NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.
National NAIDOC 2014 Theme: Serving Country: Centenary & Beyond.
This year’s NAIDOC theme honours all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have fought in defence of country.
NAIDOC 2014 Poster
The poster is a creative opportunity for artists to convey messages depicting the cultural and political history of Australia’s Indigenous people and is the primary tool for promoting NAIDOC Week activities. For more information visit the
Poster Ordering Page.
For more information visit
www.naidoc.org.au or download the
NAIDOC History Timeline.
back to top
ACT Events
Just some of the many NAIDOC Week events taking place in Canberra are highlighted below. For a calendar of events visit the
Community Services Directorate website.
ACT NAIDOC Ball 2014
Canberra and District NAIDOC Committee
Get together with your friends and workmates and style up and be part of the presentation of ACT NAIDOC Awards for 2014 including Person, Youth and Elder of the Year, plus the naming of the Mr & Miss NAIDOC - Youth Ambassadors for 2014.
Date: Saturday 5 July 2014
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $70 includes two course meal, entertainment and lucky door prizes
Dress: Black tie or evening wear
Venue: QT Ballroom, 1 London Circuit, Canberra City
Tickets: Can be purchased
here.
NAIDOC on the Peninsula
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
Held each year, the one-day event brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others to share, celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, lifestyles and achievements.
Attracting some 4500 people - in particular families and young people - it is the biggest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander event in the ACT. The event is staged in AIATSIS’ public areas and includes entertainment from local and national performers, over 65 market stalls, arts and crafts outlets and a host of free child related activities and information.
Date: Sunday 6 July 2014
Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: Acton Peninsula, Lawson Crescent, Acton
For more information: Visit the
event page
NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony
ACT Government
The Flag Raising Ceremony is an acknowledgement by the ACT Government of the importance of NAIDOC Week.
Date: Monday 7 July 2014
Time: 11am – 12.30pm
Venue: ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square
RSVP: By Friday 27 June 2014 to (02) 6207 9348
For more information: Email
oatsia@act.ogv.au, or call (02) 6207 9348
2014 NAIDOC Week Film Event
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) & Tuggeranong Arts Centre
A community screening of the film "Jandamarra's War". The event will include a 'pop-up exhibition' organised by the Tuggeranong Arts Community Cultural Inclusion Program. Jandamarra's War is the story of an Aboriginal Australian man who should be as famous as Ned Kelly. In 1894, Jandamarra led a rebellion against invading pastoralists in defence of his people's ancient land and culture. Until his death in brutal retribution, this formidable Bunuba warrior waged a 3-year guerrilla war, earning him both the admiration of his people and international notoriety. Rated (M) - recommended for mature audiences.
Date: 8 July 2014
Time: Supper from 5.40pm, film from 6.50pm
Venue: Tuggeranong Arts Cinema, 137 Reed St, Tuggeranong
Registration: Essential (numbers are limited). To register visit the
eventbrite page
For more information: Contact Lisa Howatson by email
actcoss@actcoss.org.au, or call (02) 6202 7200
NAIDOC on the Green
Habitat Personnel, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA), the Department of Defence and Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV)
This inaugural event will celebrate the 2014 NAIDOC theme 'Serving Country - Centenary and beyond' honouring all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have fought in defence of country.
Date: 10 July 2014
Time: 11am – 1pm
Venue: Central grassed area, Colbee Court, Phillip
RSVP: By 2 July to Michelle Whyte at Indigenous Community Volunteers by email
mwhyte@icv.com.au or call (02) 6122 6444.
Youth Disco Night
Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation
Date: 10 July 2014
Time: 5 – 8pm
Venue: To be confirmed
For more information: Contact Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation on (02) 6231 9555
Aboriginal Hostels Limited NAIDOC Luncheon
Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL)
The AHL Luncheon aims to encourage people from the government sector, the private sector, the community and organisations with a working relationship with AHL to celebrate and enjoy the entertainment. This year there will be three guest speakers - Max Walker, Stan Grant and Bo de la Cruz.
Date: Friday 11 July 2014
Time: 12pm
Tickets: Available through
Ticketek
Venue: QT Canberra, 1 London Cct, Canberra City
Cost: $73
2014 NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition
Southside Community Services and ACT Corrective Services
The Exhibition, featuring artworks from ACT Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander detainees, probation and parole, and community service clients.
Date: 7 July – 25 July 2014
Time: 9am – 5pm
Venue: Gallery on Southside, 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah
Patterns of the Past – Duncan Smith
Belconnen Arts Centre
Exhibition of Duncan Smith who makes patterns to remember the past: his Wiradjuri ancestors, the things they did and where they lived.
Date: Opens Friday 4 July 2014. Meet the artist event on Sunday 13 July 2014 (3pm)
Venue: Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
For more information: Visit the
exhibition webpage
Price’s Café
Belconnen Arts Centre
Moruya's much loved Price’s Café is being recreated in the heart of Belconnen. Price’s Café was one of the few places on the south coast where the Aboriginal community was supported and made welcome in 1950s Australia. The café ignored the mainstream, opened its arms and became a connecting point for the Yuin and wider Aboriginal community from across NSW and the ACT. Developed through conversations with Elders, this travelling exhibition features interviews, archival photographs and a café style setting developed by South East Arts.
