Bass Coast Shire Council respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners of the land on which the Shire stands, the Bunurong people.
The Bunurong people are the indigenous people of south-eastern Victoria. Their traditional land extends from the Werribee River in the north-west, down to Wilsons Promontory in the south-east, taking in the catchments of the old Carrum swamp, Western Port Bay and the Tarwin River, and including Mornington Peninsula, Phillip and French islands.
Bunurong people are part of a language group or nation known as Koolin. Bunurong people prefer to be known as Koolin rather than Koorie which is a word from a different language.
At the last Census in 2006, our indigenous population was 159 people (0.6%) (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origins). This is more than double the population as at the 1996 Census.
Despite our relatively low indigenous population, we are proud to actively participate in ICACC which is a partnership between the local Aboriginal community and local government. The Committee aims to support Aboriginal development, raise community awareness, and deal with issues affecting the Aboriginal community on a regional basis.
As a member of the Inter Council Aboriginal Consultative Committee our vision is to achieve respect, recognition, reconciliation, equity and health and wellbeing for Aboriginal people.