The NAIDOC Committee have done it again! This year’s NAIDOC theme is not only well-timed, it is the perfect opportunity to reflect on last year and regroup after the disappointing referendum result. It’s time, too, to gather momentum so that we can keep Australia moving forward towards equal justice, and equal rights, no matter your heritage. In other words, it’s time to stoke the fires and keep them burning bright!

Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites everyone to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and amplify Blak voices. It calls for a reclamation of narratives, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. It invites all Australians to listen, learn and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of First Nations peoples is fully valued and respected.

If you are a teacher, you are no doubt in the process of putting together NAIDOC Week plans for your classroom. From an education perspective, this year’s theme is a great opportunity to recognise the resilience of First Nations culture, to celebrate the incredible work being done to keep the fire burning, and to identify how we can all contribute to an unwavering commitment to the fight for justice. 

To help you explore the theme with your classes, we’ve put together a suite of resources – experiences, activities, yarning topics and more – rich in cultural significance and veracity.

Our NAIDOC Approach

This year we have seven new lessons to add to our NAIDOC resources. 

The Wingaru Educators have chosen some amazing people to focus on this year and collectively they showcase the very diverse ways that Aboriginal communities are working to keep our culture alive… and help it thrive.

I got to have a yarn with the ever-inspiring Uncle Ken Canning who generously shared some of his poetry as well as many yarns about his activism. I loved listening to him talk about his inspiration, his grandmother and how she inspired him to stand up. I really could listen all day! Lucky for me Unk loves a chat, so we have a few more lessons coming up over the next months that explore the incredible activism work he has committed his life to. 

Our Uncle Ken lesson is just one of 7 new lessons we have exploring how being loud and proud is helping keep the fire burning. We have put together a complete scope and sequence including a selection of lessons, research activities and projects to help your class explore this amazing theme. This is available on the Wingaru Kids Dashboard or can be accessed as part of our Challenge Pack. 

NAIDOC Challenge 

Each year we put out a challenge to teachers to explore the NAIDOC theme beyond the week of NAIDOC. It started as a way to support those teachers wanting to include more perspectives and has grown each year with over 1200 teachers participating in 2023/ 2024. Getting involved is free, plus we have free planners on the Challenge website, and you can follow the amazing educators who are so generously sharing their journeys this year and offering you lots of tips and ideas for your classroom to help you develop your own approach to the Challenge.

We also have Challenge packs available if you want to access a ready-made plan and all the resources to implement it. You can get these in our store, and access to the digital resources is instant so you can get started as soon as you are ready! 

The resources in this year's pack are gorgeous – if I do say so myself! – and all the credit goes to the amazing artists, designers and educators who have so thoughtfully put these together this year. 

I am really, really excited about this year’s Who am I cards – these portraits are the work of Dharug artist Marlee Webb and they are amazing! Marlee talks a lot about her passion for capturing people's stories in portraiture and in these cards, she is shining a bright light on the powerful energy of each of the people we have chosen – there are so many loud and proud mob doing important work that keeps the fire burning and I love the diverse group featured in this year’s pack. As always the pack has been designed so the cards can be used with existing packs so you can mix and match the people you’re researching and learning about. Using all three packs together gives you 41 Blak, Loud and Proud people to consider! That's a whole lot of deadly! 

Professional Development Tools

Another thing I am super excited about is the inclusion of some amazing professional development tools in the Challenge packs. The Challenge started as a way to support teachers to develop confidence in bringing First Nations perspectives into their programs and this year we have two amazing tools that will guide you in your approach. 

The first is the amazing book Be That Teacher Who Makes A Difference by Kylie Captain and Dr Cathie Burgess. This is a must-read for any teacher wanting to refine their approaches to Aboriginal education. 

Plus, we’ve developed a range of not-to-be-missed webinars, designed to guide you through every aspect of incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the classroom. 

Keeping the Fire Burning! A teacher’s guide 

The first is led by Wiradjuri teacher and author Kylie Captain who will share her approach to Aboriginal Education and yarn about the important ways teachers can keep the fire burning. I am beyond thrilled that Kylie is joining the Challenge this year – her professional development is life-changing and it’s an honour to partner up with her and deliver some of her knowledge to you. You can register for the webinar here or get your free ticket with your NAIDOC Challenge pack if you purchase before 1 July 2024. 

Using the word Blak in the Classroom

The Challenge Team have also come together to yarn about this year’s theme and ways of bringing it into the classroom in a culturally safe way. Lots of teachers have been reaching out seeking support to navigate the elements of the theme and this yarn will include conversations around the powerful word Blak and what it means to First Nations communities today. Make sure you are following the Challenge team on social media to find out more about this important conversation. 

There is so much excitement around the theme Keep the Fire Burning, because now is the time to make change and drive a better future for all Australians. Join us as we celebrate some of the deadly Blak, Loud & Proud mob who are sharing, advocating and activating in our communities and beyond.