July 17, 2025From 6 to 13 July 2025, Northern Health proudly joined in celebrating the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week. This significant milestone was marked with a series of events and activities across all campuses, embracing this year’s powerful national theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”
The theme resonated deeply with staff and patients alike, honouring the legacy of past generations while highlighting the resilience and leadership of today’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
As part of the celebrations, Narrun Wilip-giin (Northern Health’s Aboriginal Support Unit) shared NAIDOC-themed cupcakes with teams in the ICU, Ward 2, Ward 3, and the Emergency Department bringing colour and connection to staff and patients alike.
To brighten the hospital stay of our youngest patients, Aboriginal-designed colouring books and crayons were gifted to all children and their families in Ward 2. These thoughtful gifts not only brought smiles but also offered a gentle introduction to Aboriginal art and culture.
Educational and celebratory display boards were installed across all Northern Health campuses, inviting staff, patients, and visitors to pause, reflect and learn. These visual installations provided context for this year’s theme and sparked meaningful conversations about culture, equity, and reconciliation.
Complementing these visual stories was the annual NAIDOC Week staff quiz—this year attracting an impressive 85 entries. The quiz encouraged staff to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, achievements, and the importance of culturally safe care.
We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s quiz winners:
- 1st Prize –Anita Joshi
- 2nd Prize – Thomas Swift
- 3rd Prize – Hayley Clark
Anita says, “I’ve been working in the Children’s Ward at Northern Health for almost 17 years, and I’ve never won anything until now. I’m very excited about this. Before taking the quiz, I completed an online Aboriginal Study Day, which I found very helpful and educational.”
When we asked Thomas whether he expected to win a prize, he joked, “No! But it’s actually nice to win something.”
“I think I got some of the answers from reading the Weekly Updates, and the rest from memory, what I learned at school, or from the news,” he added.
In the spirit of solidarity and respect, staff were also encouraged to attend NAIDOC Week marches in Seymour and Melbourne City. These gatherings served as powerful opportunities to walk alongside and celebrate the strength, vision, and legacy of First Nations peoples.
Northern Health remains committed to acknowledging and celebrating the cultures, histories and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, not just during NAIDOC Week, but every day.
Pictured in featured image (L-R): Thomas Swift and Anita Joshi.
