It is always with a sense of pride that I anticipate the arrival of NAIDOC Week each year. Nationally, we celebrate NAIDOC Week across the first week of July. For me, the anticipation of this celebration time begins much earlier, as preparations begin at schools across the Diocese to showcase the occasion.

Yes, NAIDOC does hold a special place in my heart. The pride I feel in seeing my culture represented and celebrated is immense! It is always with a sense of excitement that I embrace upcoming NAIDOC week activities, with the community groundswell that it brings. The opportunity to showcase and celebrate our culture is always a fantastic way to join other community members in a week of activities and events. However, while it is a great time to connect to local community, it is more than just a series of events. It is a powerful opportunity to celebrate the survival of our rich culture, the oldest living culture in the world! It is a chance to reflect on our history, our strength, our stories of resilience and the accomplishments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people everywhere. It continues to be a time to share our success stories and renew our strength. It is a time when Aboriginal people consider our ongoing connection to Country and the cultural practices that still prevail today, passed down from generation to generation through story, song and dance. When we attend events and showcase our culture, it is with a great spirit of affirming, embracing and respecting the legacy of a culture that has prevailed for millennia old.

NAIDOC week also provides a powerful opportunity for all Australians to understand, embrace and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander culture. Our schools are in the privileged position of guiding the next generation of Australians to shape their own ideas, beliefs and values. This makes them a wonderful place to celebrate NAIDOC Week, by allocating class time to learn about the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The way teachers do this depends on factors such as the students’ year level, but the overarching goal is the same: to help young learners develop a knowledge of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ culture and achievements. With NAIDOC Week now more prevalent in the media, students will likely have some familiarity, which may help teachers feel more comfortable holding these conversations and being open to learn alongside their students. It provides a helpful reflection point for students to pause, discuss and learn, a worthy endeavour for students, teachers and the wider community, for the present and for the future.

As a diocese, our schools will be holding their celebrations across this term and next, with NAIDOC week usually falling in the school holidays. With 2025 being the 50^th celebration of NAIDOC week, the theme ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’ lends plenty of scope for school activities.

The NAIDOC week prayer service is an annual event, to be held this Sunday 6^th July. Held on alternate years at either Sacred Heart Cathedral or Christ Church Cathedral in Newcastle, 2025 will be hosted by the Catholic Diocese in collaboration with the Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Ministry and local Aboriginal and faith communities. This being the 50^th year celebration of NAIDOC, there will be a time capsule buried as a symbolic gesture, preserving this legacy for generations to come. 1:45pm arrival for a 2pm start at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Newcastle West.

Hosted by Awabakal Ltd, another local event is the NAIDOC Week Community festival, which begins at Civic Park with a flag-raising ceremony at 9:00 am, followed by a united community procession to Foreshore Park, where festivities will continue until 3 pm. This much-loved annual celebration draws more than 6,000 attendees and continues to grow each year. It is a meaningful opportunity to honour and share in the rich culture, history, and achievements of our First Nations peoples. The festival unites Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities to foster understanding, cultural pride, and education, particularly among younger generations, celebrating the strength and diversity of our shared Australian heritage.

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, a proud sponsor of the event, will host a dedicated information and activity tent alongside a wide range of community groups, offering engaging experiences for all ages. Come and say hi and celebrate with us!