NAIDOC Week, held from 5–12 July, is an opportunity to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, 50 Years of Deadly, recognises the people who have championed Aboriginal voices and driven positive change over generations, including Elders, community leaders, artists, advocates and organisers.

We recently had a yarn with members of COORDINARE’s Aboriginal Health Councils about their perspectives of NAIDOC week.  

Marion Knight is a proud a Gamilaraay woman and, as well as being a member of COORDINARE's Aboriginal Health Council, is Southern NSW Local Health District's Inland Aboriginal Network Manager, based at Goulburn.  

Marion said: "NAIDOC week is a celebration of our culture and our survival as Aboriginal people. The fact that we can all get together and celebrate and make connections is great. It gives Aboriginal children an opportunity to find out the history of their culture, but it also gives non-Aboriginal an opportunity people to learn some of the true history of Aboriginal Australia."  

James Mulholland, CEO of Gawura Aboriginal Corporation, said: "NAIDOC week is quite important for Aboriginal people. We call it Christmas in July as we get to celebrate our culture, to hold different events and bring the wider community into it as well. It highlights the work that the Elders have done, retaining our culture of 60,000 years and working with government and other peak bodies to get better outcomes for Aboriginal people."  

Chair of COORDINARE's Aboriginal Health Council, Paul Knight said "NAIDOC week was originally a day of celebration, recognising that Aboriginal people are here and have a place to be in this country. It has expanded to look at the rights of First Nations people more and to understand what it means to be Aboriginal. It helps people who aren't Aboriginal to better understand and appreciate our linkages back into country and the deep, deep relationships with the environments that we're in and how that manifests into health for all of us and that connection."  

Nikkei Simon, Southern Local Health District's manager Aboriginal Workforce and Development is a proud Walbunja and Worimi woman.  

Nikkei said: "NAIDOC Week is so important to community and myself, to remember the fights and the progress we've made, and to celebrate where we are today. It started as a protest and was a way for Aboriginal people to get their voices to be heard and have the wider public understand our point of view. Now it's a beautiful celebration because we've been able to achieve some of our goals and push the agenda."  

You can support this year’s NAIDOC theme by respecting Elders and getting involved in your community. You can view local events here.