. Clo has played a key role in shaping ECU’s cultural identity, leading the development of its Cultural Narrative strategy and framework before stepping into her current role as Manager of Art, Culture and Collections.

Event Theme: The Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy

This year’s NAIDOC theme reflects ECU’s enduring commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, leadership, and cultural integrity.

As we celebrate 20 years of Kurongkurl Katitjin and prepare for our move to the City campus in 2026, we honour the past, embrace present strengths, and look ahead to a shared future.
 

About the ECU NAIDOC Speaker Series

Held monthly from July to November, the series is guided by the five life layers of ECU's Cultural Narrative Framework, and will explore:

• Strength in Indigenous knowledge systems and intergenerational resilience
• Vision of trailblazers in education and advocacy
• Legacy built through investing in the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, scholars, and communities

These events aim to foster respect, truth-telling, and self-determination.

ECU's Cultural Narrative Life Layers in Action | Ngarda—the Subterranean

The Life Layers from ECU's Cultural Narrative, a gift from Whadjuk Noongar Elders, offers the ECU community a strategic framework that complements and enriches our Unversity objectives. 

At this event, the audience will learn more about Ngarda—the Subterranean Life Layer of the framework. This session will delve into what Ngarda represents and how it manifests in practice, offering deeper insight into the foundational cultural values that shape our shared journey.

This is a free and ticketed event, open to the public, facilitated by Professor Braden Hill, ECU's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous).

Event Details

Date and Time
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
5.30pm - 7.30pm 
Refreshments on arrival at 5.30pm | Formalities begin at 6.15pm

Location
Edith Cowan University, Whadjuk Boodjar, Joondalup Campus
Building 32 Lecture Theatre
270 Joondalup Drive
Joondalup WA 6027Accessibility
The venue is fitted with a T-Switch hearing loop system and is wheelchair accessible. If you have any accessibility needs to participate in the event, please contact ECU's Corporate Events team by email (corporate.events@ecu.edu.au) or phone: (08) 6304 2011. 

Building 32 Lecture Theatre, ECU Joondalup

LivestreamFor those who are not able to attend in-person and would like to view the event via livestream, please book here. 

Future Events in the SeriesThe Edith Cowan University NAIDOC Week Speaker Series will take place every month between July-November 2025. To learn about more events in the series, visit the website. 

Contact Details

Contact Event Organiser