NAIDOC – 1st Full Week of July
Last week was a special week in Australia and as a proudly Australian international company we wanted to bring a bit more awareness to Naidoc week. National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. It also gives all Australians an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to the country while supporting their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
How Did NAIDOC Week Originate?
The NAIDOC was a committee that was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC week. These days, the acronym has become the name of the week itself. In 1975, it was decided the event should cover a week in July. In 1984, NAIDOC asked for National Aborigines Day to be made a national public holiday, but this has yet to happen. Since then, other significant groups have also agreed that a national public holiday would be appropriate.
What is the Theme of NAIDOC Week?
In 2018, the theme of NAIDOC week is ‘Because of Her, We Can!’ This theme explores the strong roles Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have had and continue to have in the Australian Community. It celebrates and highlights women’s achievements which are not always seen or heard. It also highlights the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s struggles of the past and the fight to be pioneers and pillars of strength for the current generation. This is something we at Synapse are extremely proud of, especially with much of our senior management team being female.
What Happens During NAIDOC Week?
There are celebrations during NAIDOC Week all across the country. Community groups, government agencies, local councils, schools and more are encouraged to participate. There is also a National NAIDOC Awards ceremony that takes place in a different focus city each year. This year it was here in Sydney.
How Can You be a Part of NAIDOC Week?
You can be a part of NAIDOC by attending one or many events that are nearest to your area. You might even like to create your own event. There are numerous ideas available on the NAIDOC website. Anyone can join in and celebrate the uniqueness of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
If you are running a medical practice that would like to be a part of NAIDOC, you might like to:
- Display the National NAIDOC Poster in your reception area or clinical room
- Invite a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health expert to run a speaker event
- Hold a special morning tea in celebration of NAIDOC week
- Add indigenous picture story books in the waiting area for children to enjoy
At Synapse Medical, our HQ is in Sydney and we are extremely proud of our roots. We encourage inclusion and diversity in everything that we do, spanning our India and UAE offices too.
We encourage our connections to look to get involved with NAIDOC week in 2019.
If you’d like to learn more about Synapse Medical, call us on 1300 173 870 or contact us online