Aboriginal Gathering Place inspires next generation of engineers

Published on 28 August 2026

Monash University engineering students have visited the City of Whittlesea's Aboriginal Gathering Place to gain insight into how culture, community and engineering come together to create spaces that foster connection and belonging.

The visit provided students with a firsthand look at how cultural values and community aspirations helped shape the design of the Aboriginal Gathering Place and the surrounding landscape.

As part of their coursework, fourth-year Civil and Environmental Engineering students are using the Aboriginal Gathering Place as a real-world case study, learning directly from Council staff, project professionals and First Peoples community members.

During the visit to the Aboriginal Gathering Place, located within bunjil nganga Parkland, Quarry Hills in South Morang, students heard from project partners and explored how engineering, design and culture were woven together throughout the development.

They also met with a member of the Whittlesea Aboriginal Gathering Place Advisory Group who provided valuable insights into the importance of community engagement and cultural understanding when delivering major projects.

Monash University Environmental Engineering student Tiwanthya Konara said the experience reinforced the importance of listening to communities and understanding their needs.

"I realised how important an engineer's role is in the community, where it seems that the goal is to make things better for the community," she said.

Tiwanthya said learning about First Peoples’ perspectives had broadened her understanding of the responsibilities engineers have when designing places for future generations.

“One of the most profound things I found out was how important spirituality is for the First Peoples, and how connected they are to nature,” she said.

“It prompts us as engineers to always take the environment into consideration and to not harm the environment as much as possible."

Tiwanthya said studying a real-life City of Whittlesea project provided experiences that could not be replicated in a classroom.

"Actually seeing that these projects can be created and seeing the purpose and the positive impacts they have in the community, has become a real motivator to get involved in these projects,” she said.

Opened in early 2026, the Aboriginal Gathering Place is a welcoming community space that brings people together to connect, learn and share knowledge.

It supports the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities, while creating opportunities for cultural engagement, reconciliation, healing, inclusion and greater equity across the broader community.

Quotes attributable to City of Whittlesea Acting CEO Debbie Wood

“The Aboriginal Gathering Place was created as a place of connection, learning and cultural understanding, so it's wonderful to see it helping educate the next generation of engineers,” she said.

“The students who visited the site gained a unique perspective on how engineering projects can support cultural, environmental and community outcomes, alongside technical requirements.

“We're pleased to help future engineers see firsthand how projects like the Aboriginal Gathering Place can create lasting social and cultural benefits for the whole community."