Swinburne will ‘Keep the Fire Burning!’ for NAIDOC Week 2024

Swinburne University of Technology staff and students are coming together to ‘Keep the Fire Burning!’ this NAIDOC Week.

Observed each year in the first week of July, NAIDOC week is a national celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Through community events and activities, all Australians have the opportunity to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. 

This year’s theme is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’, honouring the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture.

Fire is a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As an organisation that has actively put reconciliation at the core of our culture, Swinburne is hosting NAIDOC events and is encouraging staff, students, industry partners and the local community to join in.

Swinburne is hosting planting and eco-weeding sessions in the Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands durign NAIDOC Week.

Reclaiming the ecosystem

Our Moondani Toombadool Centre invites staff, students and the wider community to join us for an enriching planting and eco-weeding session in the Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands at our Hawthorn and Wantirna campuses.

Grasslands designer and Wemba Wemba – Wergaia man Dean Stewart will be leading two sessions; from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday 9 July at Hawthorn and Thursday 11 July at Wantirna.

Named after Yarra Yarra Elder Aunty Dot Peters AM, who had a decades-long association with Swinburne and helped develop our Reconciliation Action Plan, the grasslands recreate an evocative true eco-space of Indigenous flowering grasslands.

Swinburne Director, Indigenous Engagement, Vicky Peters, Aunty Dot’s niece, said these sessions help participants connect with Country while also helping to preserve a reclaimed piece of local ecosystem on the very sites where they once thrived for untold millennia.

“So much of the NAIDOC Week focus on celebration and harmony are closely aligned with what Aunty Dot worked so hard towards, so having these events in the grasslands named after her is very special,” Vicky said.

Gardening gloves and tools will be provided for all volunteers on the day. Please bring water with you on the day, and a hat and sunscreen if necessary.  

Members of the Swinburne community will also attend the NAIDOC Eastern Ball and NAIDOC Victorian Ball, with tables for staff, students and University Council members.

NAIDOC Week events around Naarm/Melbourne include a flag raising ceremony, a community march, art exhibitions and more.

Celebrating with the local community

Swinburne staff and students are also encouraged to join NAIDOC celebrations in the communities surrounding our campuses and beyond, particularly in Boroondara, Knox and Yarra local government areas.

The City of Boroondara will host the NAIDOC Boomerang Exhibition at the Gallery of Young Art (GOYA) in Hawthorn from 8-12 July, while Wiradjuri man Uncle Glenn Loughrey will give a talk on 9 July at Kew Library, on the “daunting task” of moving forward after the 2023 Referendum.

An art exhibition will take place across Knox City Council Immersive Light Galleries until 28 July, showcasing the work of contemporary First Nations artists who shared their perspectives on Country, culture and connection.

Yarra City Council has a range of activities and events to celebrate NAIDOC Week, including NAIDOC Family Day at Collingwood Children’s Farm on 10 July.

VIC NAIDOC is hosting official events around Naarm/Melbourne, including a flag raising ceremony at Federation Square on 8 July and community march from Fitzroy to the CBD on 12 July.

Indigenous self-determination and knowledges are embedded across Swinburne.

Swinburne’s proud reconciliation legacy

At Swinburne, we have a proud tradition of championing reconciliation and ensuring we are an educator and employer who provides a culturally safe environment for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students.

Swinburne was the first Australian university to achieve ‘Elevate’ status from Reconciliation Australia for our Reconciliation Action Plan and have been vocal supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart since 2019.

Indigenous self-determination and knowledges are embedded across the university, and we are committed to finding ways to express this through our strategic priorities of future-ready learners, research with impact, and innovative enterprise.

“Reconciliation is in everything we do here at Swinburne, including how we hire staff, develop student learning experiences, research, innovate, govern, and develop external partnerships,” Vicky said.

“NAIDOC Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come and connect with community, but it’s one week among 52 of the year that we actively practise reconciliation and self-determination.”