On behalf of the RMIT Yulendj Weelam Lab (Architecture & Urban Design School), we congratulate Kirrae Whurrong Elder, Uncle Leonard Clarke for being named Victoria’s nominee for the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year Award!

Uncle Lenny has been recognised for over 50 years of advocacy in Indigenous justice, rights, and cultural education. A respected Koori Court Elder for 25 years, Uncle Leonard has dedicated his life to making Australia’s justice systems more culturally responsive. In his traditional country across southwest Victoria, the 76-year-old continues to lead community development and advocate for legal reform, youth empowerment, disability rights and land justice.

In 2021, Uncle Leonard founded the Shara Clarke Aboriginal Culture and Education Centre, established in memory of his late daughter who experienced violence and injustice. The centre provides education, employment, music, and cultural opportunities for young Aboriginal people, helping to reduce incarceration rates and strengthen cultural pride and identity.

Uncle Lenny is one of the Yulendj Weelam Lab’s most valued partners and we are thrilled to see him receive this important nomination!

Christine Phillips and Jock Gilbert will be hosting this year’s Open House Melbourne launch event, ‘Designing with Country’ with leading Indigenous thinkers Owen Cafe (Blaklash) and Leila Gurruwiwi (Agency Projects).

Together, they will unpack the complexity and richness of Country, offering insights into its meaning, relevance, and potential to shape a more culturally responsive built environment.

Designing with Country is presented by Melbourne Conversations in partnership with program curators Open House Melbourne and event partner Fed Square.

Wednesday 23 July
6pm—7.30pm

Bookings required, free
First release tickets: 12pm Wednesday 2 July

Artwork created by ENOKi

Associate Professor Christine Phillips reviews ARM Architecture’s award winning design for the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence for Architecture Australia. “The project was conceived of by Yorta Yorta Elder Dr Uncle Paul Briggs OAM in 2008 and opened in August 2024 by Victorian Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins. Munarra is the first First-Peoples-led, pathways-based tertiary education centre of its kind in the country.”

Image: Peter Bennetts

Adjunct Professor N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs AM, Associate Professor Christine Phillips, Stasinos Mantzis with RMIT Master of Architecture & Master of Urban Design students explore what urban intervention are required to recalibrate Narrm/Melbourne as a place grounded within the Eastern Kulin Nation. Participating students: Shankari Surigapuram Thangamani Raja, Patrick Dennis, Anastasia Lazare, Tevin McSweeney, Yasmin Zohair Ali, Lucas Schey, Lydia Pie, On Run Leung, Vedbhushan Patil, Harshita Sahu, Vaishnavi Prabhu, Saloni Narula, Nishita Raulgonkar, Oscar Jacobs, Vincent Spataro

Image: Christine Phillips

The RMIT Yulendj Weelam Lab, RMIT Centre of Innovative Justice and Gullum Gullum met with the Shara CLarke Centre of Aboriginal Education & Cultural Centre to launch the south west Victorian Yallum Yallum program. This program promotes cultural healing, social and emotional wellbeing and turn Aboriginal people away from the justice system and towards a stronger role in their culture and community.

Image: Kirrae Clarke