NAIDOC Week 3-10 July 2022

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held in Australia in the first week of July.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were the first inhabitants of Australia.

Celebrate and support First Nation during your time in Australia

NAIDOC is celebrated by people from all walks of life, Indigenous and non‑Indigenous. The week is an excellent opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

2022 theme for NAIDOC Week is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! 

NAIDOC Week is celebrated across the country through local community events. To find some in your area, visit the dedicated events page and type in your postcode. 

What is NAIDOC Week

Australia is home to a rich and diverse spectrum of First Nations cultures. You can engage and support local First Nations communities by joining in on NAIDOC Week events and activities.

As the world's oldest continuing civilisation, NAIDOC week highlights the culture, history and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It has its roots in the 1938 Day of Mourning, becoming a week-long event in 1975.

The aim for this year is to make a tangible change by narrowing the gap between people's good intentions and actually making change.

Everyone living in Australia, including international students, has a responsibility to bring about change, help fight poverty, and improve health and rights, not to mention the Statement from the Heart.

The NAIDOC Week website explains: "Whether it's seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism – we must do it together."

But just don't stop at NAIDOC week. You can support AC by some of the following.

Support First Nations-owned businesses

There are all kinds of First Nations-owned businesses located across Australia, from food to clothing to making bricks and just about everything in between.

Bush Tucker foods are easier to purchase now and are a great way to enjoy local food, support Aboriginal businesses and help maintain their culture.

To ensure you purchase ethically made products and find verified First Nations businesses here on Supply Nation.

When buying Aboriginal art or cultural items such as a didgeridoo, beware of fakes and copyright infringement by checking this website which will guide you on how to purchase Indigenous art ethically.

Educating yourself on First Nations' histories, unique cultures, and their commitment to the environment is a great way to learn more about their struggles and what Aboriginal people can offer all of us and what we have gained through living in their country.

There are many Aboriginal cultural centres, museums and galleries, tours, and city walks in your city in which Aboriginal people share their cultural heritage with you.

An introduction to First Nations cultures could be as simple as watching a movie or reading a book.

SBS has many movies and TV programs to watch, and there are many fantastic books about mythology, the world's first astronomers, language translations and stories.

Catch a music act or see a performance by Bangarra or many amazing aboriginal dance companies exploring all kinds of topics and contemporary issues.

'Country' is the term often used by Aboriginal peoples to describe the lands, waterways and seas to which they are connected. It contains complex ideas about law, place, custom, language, spiritual belief, cultural practice, material sustenance, family and identity.

Check out this excellent map detailing the multiple language or nation groups of First Nations peoples across Australia.