Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has met with Indigenous leaders in Perth, saying the church has a leading role to play in reconciliation.
The Anglican Church leader exchanged gifts with Noongar elders at a reception in Kings Park on Wednesday, enjoying a performance from children's dance group Koolangkas Kreate during the Welcome to Country ceremony.
Archbishop Welby is scheduled to meet with First Nations groups throughout his two-week tour of Australia and says he is committed to a "journey of healing", including acknowledging struggles faced by Indigenous people.
"That's something we have to recognise and be humbled about, and not pretend it was other people a long time ago," he said on Wednesday.
The archbishop's commitments in Perth will include a private meeting with mining magnate Andrew Forrest.
The pair have previously collaborated on efforts to eradicate modern slavery through Dr Forrest's Walk Free foundation.
He was also expected to meet with leaders of Anglican schools and agencies to discuss issues including poverty, homelessness and family violence, and to be introduced to members of Perth's Sudanese community.
Having declared that Anglicans have a sacred duty to protect the planet, the archbishop will meet people across the country affected by climate change.
He will speak with Torres Strait Islanders struggling with rising sea levels during a visit to Thursday Island and meet victims of catastrophic flooding in northern NSW.
The archbishop, who says he is committed to a "journey of understanding and healing with Indigenous people", is expected to discuss reconciliation with First Nations groups.
He will meet with Kabikabi and Gurang-Gurang elder and Anglican pastor Ray Minniecon in Sydney before heading to Cairns to ordain two Indigenous women as priests.
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Geoff Smith, urged believers ahead of the visit to "draw strength from each other as we confront the imperatives of our time".
"In a world plagued by division it is good to be reminded of our common values and to cement the ties of the Anglican Church of Australia with Anglicans around the globe," he said.
The archbishop will be in Australia until October 14.
