The 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week is being celebrated across the state from 7-14 July 2024.

NAIDOC Week recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is an opportunity to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

The NSW Government is supporting more than 120 local communities and organisations to celebrate NAIDOC Week with $348,000 in grant funding.

The Aboriginal Affairs 2024 NAIDOC Grants Program helps organisers of grassroots events and activities honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements.

NAIDOC Week tour

Destination NSW is proudly to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during NAIDOC Week, which this year is marked by its theme of “Keep the fire burning!”.

Our staff participated in activities including a Dreamtime SouthernX Aboriginal Dreaming tour around The Rocks and a coil weaving workshop.

From Sydney Airport to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW visitor economy stakeholders and businesses have also been marking NAIDOC Week.

Sydney Airport celebrated with a special event at T1 International Forecourt that included Gujaga Foundation's Gamay Dancers performing three special dances; Burriburri (Dharawal ancestor humpback whale), Maridha (sea eagle) and Yarraman (arrival of the horse).

Qantas held its annual employee NAIDOC Awards this week at its Mascot campus, recognising the work of its First Nations employees and their allies.

The event also included the unveiling of the new First Nations employee identity by designer Kamilaroi woman Rhonda Sampson.

Virgin Australia has been offering a range of special menu items in its airport lounges this week in celebration of NAIDOC Week.

The menu is made from a range of ingredients and products sourced from First Nations suppliers and includes native granola, wattleseed and chocolate chip cookies, lemon myrtle shortbreads and beverages.

We are focused on increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes. It's one of the many things we are doing as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Museums and art galleries have held NAIDOC Week events, including a Family Fun Day (above) at the Australian National Maritime Museum that featured dancers, storytelling and craft activities.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales held a special story time in its art library for children, followed by an art-making activity, to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture and stories.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo hosted a flag raising ceremony as well as tours of some of our conservation facilities, culminating in a lunch bringing together community and staff.

"At Taronga Western Plains Zoo, we embed ways of working that honour First Nations people, culture, and place," the zoo said.

"We are proud to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people, their Country, spirit and traditions as customary owners of the lands upon which our Zoo stands. Working together, we believe we are making a greater impact than working alone."

South Sydney Rabbitohs' Souths Cares program hosted an annual NAIDOC festival this week.

Souths Cares CEO Alisha Parker-Elrez said: "This year’s NAIDOC Festival was our biggest event yet and despite the weather we had over 3000 people attend throughout the day. This year’s theme is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’ and I would like to think that Souths Cares supports our people to do this day in and day out, through our transformational programs."

Community organisations have held celebrations, including the Darkinjung Community NAIDOC Day 2024, above, on the Central Coast.

NSW NAIDOC Week Award winners

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 NAIDOC Awards, including Female Elder of the Year 2024 Aunty Millie Ingram and Innovation Award winner Tui Nolan.

Aunty Millie Ingram is a Wiradjuri Elder from Cowra who moved to Redfern during the 1950s. Aunty Millie has been a leader in various policy processes and initiatives aimed at supporting Aboriginal communities and self-determination. At 84 years old, she continues to serve her communities, supporting Elders, youth organisations and women in business.

Tui Nolan is a proud Gudjal man, who grew up in Sydney. He has dedicated the past nine years of his career to advancing machine learning models.

Growing international demand for Aboriginal experiences

Tourism Research Australia's State of the Industry report has revealed rising numbers of international visitors are engaging in First Nations activities.

There were nearly one million international trips to Australia in 2023 that incorporated a First Nations activity, with an estimated one in seven international visitors participating, compared to an average of one in nine international visitors over the period from 2013-2019.

The data shows the majority of activities took place in NSW, where 583,500 international visitors participated in an Aboriginal tourism experience in NSW in 2023.