News

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.  

The importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages will be the focus of national celebrations marking NAIDOC Week 2017. The 2017 theme - Our Languages Matter - aims to emphasise and celebrate the unique and essential role that Indigenous languages play in both cultural identity, linking people to their land and water, and in the transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, spirituality and rites, through story and song.

Proud Wiradjuri Aboriginal woman, Joanne Cassady, is the winner of this year’s esteemed National NAIDOC Poster Competition.  

2017 NAIDOC Local Grant funding round is now open.

The National NAIDOC Committee congratulated ten outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who were honoured at the 2016 National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony in Darwin on Friday 8 July. Stephen Page, a descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation from South East Queensland, was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Stephen has been the Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre for the past 25 years with the goal of providing opportunities to the next generation of Indigenous storytellers. 

All Australians are invited to take the time to learn, share and participate in the unique local and national celebrations that will mark NAIDOC Week 2016 (3 - 10 July). NAIDOC Week - established in 1938 - is the opportunity to proudly acknowledge and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Lani Balzan, a proud Wiradjuri Aboriginal woman from NSW, is this year’s winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Poster Competition.

Songlines tie all Aboriginal people together, represents all of the Songlines coming together to create our nation. You can see how they criss-cross the land as they run East, West, North, South and diagonally across the country to track the journeys of our ancestors.  

Congratulations to Elaine Chambers on winning the 2015 National NAIDOC poster competition.  Ms Chambers is a proud Brisbane born and bred Aboriginal woman with family links to the Kuku Yalangi/ Koa Mob. Ms Chambers’ winning entry titled, We Stand on Sacred Ground, is a great representation of 2015 NAIDOC theme – We all stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate.