NAIDOC Week 2022 Overview

The department has had the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate NAIDOC Week 2022 with our public schools and early childhood education services during Week 10, Term 2.

We celebrate NAIDOC Week at this time because it is when schools and services are open and operational, and we exist for schools and services, to support schools and services.

The theme ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ encourages all of us to champion change, while celebrating those who have already driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations.

This series of videos display our talented NSW public school students and staff, Aboriginal cultures, Aboriginal languages, Aboriginal history, truth telling and early childhood education.

We thank the Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships Directorate for coordinating these events and for all those within our public schools and early childhood education services who participated.

On Monday, we will release a Round Table Q&A featuring students and Senior Executives from across the department. The video features students asking Senior Executives questions about this year's NAIDOC Week theme.

On Tuesday, we will showcase the official launch of NAIDOC Week 2022, which includes a Welcome to Country from Paris Mitchell, guest speakers and musical performances by Castlereagh Connection.

On Wednesday, we will shine a spotlight on some of the work we do in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, communities, and organisations in engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in early childhood education and care.

On Thursday, we will explore the inspiring 1965 Freedom Ride led by Uncle Charles Perkins and his fellow students at the University of Sydney, less than six decades ago.

On Friday, we will wrap up the celebrations through the School Sing-a-long with Mau Power. Together, we celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage by singing ‘Freedom’ featuring Archie Roach with schools across the state.

Video: Round Table Q&A with students and Senior Executive on this year's NAIDOC theme 'Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!'

Our NAIDOC Week celebrations begin with a Round Table Q&A between students and Senior Executives about the importance of NAIDOC, this year’s theme and what it means to them.

Video: Official Launch at Parramatta

Watch highlights from our official launch, including; Welcome to Country from Paris Mitchell, guest speakers from our schools, the department and our partners the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated, and musical performances by Nardi Simpson.

Video: Highlights of the First Steps Strategy in Early Childhood Education

In this video, we are shining a spotlight on some of the work we do in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, communities and organisations in engaging them in early childhood education and care. This work is part of our commitment under the First Steps Strategy to ensuring that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in NSW can access quality early childhood education and care and are supported to embrace their cultures and identities for a strong start to lifelong learning.

We invite you to watch and learn more about our Aboriginal Families as Teachers program, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to build developmentally rich home learning environments. We also explore the Ninganah No More program which funds the delivery of Aboriginal Languages in over 50 early childhood education and care services across the state.

If you are interested in getting more information about the programs discussed today, please contact the NSW Department of Education’s Early Childhood Education programs team at AboriginalprogramsECED@det.nsw.edu.au

Here are some resources that you might like to use in your service; to give an Acknowledgement of Country, sing a song in language, share a Dreaming story or 'Our Home, Our Heart Beatbeat' read by the author Adam Briggs, or make contact with your local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group to start a beautiful partnership with the people on whose land your service sits.

Video: 1965 Freedom Ride

In this video, we will explore the inspiring 1965 Freedom Ride led by Uncle Charles Perkins and his fellow students at the University of Sydney, less than six decades ago.

Gain insight into the journey of the Freedom Ride and how it created media attention and public debate to the injustices that Aboriginal communities faced. Including social disadvantage, racism, segregation, poor health, housing and lack of equal educational opportunities and how it moved public opinion towards a 'Yes' vote in the 1967 referendum to remove the discrimination against Aboriginal people from the Australian Constitution.

Video: NAIDOC Week messages from Training Service NSW staff and NSW Training Award Winners

Video: School Sing-a-long with Mau Power

Together, we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage by singing ‘Freedom’ featuring Archie Roach with schools across the state. Thank you to Red Hill Public School, Lethbridge Park Public School, Cambridge Gardens Public School and South Wagga Public School for participating.

About Mau Power

Mau Power is an Indigenous music sensation. Hailing from the cultural centre-point of the Torres Strait Islands, Patrick ‘Mau Power’ shares the story of his people to audiences all over the world.

His uniquely Indigenous style of Hip-Hop has been featured as the headline act at numerous international festivals, culminating with the 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

More NAIDOC Week Events

The official NAIDOC Week (3 to 10 July) is also being marked by events in the department and in communities all around Australia. The websites and social media of local governments and Land Councils are good places to find information on events and celebrations.

For more information about flying the Australian Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag throughout NAIDOC Week visit the department's flag protocol page.

For more NAIDOC Week events visit to the RAP Hub.