National NAIDOC Week 2025
The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy
National NAIDOC Week is held annually in the first week of July (Sunday to Sunday). This year, it takes place from 6–13 July, and it’s a time for all Australians to come together to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year, we commemorate a powerful milestone – 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” not only celebrates the achievements of the past, but also looks ahead to a bright future, driven by the strength of young leaders and the enduring vision of our communities.
A central part of NAIDOC Week each year is the iconic Poster Competition, which invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to create artwork that reflects the year’s theme. The 2025 winning piece, titled “Ancestral Lines” by Jeremy Morgan Worrall, beautifully portrays Jeremy’s personal family history and the way culture, knowledge, and customs are lovingly passed down through generations. It is a visual reminder of the strength and continuity of Indigenous heritage.
At Scouts Australia, we are proud to stand alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in celebrating NAIDOC Week. We are continuing our commitment to reconciliation and we are at the final stages of preparing our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The RAP will offer a structured framework to guide our efforts in advancing reconciliation. It will support Scout Groups, Branches, and National Committees to move from good intentions to meaningful actions – by fostering respectful relationships, deepening cultural understanding, and creating opportunities for connection and learning across the organisation.
In support of this work, Scouts Australia is currently looking for the first Reconciliation Advisor. This role will be instrumental in helping us build stronger, more respectful relationships between the Scouting community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, through mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and celebration. More information about the role and requirements can be found in the position description. Download and submit your application via email to Deputy Chief Commissioner, Shaylah McClymont – shaylah.mcclymont@scouts.com.au.
Looking to the future, our Scouting community remains committed to helping keep the cultural “fire” burning, by nurturing, practicing, and passing on knowledge and traditions to future generations.
Together, as we celebrate The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, we honour the past, embrace the present, and empower the future.
2025 National NAIDOC Week Poster – “Ancestral Lines”
by Jeremy Morgan Worrall
Discover National NAIDOC Week 2025 events and explore how you and your Group can join the celebrations below:
- Invite an Elder to share local stories with the group on how they maintain their connection to Country
- Invite an Elder to lead a welcome to country at your local group gathering or event
- Work together with your Unit to prepare a Unit Acknowledgement of Country that can be said at the start of each meeting
- Showcase a movie or music from the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture
- Explore Aboriginal art and learn about the meanings and symbolism behind different patterns and drawings. Include art-based activities, including painting, dancing, crafts and storytelling
- Visit local Indigenous sites of significance or interest.
- Learn the meanings of local or national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words
- NAIDOC themed sporting activities
If you would like to contact your local NAIDOC Committee, and invite them to your local group activities, please click this link to view their contacts.
