THE Turnbull Government will celebrate the history, culture and achievements of First Australians by supporting events to be held as part of National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week celebrations in July.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP, said the 2016 NAIDOC grant funding round was part of a more-than $2 million commitment from the Australian Government to support NAIDOC celebrations this year.
“NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to get together and celebrate the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, and the national theme this year is Songlines – The living narrative of our nation,” Minister Scullion said.
“The theme highlights the importance of Dreamtime to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It commemorates the tracks they leave on the land as a record of ancestral spirits who ‘sung’ the land into life.”
Mr Entsch encouraged local organisations to look at applying for funding to help cover the costs of staging events during NAIDOC Week.
“Events can include anything from a community morning tea or barbecue to a flag-raising ceremony or art workshop,” Mr Entsch said. “Let’s try and get as many people involved as possible this year as we celebrate the significance of the Dreamtime and storytelling to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
The funding to support NAIDOC Week activities will come out of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
Details on how to apply for a 2016 NAIDOC grant are available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website. Applications close 4pm AEST on Friday 29th April 2016.
