It is the theme chosen for this year’s NAIDOC Week and invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country, dating back thousands of generations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists. Always Was, Always Will Be is about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country, and encourages all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.

Every year, NAIDOC Week activities are held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated by Australians from all walks of life and is a great opportunity to participate in activities and support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The origins of NAIDOC, which stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, can be traced back to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s. Since then, it has evolved from one day to a whole week and expanded to recognise Torres Strait Islander people. To this day, the aim of NAIDOC is to increase awareness in the wider community of the distinct cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and furthermore reflect on important issues relating to peoples and culture.

Traditionally held in July, this year’s NAIDOC Week will be held from 8 - 15 November, following a decision made by the National NAIDOC Committee (NNC) to postpone celebrations due to the impacts and uncertainty from the escalating COVID-19 pandemic across communities and cities. This decision was aimed at protecting elders and those in the community with chronic health issues, from the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

This year, Murdoch has launched the second innovative Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy, which builds on the work already done to create a University culture that values and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and success.

The Murdoch University Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre provides a range of support, resources and events throughout the year to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Murdoch, including academic, cultural and emotional guidance throughout all stages of study. You can watch our video to find out more about the great work being done at Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre.

We are also proud to be home to Ngangk Yira Research Centre, where the health and social equity of young Aboriginal people is championed through dedicated research, engagement with the Aboriginal Elder community, and the preservation of storytelling. You can read our blog to explore the important research underway at Ngangk Yira.

We also take this week to celebrate the land on which our university campus sits within the Whadjuk section of Noongar Boodjar. Though over the years our university campus has changed physically, the stories and significance of the land, boodjar, lives on as a rich, central part of Indigenous Australian culture. To ensure we keep the history of our campus known, respected and alive, we look to the traditional custodians of the land – Noongar and Whadjuk Elders – to share their stories with us.

This week, like all weeks, we encourage all students and staff at Murdoch to reflect on ways they can participate and support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.