NAIDOC Week events in Melbourne

Mark the beginning of NAIDOC Week at Fed Square on July 7 with a flag raising ceremony, Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and a one-minute silence in honour of Aboriginal Elders who have passed to the dreaming. Then on July 12 from 3-6pm, enjoy an afternoon filled with live performances from leading Aboriginal musicians and entertainers (including Briggs, Deans of Soul, Kutcha Edwards and Alice Skye), plus a range of stalls offering deadly merch, traditional food and activities.

Aboriginal Housing Victoria is holding its annual NAIDOC Family Day at Collingwood Children’s Farm on Wednesday, July 10. The free, family friendly event will include a range of traditional cultural arts and crafts, a smoking ceremony, live music, dance workshops, storytelling, art, a free BBQ and much more. Plus, there'll be musical performances from First Nations artist Kee’Ahn. Find out more details and register your attendance here. 

Melbourne Museum is celebrating NAIDOC Week with a special one-day event on July 7, with market stalls, family friendly craft workshops and musical performances. The event coincides with two First Nations exhibitions currently on show at the museum: Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion and Biik Milboo Dhumba – Country is Always Talking. Plus, there'll be special performances from Kutcha Edwards and Amos Roach. Find out more about the event here. 

On July 13, the annual NAIDOC Gala Ball is happening at the MCEC. On the night, you can expect a delicious three-course meal and an exceptional line-up of First Nations entertainers. This unforgettable evening of inspiration, unity and pride is all about coming together to celebrate the indomitable spirit of First Nations peoples and honour the Elders.

Head to Melbourne Zoo on July 14 for a special NAIDOC Week event that will showcase First Nations-led activities like arts and crafts, live music, face painting, traditional storytelling and cultural education. Held in collaboration with Aboriginal Melbourne, there will also be a Welcome to Country. Zoo members and kids can go free, and the activities will take place between 10am and 3pm. Book your tickets here.

ACMI is hosting a First Nations short film screening event for NAIDOC Week, showcasing six flicks by Indigenous creatives. Each will explore themes like adversity, Blak excellence, culture and connection to Country. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 9, and tickets are just $18. Purchase one or find out more on the website.  

The Queen Victoria Women's Centre will present the first ever Indigenous edition of global exhibition What Were You Wearing? from July 13 to 16. The exhibition is dedicated to challenging the damaging misconception that clothing choices somehow invite sexual assault and highlighting the higher sexual assault rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, which are estimated to be two to five times higher than non-Indigenous populations. There will be an opening night event and panel discussion on Saturday, July 13, with tickets available here. 

On July 11 at Melbourne's newest library (Narrm Ngarrgu in the Queen Vic Market precinct) join this reflective and passionate panel discussion guided by Bebe Oliver with Laniyuk, Apryl Day and Iluka Sax-Williams. 'BLAKtivism. Build Blak Power. Fight for Change' will explore the core of this year's NAIDOC Week theme, and illuminate some of the past, present and future efforts in the First Nations community. The event is free, and there will be a special performance by A Daylight Connection. Register to attend here.

Head to Trades Hall on July 11 at 7pm for an evening of big laughs with some of Victoria's funniest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedians. The deadly line-up features Janty Blair, Aden Hitchins, Ben Moodie, and Kalah and Kimmie Lovegrove. Find more information here.

In 2002, 3CR began putting together a series of broadcasts called Beyond the Bars, which features stories, songs, opinions and poems from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates in Victorian prisons. You can find the 2024 programming schedule on the website, or listen back to the last two decades worth of material.