Our new mural says what we all need to hear: You Belong

Have you seen the new mural on the red brick wall outside Hub Central? The words, You Belong, blend into a diverse gathering of people. Including a person wearing a nasogastric tube proudly holding a lab beaker, a child embracing their parent or caregiver, and a women wearing a hijab standing tall among the crowd.   

At first glance, your eyes might get lost in these striking details – the cultural symbols, the diverse faces, the different abilities represented. But when you step back, something more profound emerges: a community reflecting all of us. 

University is where we come together, each with our own stories and backgrounds, united by a common purpose to grow through education and, in doing so, lifting up our communities and caring for the environment. This shared vision connects us all. 

So, remember those words on the wall. You belong here. No matter where your journey began or who you are—this place is yours too. 

Student voices 

Hear from some of our students who have given their time to inform the story behind the You Belong mural. 

I Putu Abdi Bhuwana 

"I’m not only embraced as a student here, but also as someone with a unique background as I’m from Bali, and my perspective is also respected here and this “You Belong” campaign really conveys a strong and powerful message that whoever you are, you belong here in this university. And it serves as a reminder that we share this space together and our presence, our research, and our cultural identity for this message. And our research and our cultural identity are also embraced, seen and respected in this university. And know this — you belong."

Kansas Bird 

“Being deeply involved with the queer community on campus, you learn quickly that most people have a vast intersection of identities; our community has members that are people of colour, that have disabilities, that are religious, that are parents, and people who are mixture of all these things and more. It's so important to show just how multifaceted identity can be and that there is no 'one way' to be a uni student.” 

Em Grinter 

“At the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, I developed a lot of chronic pain and suffered a brain injury. For a month I wasn’t able to walk unassisted with a lingering health condition. Seeing disabled young people displayed confidently in the university mural has made me feel less embarrassed about my own illness. To me, helping to build that inclusion and diversity in this space ...makes me hope that someone else like me will be able to see it and feel as confident in themselves as I do now.” 

Anisha Bhargava

“The bindi represents the community where I am from, so I think that it's very important to identify things like these—to know your presence matters. And I’m grateful and fortunate enough to be in a space, in a university which makes it safe for everybody to be here” 

The Student Health and Wellbeing Team, with students, has championed this initiative. To learn about the multi-faceted meaning of belonging and the actions you can take to foster belonging, visit the website (You Belong | Student Health and Wellbeing | University of Adelaide). 

Want to get involved! Share your story and more by sending an email to studentwellbeing@adelaide.edu.au