AIDR celebrates NAIDOC Week

Last week (3-10) July was NAIDOC Week, which celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year the theme was 'Get up! Stand up! Show up!'

AIDR marked the occasion with a NAIDOC staff showcase, in lieu of the usual fortnightly staff meeting. The showcase opened with a Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Ringo Terrick, who spoke about his experience growing up as an Aboriginal man in Australia, and what NAIDOC Week means to him.

Following this, Wiradjuri man Shaun Hooper gave a presentation on Aboriginal cultural burning. Shaun is a senior scientist in the Culture and Fire Science Unit at the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and he spoke about the role that Aboriginal culture can play in fire management in Australia.

We then discussed the Yoorook Justice Commission First Interim Report that was released on 30 June 2022. The Yoorook Justice Commission is the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria. At the end of the truth-telling process, the Yoorook Justice Commission will make recommendations for healing, system reform and practical changes to laws, policy and education, as well as to matters to be included in future treaties. Learn more and read the report here.

The showcase ended with a discussion of AIDR's commitment to diversity and inclusion and the areas where AIDR can deepen engagement with First Nations communities.

NAIDOC Week encourages us to make a commitment to Get up! Stand up! Show up! and support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative and cooperative reforms. It is also time to celebrate the many who have driven and led change over generations - they have been the heroes and champions of change, equal rights and human rights.

To learn more about the impact of disasters on First Nations peoples and gain insights into how to engage and work with Indigenous communities during recovery, watch our Recovery Matters webinar Indigenous perspectives of disaster recovery here.