NAIDOC Week – Change: the next step is ours

The Australian Government has welcomed the start of National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week with an announcement of $1.8 million to support community events across Australia.

NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to join together to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Indigenous Australians and their contribution to the nation.

The national theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week is Change: the next step is ours.

The theme highlights the importance of taking responsibility for the future and taking action to make it happen.

Flag raising ceremonies, morning teas, art workshops and concerts are among the hundreds of local events that are being organised throughout Australia to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

The National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony and Ball will be held on 8 July in Sydney. The annual awards recognise the outstanding contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians make to improve the lives of people in their communities and beyond. They also recognise the excellence of individual Indigenous Australians in their chosen fields.

Since the National Apology, there has been an outpouring of good will to build strong relationships grounded in respect and mutual trust.

The Australian Parliament recently incorporated a Welcome to Country into formal proceedings.

A Welcome to Country took place at the opening of the new Parliament last year. It recognised the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as custodians of the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

NAIDOC Week runs from 3-10 July and all Australians are encouraged to participate in this year’s activities.

To find out more about NAIDOC activities in your area, contact your nearest Indigenous Coordination Centre on 1800 079 098, for Nhulunbuy call 1800 089 148, Kalgoorlie 1800 193 357, and Kununurra 1800 193 348, or visit the NAIDOC website at www.naidoc.org.au