Communities across the New England region are coming together to mark 50 years of NAIDOC Week with a rich program of art, ceremony, storytelling and celebration centred on this year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”
Running from 6 to 13 July, NAIDOC Week 2025 honours the enduring contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Australia’s past, present and future. From flag raisings and footy matches to art exhibitions and outdoor galleries, the week highlights culture, creativity and community pride.
The official NAIDOC Week poster for 2025 features a digital artwork titled Ancestral Lines by Jeremy Morgan Worrall, a proud Ngarbal/Gomeroi man from Emmaville and Deepwater. His work, set under moonlit skies in Tenterfield, shows the next generation gathered around a fire — a powerful image of knowledge being passed through time.
“When I look back at my mob, it helps me see towards the future,” Worrall said.
“This piece tells the story of our knowledge — of lore, care, hunting, weaving, and love — being passed on through time. My hope is that it speaks to young people and shows them that they come from strength.”
Armidale: Flags, footy and cultural pride
In Armidale, NAIDOC Week kicks off with a community march and a day of celebration at Rologas Fields. Events include speeches, traditional games, a BBQ, and cultural activities. Throughout the week, there will be youth-focused events including an U18s disco, trivia and movie nights, and a 3-on-3 basketball competition hosted by The Den.
The Oorala Aboriginal Centre at the University of New England will host flag raising and an Elders’ lunch, as well as dance performances, weaving, painting and a reading corner.
Services such as Armajun Aboriginal Health Service and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place (ACCKP) will also host open days, walkabout barbers, and service expos across multiple days, creating a vibrant hub for community connection and celebration.
Inverell: Young voices in the spotlight
Inverell’s main street will come alive with the artworks of young people, thanks to a street flag project coordinated by Ladybug Projects and the Inverell NAIDOC Committee.
Artists aged 12 to 24 were invited to submit works reflecting the 2025 theme, with selected pieces now displayed on street flags throughout the CBD.
“This is an opportunity for youth to lead the way in cultural celebration and also bring public art into the main street of Inverell,” said Christy Galbraith, project manager at Ladybug Projects.
Tamworth: Galleries, projections and national treasures
Three exhibitions are running concurrently at Tamworth Regional Gallery, officially launched on Friday 4 July. They include Present/Place, a collaboration between four artists; Dhurranmay-Gal Dhirrabuu: Outstanding Leaders, developed by the Tamworth NAIDOC Committee; and Grace and Grace, showcasing works by Grace Crowley of Barraba and Grace Cossington Smith on loan from the National Gallery of Australia.
“These exhibitions each have their own representations, while highlighting the talented work of artists in varying forms,” said gallery director Bridget Guthrie.
Tamworth’s new Outdoor Gallery, located in the Fitzroy Street plaza, is also lighting up the CBD with animated artworks by regional artists. The projections will run nightly during NAIDOC Week from 7 to 10 July.
Gunnedah: A diverse and eclectic showcase
In Gunnedah, the NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition opened on 4 July at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. Artists and community members have contributed works reflecting this year’s theme in a wide range of mediums.
“Gunnedah’s NAIDOC exhibitions have showcased some amazing artworks over the years,” said Gunnedah Shire Council’s Danny Hankinson. “The works have been wonderfully eclectic and invite engagement with the community.”
Moree: From damper competitions to junior rugby league
NAIDOC Week will be celebrated across Australia next month, with a full catalogue of programs and events scheduled for Moree and the wider district.
The year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, aims to showcase the achievements of the past as well as the path that lays ahead.
A NAIDOC Week opening service will be held at Moree Anglican Church at 4pm on Sunday, 6 July to officially launch local celebrations.
Also scheduled is a barbecue lunch and damper-making competition at Moree Hospital in the Lizzy Doolan Room from 11am on Tuesday, 8 July. Dampers must be home-made and entries must include a list of ingredients.
On Wednesday, a NAIDOC Sitting Day will be observed at Moree Abcare’s Balo Street offices.
And a highlight of the week will be on Saturday, 12 July, when the Moree Junior Rugby League Club host the girls’ tackle NAIDOC Week Cup at Boughton Oval for under 13s, 15s and 17s teams.
A legacy that lights the way
Fifty years on from the first national NAIDOC Week, the message in 2025 is clear: the strength of Indigenous culture and identity is not just in its survival, but in its growth — passed on through generations with vision and pride.
To find out what’s happening in your area or access NAIDOC Week resources, visit naidoc.org.au.
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