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This years theme celebrates the essential role that women have played - and continue to play - as active and significant role models at the community, local, state and national levels.

This years theme celebrates the essential role that women have played - and continue to play - as active and significant role models at the community, local, state and national levels.

"Because of my wife, the mother to our 8 children, I can!" Ben Mitchell from the Meriam and Mualgal peoples of the Eastern and Western Torres Straits, and National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair gives a moving tribute to his wife of 21 years Marcia Salam. “The trials she’s been through, with Ovarian Cancer and losing our last child. To go through that and raise the rest of our 7 children, she is an inspiration to me. Because of what she is, and who she is I am able to do everything that I can in my life because of her.”

This years theme celebrates the essential role that women have played - and continue to play - as active and significant role models at the community, local, state and national levels.

Anne Martin a Yuin woman and NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair talks about her mother, her greatest inspiration.

Painted by Bigambul woman, Cheryl Moggs, from Goondiwindi, the painting portrays the 2018 theme, Because of her, we can! showing the courage and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Cheryl shares in her own words below, the inspiration behind the artwork.

Cheryl Moggs, a proud descendant of the Bigambul people of Goondiwindi, Bungunya and Toobeah regions in South West Queensland is this year’s winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Poster Competition.

Following the announcement of the National NAIDOC theme – Because of her, we can! – the National NAIDOC poster competition and award nominations are now open. NAIDOC Week 2018 will celebrate the invaluable contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have made – and continue to make - to our communities, our families, our rich history and to our nation.

NAIDOC 2018: Because of her, we can! Statement by National NAIDOC Co-Chairs Dr Anne Martin & Mr Ben Mitchell NAIDOC Week 2018 will celebrate the invaluable contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have made – and continue to make - to our communities, our families, our rich history and to our nation. Under the theme - Because of her, we can! - NAIDOC Week 2018 will be held nationally from Sunday 8 July and continue through to Sunday 15 July.

The National NAIDOC Committee has kicked off plans for NAIDOC Week 2018 with the appointment of five members to its ranks. The four new appointments - and one reappointment - follow a national selection process which saw Kenny Bedford, Lynette Riley, Ngarra Murray and Shannan Dodson appointed to Committee and Anita-Lee Summers reappointed for a second term. NAIDOC Co-Chairs Dr Anne Martin and Benjamin Mitchell welcomed the new members to the National Committee. "We are looking forward to working together to take NAIDOC to new heights."

Applications are now open for membership of the National NAIDOC Committee for the next three years.

The National NAIDOC Committee last night congratulated ten outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who were honoured at the 2017 National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony in Cairns.