NAIDOC Week (3-10 July 2022) is an annual event celebrating the culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The acronym, which has since become the name of the week itself, stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and can be traced back to Aboriginal groups in the 1920s that sought to increase awareness and improve the treatment of Indigenous Australians.

Read on to learn more about the event and some of the ways you can celebrate in your community.

This Year’s Theme

The 2022 NAIDOC Week theme is “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” and is both an acknowledgement of those who have been champions of change for generations, and a call for continued momentum to secure collaborative institutional and structural reforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians should be based on equity, justice and recognition of the innate rights and unique heritage of First Nations peoples. While there are many ways to take action, from calling out racism to seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, this can only be achieved by rallying around our mob, our Elders and our communities.

Getting up, standing up and showing up means moving beyond good intentions and empty commitments to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and create lasting systemic change.

How to Get Involved

During NAIDOC Week, people across the country are encouraged to participate in local community celebrations organised by government agencies, local councils, businesses and schools. Whatever your interests and schedule, there are a variety of ways to celebrate and raise awareness.

Here are a few suggestions for how you can get involved:

• Attend a NAIDOC Week event in your local area (options include art competitions, virtual poetry readings, webinar presentations and video conferences)
• Plan your own NAIDOC event for your friends, colleagues or community
• Learn the meanings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words, and visit local sites of significance

• Download the 2022 National NAIDOC Poster, ‘Stronger’, and display it around your classroom or workplace

• Watch a movie about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history or listen to Indigenous musicians
• Use the 2022 National NAIDOC logo in your email signatures and social media profiles
• Research Indigenous history online or visit your library to find books about First Nations Peoples
• Share NAIDOC teaching resources with teachers, schools and students in your area
• Invite local Elders to speak at your school or workplace

How will you be celebrating NAIDOC Week this year? We’d love to hear about your plans!