Just like everything else, NAIDOC Week this year looked a little different. Instead of celebrating in July, it was pushed back to November 8th, and while we couldn't hold a big event, we still wanted to celebrate this week and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. This year, the theme for NAIDOC was “Always Was, Always Will Be”. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country.

We asked some of our young people how connection supports their wellbeing. Connection can be to country, waters, kin, Elders, community, totem and more. Here's what they had to say:

“Connection to sport helps me release my stress and create friendships on the field.”

“Connection to culture, knowing who I am and where I come from has filled a gap in my identity that I needed to feel whole.”

 “Connection to people helps me feel supported and good food helps me feel happy.”