NAIDOC 2025 The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy
When Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was pouring a handful of red sand into Gurindji Elder, Vincent Lingiari’s hand, another key element in Australia’s reconciliation journey began – NAIDOC Week. For 50 years, NAIDOC has honoured and elevated Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.
In 2025 the NAIDOC theme celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of Indigenous Australian young leaders, the vision of their communities, and the legacy of their ancestors.
In this spirit, students and staff from the University of Newcastle’s (UoN) Purai’s Global Indigenous History Centre and Newcastle High School’s Cooks Hill Campus celebrated 2025 NAIDOC Week together. The morning began with an assembly based on the 2025 theme. Poems were shared, songs sung and Purai Co-director, Professor Kate Senior, presented Deputy Campus Leader, Phelissitie Milgate, with a resource produced from the Truth Telling project which the centre undertook with the Department of Education about the history of Indigenous Australian Education in NSW.
Afterwards students were invited to workshops with UoN staff and students designed to support their study focus. These included weaving with Caelli Brooker, botanical ink stamps with Estelle Leishman, Indigenous language and history with Angelina Joshua and Professor Heather Sharp, music with Aiden Powell and Associate Professor Helen English.
Here's a taste of what students and staff got up to.
Professor Heather Sharp delivering a history lesson about Reconciliation, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Estelle Leishman, PhD student presenting to Cooks Hill students during NAIDOC Week
Associate Professor Helen English presenting a rhythm workshop, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Caelli Brooker, UoN Gallery Administrator, showing Alison Ayling, Advisory teacher, weaving techniques, Cooks Hill Campus, University of Newcaste
Professor Kate Senior presents Deputy Campus Leader, Phelissitie Milgate, with Truth Telling learning resource
An Awabakal dictionary helps identify plant names
Plants students used to make botanical ink stamps
Botanical ink stamps, NAIDOC 2025, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Weaving with Caelli Brooker, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Weaving with Caelli Brooker, NAIDOC 2025, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Woven basket with seed, NAIDOC 2025, Cooks Hill Campus, Newcastle High School
Contact
- Dr Jacqueline Wright
- Phone: + 61 2 4055 1082
- Email: jacqui.wright@newcastle.edu.au
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Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.