The National NAIDOC Committee (NNC) make key decisions on National NAIDOC activities including the dates for the week-long celebrations, the focus city, the theme, the National NAIDOC Poster Competition winner and the National NAIDOC Awards winners.
The NNC is a voluntary Committee independent of Government comprising eight committee members and two co-chairs. NNC members are appointed for a term of three years following a public expression of interest process.
NAIDOC decisions were once made by the National Aborigines’ and Islanders’ Day Observance Committee which is how the celebrations got their name. Between 1997 and 2004, this role was performed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). With the abolition of ATSIC in March 2005, an interim committee based in South Australia made decisions regarding NAIDOC celebrations in 2005.
At the 2005 National NAIDOC Ball and Awards Ceremony, the interim committee presented Indigenous leader and former Senator, Aden Ridgeway, with a message stick as the ‘custodian’ of NAIDOC. Aden chaired the committee until 2008. Co-Chairing responsibilities were transferred to Dr Anne Martin and Ben Mitchell who undertook the role for 10 years from 2008 until 2018. Since that time, Patricia Thompson and John Paul (JP) Janke chaired the National NAIDOC Committee until 2020. In 2020, membership changes saw Shannan Dodson join JP Janke as Co-Chair.
JP was re-elected as Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee by members in November 2021, and will continue to support the Committee’s work in this role with Shannan.
Learn more about Shannan and John Paul, along with other members of the National NAIDOC Committee.
Expressions of interest to join the National NAIDOC Committee are closed. Please join the NAIDOC mailing list to be notified of future rounds.
Use the contact form if you would like to speak to the National NAIDOC Committee.
