NAIDOC Week 2022

Crime Stoppers Queensland acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia who have kept our land safe for thousands of years.  We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging and look forward to working with them to keep our communities safe.

The first full week of July each year marks NAIDOC week and is a chance for everyone to come together to celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and to learn more about their histories, achievements and cultures.

Each year has a theme and for 2022 that theme is Get up! Stand Up! Show Up!  It was chosen to both remember the commitment and efforts of those that have already driven change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while also encouraging all of us to work together to continue to make positive change happen in our communities.

The 2022 National NAIDOC Poster incorporating the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag (licensed by the Torres Strait Island Council).

This year’s theme is brilliantly captured in the National NAIDOC poster competition winning work ‘Stronger’ by Gudanji/Wakaja artist Rhyia Dank – Rhyia says of ger work ‘I knew straight away I wanted to do a graphic piece centred around our flags with text highlighting what we have been through and are still fighting for.’

Learning and understanding the rich and varied cultures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a wonderful way to celebrate NAIDOC week.  SBS, the NAIDOC week media and education partner for 2022, have put together an amazing teacher resource which supports Pre-school through to year 10 classes but can be used by anyone wanting to learn.  You can find the teacher resource on SBS Learn.

If you’re looking to celebrate NAIDOC week 2022 there are lots of other ways to be involved:

Attend an event – visit NAIDOC.org to learn about local events across Australia.  Check your local council’s events page to see if there is an event near you, Brisbane City Council’s NAIDOC week page has lots of options if you’re around our capital city during NAIDOC week.

Work with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities near you to organise an event exploring this year’s theme – the event could be educational (learning about language, history, traditions or ideas), entertaining (music, dance, story-telling), active (sport, cooking, ceremonial) or just a chance to get together and celebrate.

Put up the National NAIDOC poster in your school, workplace, community centre or home.

Support First Nations organisations, businesses and individuals – listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, watch movies or presentations, visit exhibitions or performances, make purchases from indigenous artists, brands or businesses.

Most importantly remember that even though NAIDOC week runs from 3-10 July we all have an ongoing part to play in making positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.  We need to have the same courage shown by those who have gone before to Get up! Stand Up! Show Up! and to make our communities a better and safer place for all.