Most Indigenous Australians from what is now Victoria most commonly use the term Koori (also spelled Koorie) to identify themselves, alongside more specific Nation/people names (for example, Wurundjeri, Bunurong, Gunditjmara) and broader terms like Aboriginal, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or First Nations.

Key terms you’ll hear in Victoria

  • Koori / Koorie – A widely used term for Aboriginal people from New South Wales and Victoria, rooted in local Aboriginal languages.
  • Specific Nations/peoples – Many people primarily identify with their own Nation or language group, such as Wurundjeri, Bunurong/Boon Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara and others, rather than a single umbrella label.
  • Aboriginal – Still a very common and accepted term, especially in formal contexts, when referring to Aboriginal people (for example, “Aboriginal people in Victoria”).
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – Used when referring to both main Indigenous groups across Australia in one phrase (for example, in government and services).
  • First Nations / First Peoples / First Australians – Increasingly used, especially in recent years, to emphasise sovereignty, distinct Nations and continuous connection to Country.
  • Mob – A very common Aboriginal English word people use for their own community or group (for example, “my mob”, “Koori mob in Victoria”).

Important nuance: preferences vary

  • Not all Aboriginal Victorians use the same word first; some will say they are Koori , others will lead with their Nation name , others with Aboriginal or First Nations.
  • Many style and terminology guides stress that the most respectful thing is to ask people how they prefer to identify, and to use specific Nation/community names wherever possible.
  • Some community-derived words (like Koori, Murri, Noongar, Nunga, etc.) are noted as terms that non‑Indigenous people should use carefully and preferably only where locally appropriate and welcomed.

Quick mini-story to frame it

Think of a Koori person from Melbourne introducing herself.
She might say: “I’m a Wurundjeri woman, a Koori, an Aboriginal person” – layering identity from her specific Nation, to her regional term, to a broader Australian context. Different settings (community, workplace, government forms) may bring out different parts of that self‑description, but none of them stands alone as “the one correct term” for everyone.

Simple takeaways

  1. The most common regional term in Victoria is Koori/Koorie.
  1. Many people prioritise their Nation or language group name (for example, Wurundjeri) as their primary identifier.
  1. Aboriginal , Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander , First Nations and First Peoples are all widely used broader terms, chosen depending on context and personal preference.
  1. The safest approach is always to ask individuals and communities how they prefer to be identified, and then follow their lead.

TL;DR: In Victoria, “Koori/Koorie” is the main regional term, but most Indigenous people will identify themselves with a mix of their specific Nation, Koori, and broader labels like Aboriginal or First Nations, and preferences differ by person and community.

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