NAIDOC Week 2025: Celebrating the next generation with strength, vision and legacy

NAIDOC Week 2025 has commenced, offering early childhood education and care (ECEC) services a powerful opportunity to reflect, engage and act in meaningful ways to celebrate and learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the oldest continuous living cultures in the world.

This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” recognises the enduring contributions of First Nations peoples and calls on all Australians to support and elevate the voices of children and young people as future leaders and cultural custodians.

Running from 6–13 July, NAIDOC Week invites individuals, communities and services across the country to participate in events and activities that honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements.

Resources to support meaningful participation

The National NAIDOC Committee has developed a free downloadable toolkit to support early learning services, schools and community groups to celebrate the week with cultural integrity and respect.

The toolkit includes:

• Guidance on how to respectfully acknowledge and celebrate First Nations cultures
• Activity ideas suitable for young children
• Information on this year’s theme and its significance
• Templates for promotional materials
• Suggestions for how to create long-term impact beyond NAIDOC Week

Services are encouraged to use the toolkit to plan events that are inclusive, respectful and centred on community connections.

Embedding perspectives and creating culturally safe spaces

NAIDOC Week is also a timely prompt for educators to consider how First Nations perspectives are embedded in everyday practice not just in July, but year-round. Reflective questions that may support professional discussions include:

• How are First Nations voices represented in the curriculum and environment?
• What opportunities exist for children and families to share their cultural knowledge?
• Are there authentic relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations?
• How do environments support cultural safety and belonging for all children?

Practical steps may include inviting local Elders or community members to share stories, reviewing books and resources to ensure diverse and respectful representation, or creating shared spaces where children can explore language, art, and stories from First Nations cultures.

For further guidance, the Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education platform provides professional learning resources and curriculum tools for educators seeking to build cultural competence and contribute to reconciliation in early learning settings.

NAIDOC Week 2025 is more than a celebration, it is a call to action for the early learning sector to listen deeply, act with integrity and walk alongside First Nations communities. By creating culturally safe environments, embedding First Nations perspectives and acknowledging the strength and vision of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, educators play a vital role in reconciliation and social justice.

Visit www.naidoc.org.au to learn more about the theme, find events in your area, or download resources to support your celebrations.