Indigenous Engagement

St John’s College acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live and learn, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge their ongoing spiritual and cultural connections to land, community and to Maiwar, the Brisbane River, on which our College now stands. We appreciate and value the interconnection of all First Nations peoples who visit this place.

Indigenous Students

St John’s College has a proud history of supporting and welcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

In 1944, Joseph (Joe) Croft was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship which enabled him to become the first Indigenous student to attend an Australian university. He studied Engineering at The University of Queensland, during which time he resided at St John’s College.

In the nearly eight decades since Joe Croft became a Johnian, St John’s has remained committed to supporting Indigenous students. Each year, the Joe Croft Indigenous Scholarship is awarded to several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students demonstrating financial need to ensure financial hardship is not a barrier to entry.

St John’s College celebrates First Nations peoples and their cultures and enthusiastically encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to apply. 

Indigenous Activities

Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony

Each year, new residents begin their stay at St John’s College with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony on Move-In Day.

These activities are carried out as a way of introducing new students and families to the St John’s community and the local Turrbal and Jagera peoples. These ceremonies are a way of honouring the Traditional Owners of the land and a means of fostering Reconciliation.

The Welcome to Country is performed by a local Aboriginal Elder to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands. The smoking ceremony is a gesture of goodwill; it celebrates the bringing together of people and is meant to promote the protection and well-being of visitors.

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National Reconciliation Week lunch

In May 2022, St John’s College held its inaugural National Reconciliation Week (NRW) lunch.

St John’s College supports the objective of National Reconciliation Week and encourages students to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements. The event brought together dozens of Indigenous students and community leaders and stimulated conversations about how we can all contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

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St John’s College Beside Maiwar

St John’s College commissioned a contemporary Aboriginal artwork to display in the College Reception as part of our commitment to increasing awareness and understanding of the Indigenous peoples and their cultures.

The painting is by Dr Jessa Rogers (Wiradjuri), a leading Indigenous researcher, educator, board director, and artist who is a consultant to the College in relation to Indigenous engagement and awareness.

St John’s College Beside Maiwar painting

St John’s College Beside Maiwar depicts St John’s College within the University of Queensland on the bank of Maiwar, the Brisbane River. Along the banks of the river are symbols reflecting thick vine forests that were present before colonisation.

Waterholes, bunya pine leaves, native waterlilies, kangaroo and goanna tracks reflect the stories of the country on which St John’s College now sits.

The two halves of the painting, separated by the river, depict the two traditional owner groups of Turrbal and Yagara (also spelled Jagera, Yagera, Yugarabul, Yuggera, Yuggerabul) peoples.

Stingless bees (kuta) reflect the surrounding region (Mt Coot-tha).

Meeting places, waterholes, and rain are present in the various symbols, reflecting the importance this broader region has to rainmaking and water.