There is no reliable public information about exactly how much Uncle Colin personally gets paid for doing a Welcome to Country, and any specific dollar figure for him would be private unless he chose to disclose it himself. What we can talk about is the typical rates that organisations and councils in Australia use as a guide for Welcome to Country ceremonies, including for Elders like Uncle Colin.

Typical payment ranges

Across Australia, guides and public examples show that Welcome to Country fees usually sit in a fairly consistent band for most standard events:

  • Many guides recommend around 200–700 AUD for a standard Welcome to Country at an official event, arranged through local land councils or Traditional Owner organisations.
  • Some arts and cultural bodies list a range of roughly 300–750 AUD as a general guide for a single Welcome to Country.
  • In one published example from a Victorian Traditional Owner organisation, indicative fees were:
    • Around 570 AUD for a Welcome to Country (with a lower rate for community/not‑for‑profit),
    • Around 300 AUD for a Smoking/Cleansing Ceremony,
    • Around 820 AUD for a combined Welcome to Country + Smoking Ceremony,
    • Higher fees again if dancers or musicians (like didgeridoo players) are included.

So, for an Elder like Uncle Colin doing a straightforward Welcome to Country at a regular event, a typical one‑off fee would usually be in that few‑hundred‑dollars range, with scope for more if it is a major, high‑profile, or complex ceremony.

Why exact figures vary

Payment is not a flat “set wage” and can change a lot depending on:

  • Who is hosting the event
    • Government department, large corporation, or major sporting code may pay more than a small community group or school.
  • What the ceremony includes
    • Simple spoken Welcome versus smoking ceremony, dance, music, or multiple performers.
  • Time and location
    • After‑hours, weekends, travel distance, and special days (e.g. NAIDOC Week, big finals, VIP visits) can attract higher fees or loadings.
  • Local protocols
    • Many regions set indicative rates through land councils or cultural heritage bodies, but Elders may also negotiate personally.

Because of all this, two Welcomes by the same Elder (including Uncle Colin) might be paid quite differently.

About “Uncle Colin” specifically

From public profiles, Uncle Colin Hunter Jr is a Wurundjeri Elder and Traditional Owner who has performed Welcomes to Country at high‑profile events in Melbourne, including for international figures and major sporting events.

Those sorts of high‑visibility gigs can reasonably attract higher fees than a local community function, but there is no public schedule that says “Uncle Colin gets X dollars per Welcome”. Any exact amount you see casually thrown around on social media is usually guesswork, humour, or speculation—not verified pay information.

Quick reality check

If you’re seeing heated online arguments or memes suggesting Elders are getting huge sums every time, it helps to keep a few points in mind:

  • Typical Welcomes at normal events are a few hundred dollars , not tens of thousands.
  • Very large one‑off fees that sometimes get quoted in the media usually relate to Parliament openings or major national events , not ordinary conferences or local functions.
  • Many Elders still perform Welcomes unpaid in community or cultural contexts; payment is more standard when a government agency, company, or large institution books them as a formal part of an event budget.

So, to your exact question: we cannot say “Uncle Colin gets X dollars” with any accuracy, but for standard Welcome to Country work by Elders like him, a few hundred dollars per ceremony is the normal ballpark , with higher fees for big or complex events.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.