NAIDOC Week is a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and achievements. In 2025, this important week marks 50 years of honouring and elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, culture, and resilience. This year’s theme , “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” honours the past while looking forward to a future shaped by the strength of young leaders, the vision of communities, and the enduring legacy of ancestors.
To mark the occasion, Embrace People & Place team members Casey, Allira, and Allie stepped out of the office to walk alongside Traditional Custodians—one of the four Embrace People & Place pillars—by attending the Barkuma Neighbourhood Centre NAIDOC Family Fun Day on Awabakal Country.
Barkuma is a not-for-profit, community-led organisation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Cessnock, Maitland, and Dungog in the Hunter Valley. Their services include Elder support, family violence assistance, Aboriginal housing, and cultural awareness programs.
Held at the vibrant Binarru Jinama-Gu in Sawyers Gully—a dedicated space offering cultural experiences, bush tucker cooking and catering, and The Lemon Turtle café—the Barkuma NAIDOC event brought together local services and community members for a day of celebration and connection.
Allira shared her reflections:
“NAIDOC Day at Barkuma was cold, but so amazing. A beautiful spot to really celebrate connection to country, so many great services and the people behind the scenes. Smiles all round – it was great to see the people that came enjoy their day. I loved it and felt really blessed to be able to share the experience amongst others”.
Casey also spoke deeply about her experience and personal connection:
“This year, I was lucky to be invited to Barkuma’s Family Fun Day by Claire from Allambi Care. Last year they partnered with Family Inclusion Strategies Hunter (FISH), and this year they welcomed Embrace People & Place to share a stall and connect with the community.”
“As an Aboriginal woman on a journey to understand my own family history I was extremely excited to be taking part. We had to pick an activity to hold at our stall and I had chosen to do Rock Painting & Vision Boards. This is a hobby I get a lot of joy from as it is something I have been able to use for connection with family members that I don’t get to see often. We may not be able to see each other much but we send packages and there is always a few painted rocks with funny quotes, positive affirmation or cool art & they always make me smile so this is what I wanted to share with others for NAIDOC week”.
Despite the cold and wind, the rain held off. Gloves came off too, as participants dove into painting. One young boy shared, “This is way more fun than I thought it would be!” Another asked if they could hide their painted rock for someone else to find, saying, “I found one once and it made me so happy. Now I can do that for someone.”
Casey added, “It was an amazing opportunity to also reconnect with teams from other local organisations like Carrie’s Place, Uniting, Cessnock Family Support Service Inc, and Hunter Primary Care. Overall, it was a fantastic day.”
In addition to the community day, the Embrace People & Place team at 437 Hunter Street hosted a creative and reflective afternoon focused on culture, connection, and community for our in-house partners. Led by Casey, the session centred on rock painting and vision board making—both deeply personal and powerful forms of expression and storytelling.
“Rock painting brings us together in a way that allows for genuine connection,” said Casey. “When we’re creating something with our hands, we open up conversations and learn from each other.” Added Allie
Vision board making gave participants a chance to focus on hopes and goals for the future—whether small or significant—and map out what matters most. It was a mindful and meaningful pause from daily routines, embodying Embrace People & Place Pillars 2 and 3: walking with Traditional Custodians and creating safe spaces for people.
Casey reflected on the impact of the space:
“Everyone was so engaged, and there was a real sense of calm and togetherness in the room. I was especially grateful for Chloe from FISH who came in after work. We talked about our own experiences with truth-telling—or the lack of it—in our families. As an Aboriginal woman navigating my own identity and cultural history, that moment made me feel less alone.”
“I don’t know that we would’ve had that conversation if we hadn’t felt safe in that space, and that was because it was NAIDOC Week. So, thank you NAIDOC.”
Chloe shared her reflection on the importance of NAIDOC:
“Aboriginal families are disadvantaged in the child protective system, so that is why it is important to acknowledge Aboriginal culture and the resilience of Aboriginal parents and families”.
