Residents and Staff Acknowledge NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration that recognises the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held across Australia each year in July, it provides an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and honour the world's oldest continuous living cultures.

NAIDOC Week encourages Australians to engage with Indigenous perspectives, strengthen relationships, and support reconciliation. Residents and staff members of The Salvation Army’s Aged Care centres are no exception, with week-long festivities held at Weeoona and Kubirri, for example.

At our Far North Queensland centre located in Mossman, Kubirri resident Rex made damper, a traditional Australian bread, with staff member Nancy. The recipe, consisting of flour, water, salt, and sometimes baking powder or self-raising flour, creates a dense, rustic texture and is commonly served warm with butter, golden syrup, jam or honey.

Damper is an important part of many NAIDOC Week celebrations and cultural events, where it may be shared alongside stories, music, and activities that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.  A member of the Kubirri team filmed Rex and Nancy making damper and the video was shared with Weeroona’s team in Sydney’s Bass Hill in New South Wales for their residents and staff to learn from.

In addition to a damper making class at Weeroona, a NAIDOC week display was created by the Lifestyle team in the main hallway. On one side there is an art gallery with pieces of art made by staff and residents, along with an explanation of the different symbols that are used in indigenous art.

On the other side there is a display of aboriginal history from 1700's along with information about the culture and the location of the land that Weeroona is currently sitting on. Weeroona is aboriginal for "a place to rest.” Residents also visited a NAIDOC Week exhibit at a local shopping centre and were invited to an Aboriginal art workshop.

By participating in NAIDOC Week events, individuals and organisations can help celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while recognising their ongoing contributions to Australian society. It is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and work together towards a more inclusive future.