NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, talents and resilience and recognise the invaluable contributions they continue to make across the continent.
“The NAIDOC journey began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who saw a future built on justice and equality.
National NAIDOC Theme
Over the decades, it has grown into a powerful national celebration, a testament to the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
What does NAIDOC stand for?
Celebrated each year during the first full week of July, NAIDOC stands for ‘National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Observance Committee’. This year it runs from 6 – 13 July 2025.
A brief history
NAIDOC Week became a week-long event in 1975, but its roots can be traced back to the 1920s Indigenous protest movement and the civil rights gathering known as the Day of Mourning, held in 1938.
- 1924–1932: Several organisations including the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association (AAPA) and Australian Aborigines League (AAL) were founded to give structure to a burgeoning protest movement against the poor treatment of First Nations people.
The efforts of these organisations were largely overlooked and the AAPA abandoned their work in 1927 due to police harassment. - 1938–1955: On January 26, 1938, protestors marched in Sydney. Known as the Day of Mourning, this is one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world.
The Day of Mourning (Aborigines Day), was held annually on the Sunday before January 26 until 1955, when it was moved to the first Sunday in July. - 1956: The National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) was formed and the second Sunday in July became a day of remembrance for Indigenous people.
- 1972: As a result of the 1967 referendum, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs was formed.
- 1974: For the first time, the NADOC committee was composed entirely of Aboriginal members.
- 1975: NADOC becomes a week-long event, running from the first to the second Sunday in July.
- 1991: NADOC expands to recognise Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture, forming NAIDOC. This new name becomes the title for the whole week, not just the day. Each year, a theme is chosen to reflect the important issues and events for NAIDOC Week.
What is this year’s theme?
This year marks an important milestone – 50 years since NAIDOC was formally established as a national movement. The theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’, looks to celebrate the achievements of the past while also focusing on the future, highlighting the strength of young Indigenous leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of ancestors.
Young people have a powerful role to play in the evolution of Indigenous rights and their cultures across the country. Their continued fight for justice, equal rights, access to education and employment and the right to maintain and celebrate Indigenous culture will inspire change for generations to come.
“As we commemorate this 50-year legacy, we also look forward, honouring the next generation who will carry the torch, shaping the future with courage, insight, and deep respect for our roots.”
National NAIDOC Theme
How you can get involved in NAIDOC Week
From showcases of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander skills and traditions to NAIDOC-themed art experiences, hundreds of events are being held across the country to celebrate First Nations people.
To find events in your local area, visit the NAIDOC Week website.
We have new tools and resources coming soon to help bring Indigenous rights to life in your community. In the meantime:
Reconciliation Toolkit
Check out our Reconciliation Toolkit, filled with a rich array of resources to celebrate the talent, truth, traditions and enterprises of First Nations people across the continent.
Discover must-see films, music and podcasts, books and more!
Community is Everything newsletter
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First Nations Ally Guide
Learn more about what being a First Nations Ally means or download our First Nations Ally Guide.
What’s next
With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over-represented in many of Australia’s most concerning statistics, including imprisonment, suicide, youth suicide, and mortality, ensuring Indigenous peoples can access their rights is central to our mission at Amnesty.
Indigenous children aged 10–17 make up approximately 63% of young people in detention, despite comprising only 5.7% of the general population in this age group, and First Nations young people are 29 times more likely than non-Indigenous youth to be in detention.
Children as young as ten are incarcerated, held in adult watch houses, subjected to solitary confinement, and forced into spit hood — practices that constitute cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international law.
Evidence shows that culturally safe, Indigenous-led programs focusing on prevention and rehabilitation are far more effective at reducing youth offending. Programs like bush camps, designed and run by First Nations communities, have successfully lowered recidivism rates.
Justice reinvestment, which redirects funding from punitive systems to community-led initiatives, has been proven to reduce incarceration rates and address the root causes of offending.
The case for national leadership is clear. Amnesty International urges the Federal Government and Parliament to take decisive action to reduce the over-imprisonment of First Nations children and prevent abuse in youth detention centres.
- Implement a national youth justice framework to end the incarceration of Indigenous children.
- Recommend that all states and territories raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, in line with international standards.
- Invest in Indigenous-led justice reinvestment initiatives and culturally safe, community-driven solutions that strengthen families and keep children out of the justice system.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our work on Indigenous Justice.