Date: Opens Friday 4 July 2014. Curators Talk on Sunday 20 July 2014 (12pm)
Venue: Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
For more information: Visit the
exhibition webpage
Serving Country Creatively
Belconnen Arts Centre
Hear stories of experienced warriors from the creative frontline of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture in the ACT region. Featuring arts and cultural professionals Duncan Smith (Wiradjuri Echoes), Linda Huddleston (Burrunju Gallery), Jo Donovan (Bandu Catering) and Michael Weir (Stik n Move) in conversation with Cara Kirkwood (Indigenous Program at National Gallery of Australia). The event will be opened by Ngunnawal Elder, Agnes Shea.
Date: Friday 4 July 2014
Time: 3 – 5pm
Venue: Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
Registration: Essential, visit the
eventbrite page
For more information: Visit the
event webpage
Regional Weave
Belconnen Arts Centre
Bringing together works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander weavers of the ACT and region, this exhibition provides an opportunity to explore and express cultural identity through craft practice. Weaving provides a means of strengthening community and maintaining, renewing and reclaiming culture. This show embraces approaches ranging from contemporary to traditional.
Date: Opens Friday 4 July 2014. Meet the artists on Sunday 13 July 2014 (2pm)
Venue: Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
For more information: Visit the
exhibition webpage
back to top
NIDAC Conference Follow Up
The National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) Conference was held in Melbourne from 4 – 6 June 2014
The conference provided a stimulating program of speakers, workshops and discussion regarding priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to address alcohol, tobacco and other drug related harms.
Learnings, resources and ideas were brought home to Canberra from the conference, including many that can inform the ongoing work of the sector, ATODA and the ACT Government.
ACT Delegates
The following people from the ACT attended the conference:
- Aimee Capper, The Connection & CAHMA (Presenter)
- Amanda Bode, ATODA
- Carrie Fowlie, ATODA
- Dale Huddleson, Gugan Guwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation (Presenter)
- Fiona Trevelyan, Directions
- Mieke Snijder, AIATSIS & ATODA (Presenter)
- Nick Hawley, Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation (Presenter)
- Ray Lovett, AIATSIS and ANU
- Rebecca Osbourne, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
- Adrian Baxter, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
Apologies if any ACT delegates were missed from the list.
Conference Resolutions
At the end of the Conference, delegates worked together to cement our learnings and make resolutions on priorities. Some resolutions include:
1. That Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) be recognised as a disability that is included within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
2. That Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alcohol and other drugs (AOD) workers need far greater levels of support, career development, culturally appropriate supervision and salary parity between government and NGO AOD services, given the complex and difficult work they undertake within an environment of high expectations and demands from communities, as well as at times discrimination and racism in the mainstream system.Download the full list of the conference resolutions
here.
3. That as part of a broader justice reinvestment strategy, the establishment of a greater number of healing centres for families be implemented.
4. That a comprehensive strategy to address the harms from alcohol be developed and implemented as a matter of urgency and include volumetric based taxation with a minimum unit price component, restrictions on advertising and promotion, licensing reform and appropriately sized warning labels on all alcohol products.
5. That the recent 4% decline in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking rates is welcomed and requires ongoing commitment from governments and communities to ensure the trend continues.
6. That a national prevalence study of injecting drug use (IDU) and associated harms amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people be undertaken.
7. That AOD screening and brief intervention in health services including pharmacotherapy treatments should become core practice and built into all electronic clinical information systems.
8. That government child protection policies regarding the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children need to incorporate an understanding and consideration of historical factors e.g. the stolen generation and the potential negative impact of intergenerational AOD use on parenting skills.
9. That the fragmentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services from the use of competitive tendering processes by government be recognised and reversed.
10. That local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and community controlled services developing and implementing local solutions be recognised and supported by all political parties.
11. Acknowledge and support the Federal Government on their commitment to implement the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan and recommend as strongly as possible that addressing AOD use become a central feature of the plan as it relates to health interventions.
12. That better access to a range of data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AOD use and related issues, and further research to support this information availability, be provided.
Download the full list of the conference resolutions
here.
Progressing the resolutions in the ACT
The resolutions provide guidance not only for NIDAC, but also for us locally. ATODA is keen to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ATOD workforce and the ATOD sector to consider these resolutions, their relevance locally, and opportunities that may exist to make real progress.
In June, the ATODA Board agreed to review the resolutions and the peak’s role in progressing them in its work, including with the Workers Group, the Grant Recipients Network and the Reconciliation Working Group.
ATODA will be advocating for the following forums to consider their part in actioning the resolutions:
- ACT Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Strategy Evaluation Group
- ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tobacco Control Strategy
- AMC Health Policies and Services Advisory Group
- Opioid Treatment Advisory Committee
- ACT ATOD Specialist Executive Group
Conference Presentations
Presentations from all three days of the conference are available from the
NIDAC website.
back to top
