Celebrating NAIDOC Week
SESLHD celebrated culture, recognised achievements and acknowledged the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this National NAIDOC Week, held annually in the first week of July across Australia.
NAIDOC, which stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, offers all Australians the opportunity to hear and acknowledge the oldest, continuous living culture on earth, and participate in celebrations of their rich history. NAIDOC week initially began as a day of protest against the injustice that many communities experience and continues to acknowledge the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the face of these struggles.
This year’s theme - Get up! Stand up! Show up! - is a celebration for those who have driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over the generations, and encourages all Australians to champion positive institutional, structural and cultural change.
SESLHD kicked off the celebrations this year at 301 Forbes Street, with the first ever NAIDOC event at the Darlinghurst building. The event, which was led by Kevin Heath and Uncle Dean Kelly, was a touching and enlightening occasion that involved an Acknowledgement of Country, smoking ceremony, morning tea and the unveiling of two new pieces of artwork for the building.
Billy Reynolds, local Maroubra-based Aboriginal artist from Yuin country, created the paintings, which depict the Gurawil, or “whale” in Yuin language.
The first work with a mother Gurawil swimming north with its baby inside acknowledges the woman and child, as these are the most respected people in an Aboriginal family. The footprints that circle, leading out of the Gurawil, represent the different services and meeting places across our District.
The solo Gurawil represents the male of the family; the protector. As this piece will sit outside the board room, it ensures good spirits come in and out of the buildings meeting circle. It was also designed with a blank inside so that health workers who attended the event were able to put their finger print inside as a sign of respect to Aboriginal culture, and to acknowledge the role they play in our community and health service.
“To have our first ever NAIDOC event here at Darlinghurst and to kick start the 2022 NAIDOC week for the District is something special” said Kevin Heath, Aboriginal Sexual Health Officer.
“I respect everyone coming together to acknowledge such an important date in our calendar and remember NAIDOC week starts with you!”
A range of cultural celebrations for NAIDOC week continued at each of the sites, including basket weaving, art workshops, health and wellbeing markets and cultural performances.
Find local events and resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities here.
