News

The countdown is on to National NAIDOC Week 2020. We have shared some tips on how you can get involved. 

The National NAIDOC Committee has proudly partnered with the Woolworths Group to nationally distribute the 2020 NAIDOC Week poster. The partnership enables the distribution of some 200,000 NAIDOC posters from 1000 Woolworths outlets across the country. NAIDOC Week 2020 will be held from 8-15 November under the theme Always Was Always Will Be. The revised November dates for NAIDOC Week 2020 follow its postponement from the original July dates due to the impacts and uncertainty from the escalating Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The National NAIDOC Committee has made the decision to cancel the 2020 National NAIDOC Awards ceremony. The Awards ceremony was scheduled to be held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in November. The difficult decision was made considering the changing and widespread impacts of COVID-19 and the uncertainty of travel restrictions, quarantining, and physical distancing requirements. This decision was not taken lightly and was reached in consultations with the Alice Springs NAIDOC Committee and other stakeholders and partners.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the postponement of NAIDOC Week to 8-15 November, the local grant round had been put on hold. NAIDOC Local Grants offer an opportunity for community groups to organise activities that celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements, and our continuing contributions to our country and society. The NAIDOC Local Grants support all activities, big and small. The majority of grants are for amounts of $500 to $1,000.

Expressions of Interest are now open for membership of the National NAIDOC Committee for the period of September 2020 – August 2023.

National NAIDOC Week 2020 celebrations will be held from the 8-15 November. The November dates follow the decision by the National NAIDOC Committee (NNC) to postpone NAIDOC Week from the original July dates due to the impacts and uncertainty from the escalating Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across our communities and cities. The postponement was aimed at protecting our elders and those in our communities with chronic health issues from the disastrous impacts of COVID19. As cooler weather approaches the need to protect our most susceptible remains.

Tyrown Waigana, a Perth based artist and designer, has been named as this year’s winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Poster Competition. His winning entry - Shape of Land - was judged by the National NAIDOC Committee to have best illustrated the 2020 NAIDOC theme: Always Was Always Will Be. Waigana, a proud Noongar and Saibai Islander, has previously been named as one of WA’s best new and emerging Indigenous artists.

Due to the risk to public health currently posed by the potential spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Australian Government has advised Australians to slow the spread of the virus through social distancing measures. These measures include avoiding large public gatherings if they are not essential, and keeping a distance of 1.5 metres between you and other people whenever possible.

The National NAIDOC Committee has decided to postpone NAIDOC Week 2020 (5 July - 12 July) in the interest of safety for our communities.

Celebrate Always Was, Always Will Be. by entering the NAIDOC 2020 poster competition, or nominating for a National NAIDOC award   The NAIDOC 2020 theme - Always Was, Always Will Be. - recognises and celebrates that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the ancient history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.

The NAIDOC 2020 theme - Always Was, Always Will Be. - recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

The National NAIDOC Awards have been presented in Canberra recognising the significant achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.