NAIDOC Week 2025: Stronger together, for the next generation.

Friday July 25 saw Marist180 host a rich, generous, community focussed and welcoming coming together to reflect upon and celebrate the invaluable and continuing contribution of our First Nations peoples to Australia and its society.

A large and diverse crowd gathered at Emerton Youth Recreation Club to celebrate:   

NAIDOC Week 2025: Honouring Legacy, Empowering the Next Generation

Our Cultural Coordinator, Tony Moran, reflected on the NAIDOC 2025 theme:

 As we enter 2025, NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. This year’s theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’, celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by young leaders, community vision, and ancestral legacy.

This milestone is deeply resonant as Marist180 also celebrates 30 years of supporting communities, empowering youth, and fostering pathways to independence and self-determination.

Both journeys-NAIDOC and Marist180-are rooted in the strength of community, the wisdom of Elders, and the belief in a future shaped by courage, insight, and unity.

NAIDOC began as a movement for recognition and rights, sparked by Indigenous communities who envisioned a just and equal future. Over five decades, it has grown into a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strength and culture. Similarly, Marist180’s three-decade journey has been one of transformation, walking alongside young people, amplifying their voices, and building bridges to opportunity.

 In 2025, the National NAIDOC Committee embraces self-determination, a principle that also guides Marist180’s work.

With every story shared, every act of resilience remembered, and every cultural practice celebrated, we honour a legacy that reaches far into the past and extends into the future.

Together, these anniversaries remind us that legacy is not just what we inherit, it’s what we build. From strong foundations, the next generation rises, grounded in history, inspired by vision, and committed to creating a future of unity, respect, and self-determination.

 This NAIDOC Week, and in celebration of Marist180’s 30 years, we honour not just milestones, but movements, driven by community, sustained by vision, and carried forward by the next generation.

Local community members leading ceremony.

A very welcome new addition to our 2025 NAIDOC celebrations were First Nations students from Marist Catholic College Penshurst, accompanied by Ms Marie-Anne Maakrun, Leader of Character Education. Following the celebration, one of the Penshurst students reflected on and recorded the following:

MARIST180 NAIDOC CELEBRATION   Milla Hurley, Marist Catholic College, Penshurst

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It is a celebration held across Australia that recognises and honours the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is an important time to acknowledge the strength and resilience of First Nations people and their ongoing connection to land, language, and community.

On the 25th of July, a few students and myself had the opportunity to travel to Emerton in Western Sydney and participate in the Marist 180 local community's NAIDOC Week celebrations. We were warmly welcomed by members of Marist180, and the day began with a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony, performed by a local Indigenous group. This was followed by an engaging cultural performance where we were invited to join in a traditional dance, the girls learnt the emu dance, while the boys took part in the kangaroo dance.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to connect more deeply with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture. We met representatives from various local Indigenous organisations, interacted with native wildlife, and took part in cultural activities including dance and boomerang painting.

First Nations ceremonial leaders, and Marist Catholic College, Penshurst staff and students.

The event was extremely meaningful, as it allowed us to engage on a personal level with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions. Taking part in the shared experiences of dance, art, and storytelling helped us feel more connected to our culture. It was an enriching experience that made me feel proud, inspired, and excited to learn more.

Overall, it was a memorable day, and I look forward to participating in NAIDOC celebrations again next year.

The club was filled with energy and life! The gathering included a Smoking Ceremony, Dance and Music performance. There were many stalls and exhibitors present-government and other-many of whom partner closely with Marist180. Food, drinks, giveaways, painting, braiding, reptiles, speakers offering stories and words of pride. New acquaintances made; existing acquaintances renewed. Marist180 staff and clients, and community members, were present in large numbers, offering their support, learning from and enjoying the celebration.

We especially want to acknowledge and thank the members of the Marist180 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group for their generous and above and beyond efforts in planning, creating and delivering a fantastic NAIDOC celebration. There were many, who, on the day contributed their time and talents-these included Tony Moran, Kayla Bird, Alajah Wright, Jane Powles, Adriana Garcia, Dee Martin, Lukas Lim, and members of the Homelessness Services and Human Resources Teams. We were very grateful for the presence and support of our Marist180 colleagues, from across the agency. A big shout out to other members of the extended Marist family, especially Ms Grace Mathews (teacher), and 6 Year 11 students, from Marist College, Eastwood, who did an excellent job as volunteers on the BBQ (pictured below)... very much appreciated.

A great NAIDOC 2025 celebration-one to savour, remember and be inspired to be strong, vision filled and committed to a proud and continuing legacy.