Truth-telling and Treaty at the Darebin Schools Yarning Conference
Published on 23 October 2026
420 year 5 students from across 19 Catholic, Independent and public schools came together at Bundoora Park Farm on Tuesday 20 October for the ninth annual Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference.
The Yarning Conference is a chance for primary school students to learn about Aboriginal histories and cultures and truth-telling, directly from local Elders and First Peoples.
We’re honoured to have once again built this year’s exciting and energetic program in collaboration with Traditional Owners, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People; Aboriginal Elders, educators, advocates and artists.
From Caring for Country, dance, art-making including weaving, music, Traditional Games and so much more, Aboriginal Elders and community leaders took students on a fun and powerful learning journey, to become leaders and change makers, with this year’s NAIDOC theme '50 Years of Deadly' guiding the way.
This year students were invited to work collectively in their classes to create poetry which would best reflect their ideas about truth-telling of Australian history past and present. The poetry contributed by each school was brought together into one powerful spoken word piece, with some schools performing their poetry on the day of the conference.
Preston North East Primary School students shared these words:
"We tell the truth about Australia’s history
To honour our people, past and present
The souls lost to injustice
We want our voices to be heard and understood
In the hope for a better future for all"
Travis Lovett and Renata Lovett, who led the National Walk for Truth from Melbourne to Canberra, once again led the students on the Walk for Truth and Treaty.
Travis also presented each school with a Wurundjeri message stick on the day. He shared the following message with students:
"Next year, when you are the leaders of your school in Grade 6, you will sit down with the next group of Grade 5s and have a yarn. Tell them about the Darebin Yarning Conference. Tell them what you learned. Tell them what you still practise. Show them, through your words and your actions, how to create a school that is safer, kinder, and more respectful for everyone," Travis said.
"Because leadership isn’t just about standing at the front. It’s about walking alongside others. It’s about truth. It’s about legacy. And it’s about hope.”
Representatives of Gellung Warl, Victoria's official, permanent First Peoples' representative and deliberative body, also attended on the day, leading students in a celebration of Australia’s first and only Treaty signed between First Peoples and the Victorian Government.