NAIDOC Week at Kubirri Aged Care Centre

NAIDOC Week is held across the first week of July each year, “to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” This year, the 2023 NAIDOC Week theme is, ‘For Our Elders,’ and acknowledges the integral role that Elders play within our communities.

Kubirri Aged Care Centre (“Kubirri”) in Far North Queensland, has recently been involved in the local community’s NAIDOC Week celebrations. In fact, whilst the Centre is only three years old, Lifestyle Coordinator, Maria, notes that the Centre has had an ongoing involvement in the week, even having the Centre bus participate in the NAIDOC Week float. 

“Every year we participate in the bus parade, so we decorate the bus and take all the residents,” Maria explains. When reflecting on the Centre’s involvement in NAIDOC Week, she says it’s a team effort with residents and staff alike helping. “Last year we did wood painting and made boomerangs, which are very significant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, because they use them for hunting and dancing, so we did that in our art and craft and then used it on the bus as decoration,” tells Maria. Reflecting on the decoration process, Maria notes, “we also had balloons and streamers and the balloons and streamers have the colours; the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag. We used these colours to decorate the bus.”  

Maria says that for many of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, this celebration is, "the most important part of their identity and culture and they want to share that with everybody.” Not to mention that the day itself is filled with much excitement. “It’s a most enjoyable event for everyone. They’re always looking forward to it.”

For Centre Manager, Angela, she reflects on the strength of this week in terms of bringing people together. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the whole community to be involved in, in celebrating cultural values for residents and staff, and we are all very supportive of this.”  

Care Service Employee, Nancy acknowledges that NAIDOC week is of immense value, reiterating its value for past, present and future generations. “To acknowledge our Elders; first, present and past, and keeping our culture alive and for our children; the next generation,” Nancy tells.

Nancy reiterates it’s not just important for herself but also the wider community and it helps bring awareness to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. “We have the one tribal language, and during this week, we get the community involved with the Indigenous culture.” Nancy concludes the significance of this event is beyond just a weekly celebration, noting that it is through initiatives such as NAIDOC week that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are indeed, “keeping our culture going and lively.”