Sunday marked the beginning of NAIDOC Week for 2023.

Each year, NAIDOC Week is celebrated in the first week of July and is a time for Australians to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

This year’s theme is For Our Elders and acknowledges the impact of First Nations Elders, celebrating the generations that have spent years playing important roles within communities. They have paved the way, in advocacy and activism, fighting for equality, justice and human rights.

NAIDOC Week gives Australians the opportunity to further learn, explore and celebrate the culture and history of our First Peoples through a range of events held across the country.

To help you navigate throughout the week, we’ve collated some events based in Victoria that fans can get involved in.

VICNAIDOC March 
Date: Friday 7 July
Location: The march begins at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) on Nicholson Street, Fitzroy. 
Time: The march begins at 12pm
Details: Join the VICNAIDOC March this Friday, with the march travelling past Fig Tree on top of Gertrude Street, Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Nicholls statue, Parliament House, the corner of Bourke and Swanston Street, and the corner of Flinders and Swanston Street. 

Writing Blak Legacies: A First Nations Literature Gala
Date: Thursday 6 July
Location: The Capitol Theatre, 113 Swanston St
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Details: This year, the University of Queensland Press released the first instalment of its First Nations Classics series, recognising the brilliant and vital literary contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers across the decades. To mark the publication of this landmark series, the Wheeler Centre and Blak & Bright present an evening of reflections, readings and performance featuring many of the series authors and contributors, hosted by acclaimed author Tony Birch.

Justice, Elders and Culture in the Koori Court
Date: Wednesday 5 July  
Location: The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St Melbourne
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Details: Join Koori Court Elder Uncle Walter Harrison, Supervising Magistrate of Koori Justice Rose Falla, County Koori Court Manager Terrie Stewart and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Nerita Waight, for a conversation exploring the history and principles of the Koori Court, and offering insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander approaches to justice and the law.

For Kin and Country
Date: Sunday 2 July – Sunday 9 July
Location: Shrine of Remembrance
Details: First Peoples have combined modern military and traditional skills to serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from the Boer War to the present day. This Shrine special exhibition explores the extraordinary history of First Peoples’ service in the ADF.

One Song: The Music of Archie Roach
Date: Wednesday 5 July + Thursday 6 July  
Location: Hamer Hall
Time: 7:30pm – 9pm
Details: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Chief Conductor Jaime Martín co-presents One Song: The Music of Archie Roach. One Song celebrates the enormous legacy of Gunditjamara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung), Bundjalung Senior Elder, song man and storyteller, Archie Roach AC AM, as part of the MSO’s NAIDOC Week program. The night will feature a stellar line-up of artists who bring new life to his iconic songs.

AHV NAIDOC Family Day at the Farm
Date: Wednesday 5 July
Location: Collingwood Children’s Farm
Time: 10:30am – 3pm
Details: Aboriginal Housing Victoria is hosting its much-loved NAIDOC Family Day event at Collingwood Children’s Farm. The community feature traditional crafts, live music, an art show and library storytelling. Entry is fee and all are welcome to celebrate.

NAIDOC Week: Sunday Market
Date: Sunday 2 July
Location: St Kilda Road, Southbank
Time: 10am – 4pm
Details: Visit the NAIDOC 2023 Sunday Market, showcasing the art and culture of First Nations traders. All are welcome to attend the market and pick up some locally designed and crafted items to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2023.

To find out more on NAIDOC Week and to explore more events throughout the upcoming seven days, visit the NAIDOC website here or the VICNAIDOC website here.