National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia from the first Sunday of July each year to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
What is NAIDOC Week?
On 26 January 1938, while many Australians celebrated the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet, a group of over 1000 Aboriginal people gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney to call for full citizenship status and laws to improve the lives of First Nations people. As one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, this day became known as the Day of Mourning.
From 1940 until 1955, the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was known as ‘Aborigines Day’. In 1955 ‘Aborigines Day’ was shifted to the first Sunday in July when it was decided that the day should also become a celebration of Aboriginal culture as well as a day of protest. Major Aboriginal organisations, as well as state and federal governments, all supported the formation of the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC).
As awareness of the distinct cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples grew, NADOC was expanded to recognise Torres Strait Islander people and culture. The committee then became known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC). The committee makes key decisions regarding national celebrations each year as stewards of National NAIDOC Week events on behalf of all First Nations people.
How to get involved
- Follow, share and comment on NAIDOC Facebook and Instagram
- Engage with local Traditional Owners and your local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community
- Learn about our country’s 65,000 year old history and share what you learn with your friends and family
- Watch films and listen to podcasts or music by First Nations artists and creatives
- Join us at a NAIDOC Week event
- Explore all NAIDOC Week events
Cultural appreciation or appropriation?
Cultural appreciation means appreciating another culture in a respectful, sincere way that helps broaden perspectives and build cross-cultural connections. Respecting culture means that you don’t borrow what you don’t understand. It also means that you take your lead from the right people for the right reasons – not for personal gain.
There is a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. If you do not identify with the culture, appreciation means you look to others to lead the conversation. Appropriation is when you centre yourself in the conversation and put yourself in a position of authority. Cultural appropriation is using elements of a culture that you do not belong to. Appropriation is disrespectful, exploitative, hurtful and reinforces racism.
This year NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities and the legacy of our ancestors.
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.
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.
National NAIDOC Week’s premier event is the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony which showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence. Every year, a different focus city is chosen to host the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony. Boorloo (Perth) is the focus city for NAIDOC 2025.
As a rights-based organisation, Seniors Rights Service is committed to ensuring that Indigenous Australian communities are active participants in our operations and activities and that we deliver culturally safe and responsive services to First Nations Elders aged 50 or over living in NSW.
Seniors Rights Service’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols and Cultural Safety Plan provide guidance for staff to inform their work and practices. A main objective of these Protocols is to ensure that we are respectful of First Nations cultural beliefs and practices.
If you or someone you know may benefit from our services, call our team on 02 9281 3600
The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.
