ILF Communications Guide

What words and phrases are always capitalised?

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• First Nations 
• Indigenous 
• Elder/Elders
• Traditional Owners
• First Language/s
• Acknowledgement of Country
• Country/Countries 
• Community/Communities (the ILF capitalises First Nations Communities because a Community is not only a group of people, but also an identity. Therefore it is a proper noun. We encourage you to capitalise it too. However, not everyone does this) 
• Every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community name, Country and language (excluding palawa language, or unless specifically expressed by the Community)

While these are the words that must be capitalised, there are other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words and phrases, such as peoples and mob, that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person may choose to capitalise as part of their personal preference. This is okay, and should not be corrected, even if it’s a word you’ve never seen capitalised before. 

Should I say people or peoples?

We use “peoples” when describing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples because the plural accurately indicates that we are talking about multiple groups of people, not one large group. There are hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, and they are not the same. 

Is the ILF part of “Closing the Gap”?

As an organisation, we have moved away from deficit discourse and statements such as “Closing the Gap” or talk about “closing the literacy gap”. This is a government initiative, and we do not align with it. The ILF believes in sharing the strengths, achievements, and incredibly positive work being done in remote Communities by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For more information on this, please see this article: ‘Once students knew their identity, they excelled’: how to talk about excellence in Indigenous education. You can also read this story from ILF CEO Ben Bowen about the importance of sharing excellence: Impact in Indigenous literature continues to grow. 

How can I make my Acknowledgement of Country meaningful? 

While it is great to have the Traditional Owners acknowledged in workplaces, it may not always be done in an appropriate way. It is always good to make it personal and not performative, and there is no need to be nervous about it. Understanding what Country means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and showing respect to them by acknowledging it, does not need to make you nervous. Check out this great guide by NITV to improve your Acknowledgement of Country: How to Acknowledge Country in a meaningful way.

What words or phrases should I avoid? 

• Lower case “indigenous” – this is often used but is considered offensive because “Indigenous” is a proper noun, just like “Australia”, describing a group of people 
• “Aborigines” – this is outdated and considered offensive. Some older Aboriginal people may refer to themselves as “Aborigine”, for which they should not be corrected, but non‑Indigenous people should not use this word
• “Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander” – Indigenous includes both Aboriginal (mainland Australia) and Torres Strait Islanders
• “Our First Nations people” – you should avoid using “our” because it is possessive, and implies ownership of First Nations peoples
• “ATSI” – it is considered offensive by some to abbreviate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and this should be avoided

Please be mindful that these suggestions are location specific. These are general guidelines, but the most important thing is to build relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Communities in which you live and work. Understanding how groups and individuals wish to be titled and acknowledged is the most respectful, and important, first step. 

The second step is to be  open to change. Over time preferred titles may change, and you may have to adapt what you call Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in order to be respectful. Be open to this and always try to understand why. 

Are there Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words and phrases I should be aware of?  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have certain words and phrases that you may not know. These are not offensive, but should be used only with the permission of the person you are with. It is considered rude to assume that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are happy for you to use these words around them, so always ask before using them. 

• Mob – someone’s “mob” is their cultural Community, family, etc. an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person’s mob may be Wiradjuri, Bundjalung, Noongar, etc. It can also be used more colloquially, such as “What are you mob up to?” referring to a group of people 
• Deadly – if someone calls you “deadly”, you’re lucky! This means excellent, amazing, really good 
• Yarn – while “yarning” is now used widely, it has a significant meaning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and has been practised for thousands of years. Yarning is an integral part of Indigenous ways of learning and sharing. It is usually undertaken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples coming together informally to unwind, or in more formal ways such as discussing Community or cultural matters. Storytelling is an important part of yarning that allows for reflection on recent or past histories and lived experiences and sharing knowledge
• Gammin – this means joking, fake, or pretend. For example, if you are messing with someone you might say “I’m just gammin!”
• Shame – if someone says “that’s shame” they may not be referring to being ashamed, but being embarrassed
• Tidda and Sis – Tidda and sis are ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples refer to female friends and family 
• Brother and Bro – brother and bro are ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people refer to male friends and family. 
• Aunty and Uncle – terms used to describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You should never assume someone wants you to call them Aunty or Uncle, and wait for them to introduce themselves as this before using it. 

Remember, it is always okay to ask but never okay to assume.