NAIDOC 2025 Poster Winner and Michael Long as Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
The National NAIDOC Committee is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition — Ancestral Lines by Jeremy Morgan Worrall — and to honour AFL icon and lifelong advocate Michael Long as the recipient of the 2025 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award.
These two powerful announcements reflect this year’s NAIDOC theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” The theme is a call to uplift, invest in, and listen to the emerging generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples — and to honour the legacies that paved the way.
Poster Winner: Jeremy Morgan Worrall — Ancestral Lines
The 2025 National NAIDOC Week poster is a stunning digital artwork titled Ancestral Lines, created by Jeremy Morgan Worrall, a proud Ngarbal/Gomeroi man from Emmaville and Deepwater in northern New South Wales. His family lines include the Wrights, Connors, and Marlows.
Jeremy’s work honours the knowledge, care and cultural strength passed down through generations — from Ancestors Lucy, Enoch and Nonie Wright to his Nanna Audrie and his mother Vanessa. The artwork is set beneath the swirling clouds and moonlit skies of Tenterfield, where the next generation gathers around the fire — to listen, to learn, and to lead.
“When I look back at my mob, it helps me see towards the future,” Jeremy said. “This piece tells the story of our knowledge — of lore, care, hunting, weaving, and love — being passed on through time. My hope is that it speaks to young people and shows them that they come from strength. They come from a legacy of survival and brilliance. And that gives us all vision for what comes next.”
The National NAIDOC Committee and Kmart Group are proud to announce that Kmart and Target has once again been appointed the Official National NAIDOC Week Poster Distribution Partner for 2025.
Kmart and Target Chief Executive Officer John Gualtieri says “At Kmart and Target, we are committed to creating culturally safe spaces — both for our team members and our customers. We’re proud to partner again with the National NAIDOC Committee to celebrate NAIDOC Week. This partnership is more than a moment — it reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering a deeper connection with First Nations communities and celebrating the rich culture that lies at the heart of this important week.”
The 2025 NAIDOC poster will be available across the country in Kmart and Target stores from 15 June 2025 and is available for download on the NAIDOC Downloads page.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Long
This year’s National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Michael Long, a proud Anmatjere and Marranunggu man, football icon, and lifelong advocate for truth, justice, and self-determination.
Michael Long’s leadership has lit the path for generations. From the AFL field to the front steps of Parliament House, his actions have inspired a nation. In 2004, he undertook “The Long Walk” — a 650-kilometre journey from Melbourne to Canberra — to demand better outcomes for First Nations peoples. He’s never stopped walking since.
“Michael Long is one of our country’s most respected leaders,” said National NAIDOC Co-Chair Aunty (Prof.) Lynette Riley. “His influence has gone far beyond football. He opened doors, challenged systems, and always walked with purpose and heart. His work has empowered generations of First Nations youth to see themselves as leaders and changemakers. This honour recognises not just what Michael has done, but what he continues to inspire in others.”
National NAIDOC Co-Chair Steven Satour added:
“This year we honour both legacy and future. Jeremy’s work reminds us that culture lives through generations, and Michael has spent his life building those very pathways. He’s fought to ensure the next generation has more than just hope — they have power, space, and recognition. Michael Long is a living bridge between where we’ve come from and where we’re going.”