Our NAIDOC Week Wrapped!

NAIDOC Week, is our favourite time of the year, and this year it started and ended with a bang! NAIDOC is a time that allows for our community to come together and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, resilience and strength.

We started our celebrations at Boorloo Bidee Mia, and the Opening Ceremony at Wellington Square this year.At BBM, residents and staff were treated to a performance by the amazing ALIWAH Dance crew, followed by a variety of activities and of course a big feed! We thank all staff for their participation and efforts in planning this year. Staff organised the dining room to reflect the celebration of NAIDOC and even whipped up kangaroo stew, damper, rice and sweet treats for all residents to enjoy.

At the NAIDOC opening ceremony, Wungening held its annual stall for the general public to visit. The stall featured staff, free merchandise ad information on our services, programs and impact on our community. It was an amazing day filled with beautiful sunshine, great food, even better people and wonderful performances by talented mob.

We then had our Family centres NAIDOC celebrations at Hakea, Melaluca and Casuarina prison. Families were invited to come along, grab a feed and spend quality time with loved ones in the justice system.

Our Annual Moort day was next, and it was our biggest celebration yet! Over 2000 people attended from our wider community, and enjoyed all the free food, activities and live performances on offer. We extend out utmost thanks to Derbarl Yerrigan for their support in co-running the event with us. It was an amazing day filled with smiles, laughter and love.

We ended things off for the week at our women’s refuge Wooree Miya, where families at the refuge were invited to attend lunch and kids were encouraged to get involved in some arts and craft and design their own boomerang. Families were also given the opportunity to take family portraits with kangaroo skins and body paint. Thank you to the wondeful Wooree Miya team for their organisation and commitment to making this day, unforgettable for all.

Whilst Naidoc week is over, the NAIDOC period is a reminder that we celebrate not just today, but everyday- our resilience, culture and community. We think of our elders who have led us to where we are, and the future of our young ones with new tools, new voices, and the same fire lit by proud blak community.

What a NAIDOC!