From the pitch to the cinema, Wollongong City Council is proud to be supporting a range of community events on Dharawal Country for NAIDOC Week 2026
Between Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July, NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) will celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme is ’50 Years of Deadly’, marking a monumental five decades of NAIDOC Week in Australia. It honours the milestones of the past and the people who have built the movement while uplifting the voices and leaders of tomorrow.
Through Council’s annual NAIDOC Week Small Grant program , we are pleased to support nine not-for-profit groups with the following community events they are hosting across the week:
- Screen Illawarra Indigenous Film Festival: Friday 10 July, Gala Cinema
- Warrawong NAIDOC Family Fun Day: Tuesday 7 July, Darcy Wentworth Park Warrawong
- CareWays Koonawarra NAIDOC Family Fun Day and Blak Market: Thursday 9 July, Koonawarra Community Centre
- Bellambi NAIDOC Family Fun Day: Friday 10 July, Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre
- Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation: 50 Years of Deadly Gallery exhibition
- Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service NAIDOC Day Celebration
- Unanderra Community Centre NAIDOC Event
- Figtree Football Club NAIDOC Round
- Big Fat Smile Western Suburbs NAIDOC event: only for Big Fat Smile families, children and educators.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said NAIDOC week was very important to our community and encouraged everyone to consider getting involved in the events and activities.
“As the oldest continuous living culture in the world, this week presents an opportunity for people to learn about First Nations culture and histories in their local areas,” Cr Brown said.
“I’ve attended the longstanding NAIDOC family fun days at Koonawarra, Bellambi and Warrawong many times and it’s a wonderful celebration of the Aboriginal community, inspired by the connections between young leaders and their Elders.
“These local activities, events and celebrations, gives an opportunity for our wider community to learn about the past and the rich Aboriginal heritage in Wollongong that traces back thousands of years. It also provides a way where we can move forward together with better knowledge and understanding.
“Thank you to our local community groups who organise NAIDOC events each year. I encourage people to see what’s on and observe NAIDOC Week respectfully and in harmony with our local community.”
Wollongong City Council will also host the Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards on Saturday 18 July at the University of Wollongong. The annual event celebrates and promotes the achievements of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations based in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
This event is organised collaboratively by Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils. Tickets are available on Eventbrite .
Wollongong Youth Services will have an activation hub at the family fun days at Koonawarra, Bellambi and Warrawong.
At Wollongong Art Gallery, a special Music and Tea, Echoes of Deadly Harmony: 50 Years of Song, will be held on Thursday 2 July. It is a First Nations–led NAIDOC Week celebration presented by the Mudjingaal Yangamba Choir and Nicole Smede. Tickets are free but bookings are essential via Humantix .
The Gallery has also published poems written by First Nations students , that were inspired by previous exhibition We Are the Land We Walk Upon. Students took part in a poetry workshop led by Worimi artist and poet Nicole Smede, and met with exhibiting artist and curator Tess Allas, for a special Q&A about her work and artistic practice. Through deep listening, observation and reflection, they explored stories of Country, community and belonging, creating original poems inspired by the exhibition’s themes.
