Welcomes and Acknowledgements
A welcome sets the tone for everything that follows. It tells people they are expected, names who is present and explains why the gathering matters. An acknowledgement recognises Country and the people who have cared for it. Both are short, but neither is trivial.
What a welcome does
| Job | Question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Who is being welcomed? | “Welcome to the Year 9 showcase.” |
| Orient | What is happening and why? | “Tonight you will see work from every student in the cohort.” |
| Include | Who is in the room? | “We are joined by families, teachers and our community partners.” |
| Set tone | How should people feel? | “Please make yourselves at home.” |
| Hand over | What happens next? | “I will now hand over to ...” |
A simple welcome structure
- Welcome the audience by name or group.
- Name the occasion and its purpose.
- Acknowledge Country and distinguished guests, following local guidance.
- Explain the program or what to expect.
- Invite people to participate or make themselves comfortable.
- Hand over clearly to the next speaker.
Model welcome: “Welcome to the Year 9 Power of Speech showcase. We are gathered to hear the speeches students have written, rehearsed and revised over the past five weeks. I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. Please turn your phones to silent, help yourselves to a program, and enjoy the speeches.”
This is an original teaching example, not a transcript of a real speech. Schools should follow local guidance for acknowledgements.
Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country recognises the Traditional Owners of the land and their continuing connection to it. It can be given by anyone, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, and should be specific to the place where the event is happening.
| Element | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition | “I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet.” | Use the correct nation or group where known. |
| Connection | “And their continuing connection to land, water and community.” | Recognise ongoing connection, not only the past. |
| Respect | “I pay my respects to Elders past and present.” | Follow local guidance on wording. |
An Acknowledgement of Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country. A Welcome to Country is given by a Traditional Owner or Elder with the authority to welcome visitors to Country. A non-Indigenous speaker should not perform a Welcome to Country.
Getting it right
- Ask the event organiser what protocol applies.
- Check the correct name of the local nation or group.
- Use the wording recommended by the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community or council.
- Do not invent a “traditional” greeting or ceremony.
- Do not treat the acknowledgement as a box to tick; say it with care.
- If you are unsure, ask. Accuracy matters more than fluency.
Recognising guests
A long list of names can flatten a welcome. Recognise the people who need to be recognised, in the right order, and keep it brief.
| Practice | Why |
|---|---|
| Use correct titles and names. | Shows respect and avoids embarrassment. |
| Check pronunciation in advance. | Avoids a public error. |
| Group rather than list. | “Families, teachers and community partners” is easier to hear. |
| Follow the official order. | Protocol often determines who is acknowledged first. |
| Do not rank people by importance. | Recognition is not a hierarchy of worth. |
Inclusive language
| Instead of | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “Ladies and gentlemen” | “Everyone”, “friends and families”, “guests”. | Includes people who are non-binary. |
| “Parents” | “Families”, “caregivers”. | Not every student has parents present. |
| “Old boys” / “old girls” | “Alumni”, “former students”. | More inclusive and accurate. |
| “The disabled” | “People with disability” or the preferred term. | Person-first or identity-first language depends on the person. |
| “Normal families” | “Families”. | Avoids implying some families are abnormal. |
Handover
A welcome ends by handing over. Name the next person or part of the program, step back and sit down. Do not add a second speech after the handover.
“I will now hand over to ...” is a complete ending. The audience knows what to do next.
Activity: write a welcome
- Choose a real or imagined school event.
- Identify the audience and the guests who should be recognised.
- Check the local protocol for an Acknowledgement of Country.
- Write a welcome of 90 seconds.
- Read it aloud and cut anything that is not doing work.
- Practise the handover to the next speaker.
Common errors
- Using a generic acknowledgement. It should fit the place.
- Confusing Acknowledgement of Country with Welcome to Country.
- Mispronouncing names. Check in advance.
- Listing too many guests. Group where possible.
- Forgetting the handover. The audience is left waiting.
- Adding a second speech. A welcome is not an opening address.
Next, study tributes and eulogies to honour a person with care. The congratulations and toasts page covers celebration.