Social Work and Indigenous Australians: Ngurambang Yanhambulanha ('Walking Country')

Chapter Objectives
- To explore Wiradyuri concepts and terms as they relate to issues facing Aboriginal people living in present-day Australia
- To explore the impact of both historical and contemporary issues that affect Aboriginal people
- To present a discussion of the implications for social workers and for social work practice
- To introduce awareness that Aboriginality is a concept that only came into being during colonisation and that there were many different nations of people in existence before 1788
- To explore how answers to current issues for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people can be understood and addressed through engagement with Aboriginal knowledges
- To note that the social work profession has started its journey in walking alongside Aboriginal people to address the many issues facing Australia today; however, social workers need to ensure that they and their practices are embedded within local knowledges and practices, such as Ngurambang Yanhambulanha and Wirrimbirra Ngurambanggu

Introduction
Australia as a name and as a country is relatively new. However, this continent, the people, and the many different nations they represent have existed since Balandha.

Those people and nations lived in a harmonious and sustamable manner until the time of Waanganha Mununibinal. Presently we are still in the time of Waanganha Mununibinal, and in this time we are dealing with the sickness and troubles that come due to Waanganha Mununibinal. To overcome this sickness and these troubles, we need to move into Wayanha. However, we cannot move into we need to move into Wayanha. However, we cannot move into Wayanha without Ngurambang Yanhambulanha and relearning the ways of this land.