The Aboriginal flag

The Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the centre.

The black represents Aboriginal people, the yellow symbolises the sun (which provides life for all living things) and the red depicts the earth and red ochre used in ceremonies by Aboriginal people, highlighting the sacred connection Aboriginal people have to the land.

The Torres Strait Islander flag

The Torres Strait Islander flag features three horizontal stripes, with green at the top and bottom and blue in between. Thin black lines separate each colour. A white Dhari (Torres Strait Islander headdress) sits in the centre, with a white five-pointed star underneath.

The colour green represents the land, blue symbolises the sea, and the black lines in between represent the people. The colour white expresses peace while the Dhari symbolises Torres Strait Islanders, with the star below representing the five island groups. The white star also serves as a symbol for the island’s seafaring traditional custodians — an important symbol for navigation.