All new schools in Victoria are being named after Indigenous words rather than suburbs

Every new school in one state is now being given an Indigenous name, instead of being named after suburbs or high achievers. Poll and comments: Readers have their say.

There’s a growing push towards giving Australian schools Indigenous rather than geographical names – and Victoria is going one step further.

The Labor state government in Victoria has declared that First Nations language names will be used for all new state schools and campuses from this year onwards.

The new policy was announced in 2023, with then Education Minister Natalie Hutchins saying the move aimed to ensure “the history, culture and languages of Victoria’s First Peoples are strongly embedded in our education system”.

“Embracing First Nations languages in more school names will contribute to the ongoing process of reconciliation,” she said.

Wirrigirri Primary School is one of six new schools to open in Victoria this year. All have been given an Indigenous name.

So far, the six schools to open in Victoria in 2025 have all been given Indigenous names, replacing interim names relating to the geographical location of the school.

They are:

Barayip Primary School in Tarneit (interim name was Riverdale North Primary School). Barayip (pronounced ba-ray-ip) is a Bunurong word meaning spring.

Kuyim Primary School in Pakenham (interim name was Pakenham North West Primary School). Kuyim (pronounced koo-yim) is a Bunurong word meaning kangaroo.

Mirniyan Primary School in Clyde North (interim name was Thompsons West Primary School). Mirniyan (pronounced mern-ee-yan) is a Bunurong word meaning moon.

Turrun Primary School in Clyde North (interim name was Clyde North Primary School). Turrun (pronounced turr-run) is a Bunurong word meaning she oak.

Wirrigirri Primary School in Wollert (interim name was Wollert Central Primary School). Wirrigirri (pronounced werry-jerry) is a Woi-wurrung word of the Wurundjeri people meaning messenger.

Wulerrp Secondary College in Clyde North (interim name was Clyde North Secondary School). Wulerrp (pronounced wool-erp) is a Bunurong word meaning tea tree.

Children on the Wulerrp Secondary College campus.

Wulerrp Secondary College has an Indigenous name and campus design.

The names were chosen with input from Geographic Names Victoria and Traditional Owner groups via public consultation. The Education Minister has the final say.

The 26 new schools slated to open in 2026 follow the same guidelines. They include Gamadji Primary School in Craigieburn. Gamadji is a Wurundjeri Woi wurrung language word meaning emerging creeks.

There will also be Ngurraga School in Werribee South. The name is pronounced NGOO-ruh-guh and it’s a Bunurong Boonwurrung language word meaning koala.

Also opening is Umarkoo Primary in Wollert. The name is pronounced u-mah-koo and is a Wurundjeri Woi wurrung language word meaning everyone.

Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam wants the Victorian government to concentrate on results rather than school names.

While most school names are accepted by their local communities, not all are embraced. In 2023, some residents objected to the naming of Walcom Ngarra Secondary College, which was given the interim name of Lollypop Creek Secondary School.

The new name, derived from Wadawurrung words meaning “steps to knowledge”, was chosen following a two-week community consultation.

The Victorian state government declined to comment on the naming policy this week.

In NSW, one school that opened in Epping in 2023 was named Ngarala Public School after the Dharug word for ‘learning together’, while other schools have renamed its houses with Indigenous names instead of colonial-era English names.

Federal opposition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said: “We’re in a 20-year decline in reading, writing and maths results. The Victorian government should be focusing all their efforts on turning this around.”

What do you think about this? Leave a comment below or email [e-mail]