Over 300 votes were cast for the naming of the space, culminating at a community event on Friday, July 24. Community members were asked to choose between two names in Gamilaraay Language Yilaambiyal (Beginning) and Ngurra (Meeting Place/Camp.)
The names were put to the community after almost two years of consultation with Aboriginal elders, community leaders and groups and the broader Aboriginal community. The official voting day marked the end of an almost month-long voting process, with votes also gathered during community events across NAIDOC Week and an online ballot.
The dedicated space within the UNE Tamworth campus will be an important place of belonging, support and cultural connection for Aboriginal students and community.
The naming of this space was a cultural decision grounded in local Aboriginal knowledge, language and connection to Country and the voting process was designed to ensure the decision is led by local Aboriginal community members.
UNE Vice Chancellor and CEO, Professor Chris Moran, said Yalaambiyal [ill-arm-bee-yal] was the name to receive the most votes on the day and it will be proudly displayed at the student space in the new campus at the site on Peel and Roderick Streets.
“The community has spoken. The name chosen reflects what matters most to Tamworth's Indigenous community—and that's exactly how it should be. This space now carries a name with real meaning, chosen by the people it will serve,” Professor Moran said.
"We're not new to Tamworth's Indigenous community. We've been building this relationship because we're committed to bringing the university to the community—not the other way around. This space is a tangible expression of that long-term partnership."
UNE Pro Vice Chancellor, Indigenous, Professor Peter Anderson, said it was wonderful to be working directly with the local Tamworth Aboriginal community on the naming of the student space.
"In line with UNE’s Strategic Plan, and as an interface institution that works with communities as genuine partners, UNE is committed to a student space in Tamworth that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' excellence with belonging, cultural connection, and practical support to thrive in their studies,” said Professor Anderson.
Gomeroi Traditional Custodian Aunt Sharon Porter said the turnout on the day showed the importance of higher education to her community.
"The support was just great, we had elders and even a baby. We had our young leaders coming up and our youth from Clontarf and kids from school who are doing courses here," she said.
"For our community to show their support gives the kids so much more confidence because they can see all their elders and everyone is supporting them in their journey."
Image: Gomeroi Traditional Custodian Aunt Sharon Porter said the turnout on the day showed the importance of higher education to her community.
Aunt Sharon said the space at the new campus would complement the existing support already being provided to local Aboriginal students at the UNE Tamworth Centre at Peel House.
"It's going to provide more opportunities and pathways for them for higher learning and education, to be able to give them a step-up in life, it's going to mean so much to our kids that they will have somewhere safe to study, somewhere with great support. They've got brilliant services here," she said.
"It's going to make it so much easier for our kids to get higher education."
Construction is underway on the new UNE Tamworth Campus and is on-track to be completed by mid-2027.
The four-storey building will feature the indigenous space along with student study spaces, community rooms and staff offices.
The construction of UNE Tamworth Central is possible thanks to $26.6 million from the NSW Government and contributions by UNE, TRC and the Federal Government through the Job Ready Graduates program.
