NAIDOC week 2011 - Australian Embassy

Australian Embassy

Russian Federation

Embassy address: 10A/2 Podkolokolny Pereulok, 109028 Moscow - Telephone: 956 6070 - Fax: 956 6170

NAIDOC Week

3-10 July 2011

What is NAIDOC Week?

• NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• NAIDOC Week will be held from 3-10 July 2011.

What does NAIDOC mean?

• NAIDOC originally stood for 'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee'. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.

National NAIDOC Awards

• The annual National NAIDOC Awards recognise the outstanding contributions that Indigenous Australians make to improve the lives of Indigenous people in their communities and beyond, or to promote Indigenous issues in the wider community, or the excellence they've shown in their chosen field.
• There are awards in nine different categories, covering a diverse range of fields and talents. They include apprentices, artists, Elders, sportspeople, youths, and scholars. A Lifetime Achievement Award may be presented to recognise a sustained contribution to Indigenous people.
• The National NAIDOC Awards are announced at the ceremony and ball held in the national focus city. The host city in 2011 is Sydney and the Ball will be held on Friday, 8 July.

NAIDOC Week 2011 theme

• The national theme for this year's NAIDOC Week celebrations is “Change: the next step is ours”. The theme reflects the work being done by indigenous people across the country who are taking responsibility for their own future and shaping the changes they want to see in their communities.

National poster competition

• An Indigenous artist from Mackay in Central Queensland has won the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition for 2011. Matthew Humphries' artwork Road to Change will feature on the official NAIDOC Week poster, which will be displayed in schools, workplaces, and community organisations across Australia.

If you would like to receive free copies of the 2011 NAIDOC Week poster, visit www.NAIDOC.org.au and complete the online order form or call 1800 050 009

National NAIDOC Committee

• The National NAIDOC Committee makes key decisions on national NAIDOC activities including the focus city, the theme, the national NAIDOC poster competition winner and the NAIDOC awards winners.

• The 2011 National NAIDOC committee members are:
o Anne Martin (Co-chairperson)
o Benjamin Mitchell (Co-chairperson)
o Jason Glanville
o Jason Field
o Rosalind Coleman
o Billawara Lee
o Maurice Walker
o Carol Pettersen
o Cristilee Louttit
o Steve Widders

Australian Government support for NAIDOC Week

• For many years, the Australian Government has supported national NAIDOC celebrations as well as providing grants through Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) to fund local celebrations.

Getting involved

• Wherever you live, you can take part in NAIDOC Week celebrations. To find out about NAIDOC Week activities in your area, contact your nearest ICC on free call 1800 079 098, except Nhulunbuy (1800 089 148), Kalgoorlie (1800 193 357) and Kununurra (1800 193 348).