The Sax Institute is proud to join the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in celebrating NAIDOC Week 2022, and expresses solidarity with its aim to achieve a just and healthy future for all Aboriginal people.
The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week, which runs from Sunday 3 July to Sunday 10 July, is ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’. The National NAIDOC Committee describes this year’s event as a “time to celebrate the many who have driven and led change in our communities over generations – they have been the heroes and champions of change, of equal rights and even basic human rights”.
“Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism – we must do it together,” the Committee says.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. As well as celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, National NAIDOC Week presents an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations at the local level.
One of the many successes in Aboriginal advancement is seen in the network of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across Australia. The Sax Institute has, for many years, been working in partnership with a number of ACCHS to enable Aboriginal-led research in a range of projects that aim to empower Aboriginal communities in the pursuit of better health services and outcomes. Through this partnership, ACCHSs nominate their research priorities, control how the research is conducted and take the lead in determining what works for them and their communities.
There are many other stories of innovative work and cultural achievement right across Australia. The NAIDOC website has a listing of local events that are available for people to attend or connect with, while the Australian Government also provides an event listing searchable by state and community.
