Welcome to Country and Cultural Discovery Walk
Get ready for a very personal experience being Welcomed to Country by Sonia Weston at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat in the beautiful coastal town of Inverloch.
One of the profoundly moving, and often healing, experiences of this retreat is the Welcome to Country and Cultural Discovery Walk led by passionate Bunurong / BoonWurrung elder, Sonia Weston. This is a very intimate and special opportunity to deepen your connection with our local First Nations cultural heritage while being immersed and held in the stunning living environment of BoonWurrung Country. This place is so pristine that it is now a protected marine park and a haven for wild life of the sea, land and air.
Image: Sonia wears her traditional possum skin cloak while using her clap sticks during the Welcome to Country Ceremony at the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum.
We will officially open our 2025 event with a traditional Welcome to Country and cleansing smoke ceremony at the beach near Flat Rocks car park. Sonia will share her personal stories and insights about the Bunurong people of Gippsland. You’ll learn about the rich history, traditions, and lifestyles of the First Peoples, plus get a close look at some fascinating artifacts that bring their stories to life. It’s not just about learning; it’s about understanding and appreciating the land that we gather together on.
After the ceremony, we’ll head out on a gentle two-kilometre walk along Flat Rocks, with Sonia guiding the way. As we stroll along this gorgeous stretch of coastline, Sonia will share stories about the deep connection First Nations People have with the land and sea, and she might even demonstrate some traditional practices. Feel free to bring your questions—this is a relaxed and open space for dialogue and sharing.
Pack your walking shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and come with an open heart and mind! This walk is a fantastic way to soak up valuable knowledge and promote healing through cultural understanding. Let’s come together as a community to share stories and learn from one another.
We are thrilled to once again have Sonia Welcome us to Country and guide us on a Cultural Discovery Walk at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat.
Image: Sonia Weston in her role as Aboriginal Liasion Officer for Gippsland Southern Health Service
Introducing Sonia Weston
Meet Sonia Weston, a proud Boon Wurrung woman with an inspiring story and a deep connection to her culture. Sonia’s heritage spans from Wilsons Promontory, known to her people as Wamoo, all the way to the Werribee River and parts of Melbourne. After moving to the Bass Coast 35 years ago, Sonia’s journey has been one of resilience, as she navigated challenges and worked hard to share her culture with the wider community.
Sonia has been passionate about educating others since she faced racism as a young girl. Determined to make a difference, she returned to Bass Coast to empower her community and create spaces where Aboriginal culture can thrive. This led to the creation of the Yowengarra Bun Wurrung Balug Clans Aboriginal Corporation, which acts as a voice for Traditional custodians and a healing haven for her people.
Later, as the Aboriginal liaison officer for Gippsland Southern Health Service, Sonia was instrumental in making healthcare more accessible and welcoming for local Aboriginal people. She understands the barriers and historical trauma that can make people hesitant to seek help, and she’s committed to building trust and establishing connections within the community. Her work in organizing welcoming ceremonies and collaborating with other health services is proof of her dedication to uplifting her people.
Image: Published in the Phillip Island & San Remo Advertiser 26th July 2024 with this text:
“The first NAIDOC Ball in Bass Coast was held last Friday at Silverwater Resort in San Remo.
More than 120 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members attended the event on Boonwurrung/Bunurong Country, hosted by Aboriginal-led partnership Dhelk Dja.
The evening began with a Welcome to Country led by Boonwurrung Traditional Owners, Steve Parker, Christopher Hume and Sonia Weston.
Sonia Weston and Paul Patten MC’d the night and presented a range of awards with a favourite being the Elders Awards for “acknowledgement of commitment and dedication to Community”.
Sonia continues her work sharing Cultural practices and awarenesses through her educational work with community groups, schools, kindergartens, festivals, Australian armed forces ceremonies, and local conservation activities.
Sonia has welcomed thousands of people to her Country and is a highly sought-after workshop facilitator, dance performer, storyteller, archaeologist, conservationist, educator, health worker, and preserver of cultural heritage.
As an incredible resource of local knowledge, Sonia generously shares her insights with the belief that caring for Country and Culture is her life’s mission. By sharing stories, she hopes to help us all work together for the benefit of everyone.
As we gather in the beautiful environment of Inverloch for the Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat, let’s come together to honour Sonia and the stories she’s so passionate about sharing. This is a rare chance to deepen your understandings of local Aboriginal culture while exploring the important links between connection to Country, belonging, and social/emotional well-being. Come join us for a heart expanding and enlightening journey—there’s so much to learn and experience together!
Join us for the fifth annual Creative Mental Health Forum. 2nd – 5th May 2025.
Boon Wurrung Country: Inverloch, Victoria, Australia.
An immersive professional development event for allied health professionals, educators and creative practitioners who are deeply interested in the new paradigm of creative mental health and wellbeing.
Join us for the fifth annual Creative Mental Health Forum.
2nd – 5th May 2025.
WE WELCOME
CREATIVE THERAPISTS,
ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AND EDUCATORS WHO:
want to learn more about creative mental health,
be inspired by holistic and diverse workshops and presenters,
connect with like minded practitioners,
and “refill your well” with time in a beautiful nurturing environment and space for self care.
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