Recent events
NAIDOC Week 3-10 July 2022
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held in July to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples history, culture and achievements. Throughout the week we encourage you to take the opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Find out more on the NAIDOC Week website.
NAIDOC Week Tenant Art Exhibition - 29 June - 9 July 2022
Bridge Housing is proud to support a bi-annual tenant art exhibition to celebrate NAIDOC Week. This art exhibition was created by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tenant Advisory Group, who opened it to all tenant artists who want to create art aligning to the NAIDOC Week theme, Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! We were delighted to have award-winning artist Blak Douglas as exhibition curator. See our What's On page for more information.
Annual dates of significance
| Date | Day name | Significance |
| 26 Jan | Survival Day | The National Australia Day Council (NADC) recognises the unique status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commits to the reconciliation journey. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities gather and reflect on history and culture. |
| 12 Feb | The Freedom Ride | On 12 February 1965, University of Sydney students, inspired by equal rights activism in the United States, started a bus tour of western and coastal NSW with 3 key goals in mind: - draw attention to the poor state of Aboriginal health, education and housing - focus and attention on the social discrimination experienced by Aboriginal people to effect positive change - encourage and support Aboriginal people themselves to resist discrimination. The Freedom Ride was led by Charles Perkins, an Arrente man born in Alice Springs who dedicated his life to advocating for Aboriginal rights. It has an important place in Australia's history and is remembered every February for fostering Aboriginal activism and raising much needed public attention on issues Aboriginal people continue to face today. |
| 13 Feb | National Apology Anniversary | Marks the anniversary of the formal apology made on 13 February 2008 by the Government and Australian Parliament to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in particular the Stolen Generations. |
| 17 Mar* | National Close the Gap Day | An opportunity to show support for closing the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians, and for organisations and communities to hold events and raise awareness of the Indigenous health crisis. *2022 date. |
| 5 Apr | Bringing Them Home | On 5 April 1997, the final Bringing Them Home report, from the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families, was launched. It honours the many personal stories shared by members of the Stolen Generations and is a tribute to the strength and resilience of many thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people adversely affected by forcible removal. We remember and acknowledge the sorrow of all the children who will never come home - for them, their parents, their communities and all Aboriginal people. |
| 26 May | National Sorry Day | An opportunity to acknowledge the impact of policies spanning more than 150 years of forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998 following the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report, Bringing Them Home: The ‘Stolen Children’ report (1997), which recommended a national day of observance. |
| 27 May | 1967 Referendum Anniversary | In 1967 over 90% of Australians voted in a Referendum to remove clauses from the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The Referendum also gave the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. |
| 27 May- 3 Jun |
National Reconciliation Week | National Reconciliation Week celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians every year. It provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements so far and the things that must still be done to achieve reconciliation. |
| 3 Jun | Eddie Mabo Day | Marks the anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s judgement in 1992 in the Mabo case, which recognised the land rights of the Meriam people, or native title. |
| 1 Jul | Coming of the Light | Marks the day the London Missionary Society first arrived in the Torres Strait when missionaries landed at Erub Island on 1 July 1871. Religious and cultural ceremonies are held by Torres Strait Islander Christians across the Torres Strait and on the mainland to commemorate this day. |
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3 Jul- |
NAIDOC Week | Celebrations of the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are held around Australia, not just within the Indigenous community, but increasingly by government, schools, local councils and workplaces. Taking part in NAIDOC Week is a great way to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to build bridges between all Australians. *2022 dates. |
| 4 Aug | National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children's Day | Established by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in 1988, Children’s Day highlights a significant issue, concern, or hope for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children each year. |
| 9 Aug | UN International Day of World's Indigenous People | Observed on 9 August each year to promote and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous population, this day also recognises the achievements and contributions that Indigenous people make to improving world issues, such as environmental protection. |
| 1 Sep | Indigenous Literacy Day | Held to raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions. *2021 date. |
| 13 Sep | Anniversary of UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People | The Declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly during its 61st session at UN headquarters in New York City on 13 September 2007. |
| 30 Sep - 3 Oct 2022 | 50th Koori Knockout | Initiated by Bob Smith, Bob Morgan, Bill Kennedy, Danny Rose, Victor Wright and the late George Jackson, the Koori Knockout was created to provide a spotlight for Aboriginal footballers overlooked by talent scouts. |