Vale Uncle Vic Simms, Bidjigal Elder and renowned musician

His work with UNSW included providing cultural support, guidance and education sessions.

Warning: This story features the name and image of a deceased Aboriginal person which are used with the permission of his family.

UNSW Sydney has paid tribute to Dr Uncle Vic Simms, a Senior Bidjigal Elder who devoted his life to music and serving community, focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.

A child prodigy who began songwriting and singing professionally at age 11, Uncle Vic was an international recording artist and the first Aboriginal musician to appear on commercial TV in Australia. Alongside his music career, Uncle Vic worked in various roles within Indigenous affairs portfolios for more than four decades and led cultural awareness programs in schools, universities and tourism.

In August 2024, William Victor Simms was awarded UNSW’s highest honour, an honorary doctorate in recognition of his service to his community.

At the time, Uncle Vic said he was overwhelmed by the recognition.

“It certainly bowls you over being here and receiving this award. But I’ve been accepted into this campus and everything about it has been forthcoming,” he said.

“I’m almost 80 years of age, but you never stop learning. You never stop believing in culture.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs offered his condolences to Uncle Vic’s family and community.

“UNSW has had the special privilege of connection with Uncle Vic.

“The University community is honoured to celebrate this important Indigenous Elder and musician whose extensive contribution to society and work with us highlighted the enduring connection to the Bidjigal land that UNSW Sydney stands on,” he said.

UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous, Professor Leanne Holt, said, “Uncle Vic was a wonderful Aboriginal leader, who made a fantastic contribution to music and culture nationally and internationally. We are privileged to have worked with him, and for our students and staff to have had the benefit of his local Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing.”

Walking with students and staff

Uncle Vic began teaching at UNSW in 2009. His work, notably with UNSW Medicine & Health, included running cultural education sessions through Nura Gili with both current and future Indigenous students, connecting them to culture and the history of Bidjigal Country.

When the COVID-19 pandemic affected face-to-face sessions, Uncle Vic co-created ‘Virtual On Country Field Trips’, which were delivered to first-year medical students through 2021 and 2022.

Over the last five years, he worked closely with UNSW Medicine & Health to provide cultural support, guidance and education sessions. This included advice to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sovereign Working Group, and Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies. 

He delivered inclusive ‘On Country’ educational experiences to more than 1200 first-year medical students and staff. He walked with them on Bidjigal Country, sharing his cultural knowledge, based on Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing. Uncle Vic used the experiences to highlight the strengths of Bidjigal culture, the impact of trauma, and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing is still impacted today.

UNSW Pro-Vice Chancellor for Indigenous Engagement and Research, Associate Professor Brett Biles, worked closely with Uncle Vic over the past five years.

“It was a true honour and privilege to listen, learn and walk on Country with Uncle Vic. His deep cultural knowledge and the way he shared it will be greatly missed,” he said.

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Uncle Vic’s family.”

Acclaimed musician

One of 10 children, Uncle Vic was born on La Perouse Mission in Sydney’s southeast in 1946. His career as a performing artist started at the Manly Jazzorama Music Festival in 1957 when he was just 11. He released his first single ‘Yo-Yo Heart’ in 1961, aged 15, and his debut album The Loner followed in 1973 – it was the first album ever recorded in an Australian prison.

He toured with Jimmy Little and performed with Shirley Bassey and Johnny O’Keefe, among others. In 2001, he received a Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music which, he said, was a highlight of his recording career. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive registry.

Uncle Vic Simms died in February at the age of 79.